EAL Pupils in London Schools: A Success Story Against the Odds

In this lecture, Professor Catherine Wallace explores the literacy and language development of two groups of EAL (English as an Additional Language) pupils in London schools: Year 5 pupils in a primary school and Year 8 new arrivals in a secondary school. As they navigate their way through the British educational system, the learners recount stories of success and setback, allowing us to draw a number of lessons about pedagogy and curriculum.The lecture concludes with recommendations for a sociolinguistically oriented approach to literacy and language learning that acknowledges the cultural and linguistic resources and needs of the growing number of these pupils in London classrooms.