Wellbeing lies at the heart of education, and it’s especially crucial when it comes to English as an Additional Language (EAL).
The unique challenges faced by EAL students mean that their emotional and social wellbeing is as vital as their academic progress.
EAL students face unique challenges as they work to understand peers and navigate new cultural and linguistic environments. When EAL students feel excluded or struggle to keep up, their self-esteem can suffer, affecting both motivation and mental health.
Identifying barriers early on can prevent EAL students from being left behind. Studies confirm that EAL students with better language support are more likely to make meaningful connections and find their place.
FlashAcademy®, the UK’s number one EAL learning app and assessment platform, promotes student wellbeing by helping EAL students build friendships, develop confidence and feel part of the school.
Personalised EAL assessment for better learning outcomes
One-size-fits-all EAL assessments fail to account for diversity. When a student is inaccurately placed due to a standardised test that doesn’t capture their full ability, they find themselves overwhelmed or under stimulated.
“Any human is incapable of learning and retaining new information if they’re in a dysregulated state.”
Hollie O’Sullivan, associate assistant headteacher, EAL and reading, Fortis Academy
FlashAcademy® offers adaptive assessments tailored to meet the unique needs of EAL students. Assessments adjust to the student’s language level, avoiding questions that are too difficult and allowing students to engage in a way that boosts confidence rather than erodes it.
With a more accurate understanding of where each student should be in their learning journey, students spend more time in the right environment, reducing the mental strain that misplacement creates.
Bridging the gap: Creating a supportive future for EAL students
Many EAL students excel academically in their native languages but struggle to express their knowledge in English. Misinterpretation of language barriers as academic struggles can lead to missed potential.
FlashAcademy® bridges this gap by offering tools that provide curriculum-aligned content to give students the language tools they need to engage with lesson content, making learning both accessible and engaging.
EAL students deserve an inclusive, supportive learning environment that promotes both language development and wellbeing. With FlashAcademy®, schools have a powerful partner in delivering effective and compassionate EAL support that goes beyond language learning.
Let’s work together to bridge the gap and unlock the potential of all EAL students held back by a language barrier.
