BRIDGING the gap between cultures and language has been made a little easier at Baverstock Oaks Primary School, with the addition of two new English language assistant teachers.
Specialist ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) teacher at Baverstock, Jude Parkes, says lots of schools have English language teachers, but two assistants is unique.
“Previously the English language teacher tended to be the one that fitted into any spare areas. They weren’t a priority.
“Now we have specialist language classrooms and two fulltime trained assistants,” says Mrs Parkes.
Gyu Chun is one of the language aids and she’s fluent in Korean and often helps translate for the 59 Korean students.
“I stand by classrooms and work with small groups of students with any problems or personal matters,” says Ms Chun.
Mrs Parkes says although only 165 of her students are recognised as minimum English speakers, there are always many more that struggle with English, but aren’t eligible for government assistance.
“The Ministry of Education funds students that are below the standards for set periods of time.
“If the student is New Zealand born but has migrant parents they’re entitled to 12 terms. If the pupil is a migrant then they receive 20 terms funding, after that it stops,” says Mrs Parkes.
She says having language aids at school fulltime helps the students that don’t make the cut for funding but still require language assistance.
It’s not often Mrs Parkes has pupils that have no ability in English, but she says it’s common for some students to need translation.
“We do get parents or other teachers to help translate, but it’s not something we discourage. It’s healthy for them to be able to speak in their native tongue.
“It’s a positive thing that we allow them to have the building blocks of their native language and use that to help them with English,” says Mrs Parkes.
