View KLA Structure for all Levels

Communication

In stage A1, the focus of the Communication substrand is on the development of students' initial capacity to manage and interact in the English-speaking environment of the classroom and playground. ESL students begin their schooling already speaking another language and often with some early literacy experiences in another language, depending on their age and background. Once they are settled into their new learning situation, they will begin to communicate their experiences and ideas. They need to be helped and encouraged in their early attempts to use English and non-verbal language for communication at school. Teachers therefore establish a classroom environment that allows students to successfully interact in a wide variety of classroom and social contexts for a range of purposes.

Aspects of language

Contexual understanding

In stage A1, the focus of the Contextual understanding substrand is on the initial development and extension of students' capacity to use their developing but still limited English repertoire to manage different classroom and social situations and contexts. Students begin to understand the role of English in the classroom as the language of communication and learning. They begin to adapt their developing English skills to deal with many different language functions, and the appropriateness of their attempts develops as they both learn more English, and learn that English changes according to context and purpose.

Linguistic structures and features

In stage A1, the focus of the Linguistic structures and features substrand is on the English resources students are learning in order to participate socially and academically in the classroom. By interacting in English as the main language of communication in the classroom, students learn the basic everyday English they need to take part in the routine activities of the classroom and playground, and as the basis for literacy learning. As they build on learned patterns and use familiar English in new situations, students extend their limited English repertoire and increase accuracy of meaning. Teachers ensure that students are made aware of patterns in English, both grammatically and phonologically, through the use of rhymes and repetitive texts. The texts students produce reflect their developing understanding of the patterns of English.

Strategies

In stage A1, the focus of the Strategies substrand is on the development and encouragement of beginning strategies for initiating and maintaining communication in English and for learning in the classroom. Students develop early strategies for beginning to read and write in English, based on their developing understanding of the way English is written and read, and their literacy understandings in their first language.