English as a Second Language
The E.S.O.L. Programme. St Thomas’s has many students for whom English is a second language; some of them born in New Zealand and some born in different countries around the world and subsequently coming to live in this country.
The New Zealand government provides funding for schools to enable them to cater in varying ways for these students to become competent in understanding, using and learning in English.
Our school has a number of staff who work alongside these students, in the ESOL classroom and also in the students’ own classroom as they participate alongside their peers under the direction of the class teacher.
Students are formally assessed with regard to their competencies in English for Ministry of Education purposes twice a year. The data enables verification of funding and also the ESOL staff to group students for learning and teaching activities according to their skills and needs.
Currently students may work with one of three teachers / tutors in the ESOL classroom-this may be several times a week or on a daily basis. The content of these sessions enables them to better participate in their class focuses. In addition to these lessons, there are a number of teacher-aides ( many of whom speak several languages or more) who are timetabled to work with specific students / small groups in classrooms.
We are fortunate in that we have a valuable resource of adults who are able to speak the languages of many of our students.
Once a student has developed confidence and understanding in communicating (in speaking, listening, reading and writing) in English, he / she is ready to function independently as a learner. Our students demonstrate pride and satisfaction in achieving this level of work.
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