Download resource

Please enter your details to download this resource
Login
 

Enter your details to access this video

Or if you already have an account login to watch the video (if you don't you can register here).
Login
EAL learners learning outside in nature
Author: Shalu Aara, EAL Specialist, and Caroline Scott, Author and Director
Download Activity ideas for encouraging EAL learners to be friends of nature
Email share link LinkedIn share link Twitter share link Facebook share link
Approximate reading time: 2 minutes

When surrounded by nature, one experiences many positive changes, such as emotional well-being, self esteem, resilience, and health-related quality of life (Tillmann, Tobin, Avison, 2018). It was noted that:

“Nature has a significant impact on health. Previous reviews have identified the overall health effects of nature on a variety of health outcomes including physical, mental, social and cognitive health. These reviews have largely highlighted the impact of nature on adult populations, reporting positive effects…. [It was also noted that] nature does have a beneficial influence on children’s and teenagers’ mental health.”

Studies have shown that spending time in nature can improve students' attention, memory and problem-solving skills. One study found that students who spent 20 minutes walking in a forest performed better on cognitive tests than students who spent the same time walking in an urban environment.

Benefits of EAL learners' involvement in nature

EAL learners' access to nature can sometimes seem less of a priority when learners have such an overwhelming need to learn English. However, there is significant value in engaging them with nature.

Involvement in nature (perhaps by gardening, walking, learning and playing in natural environments) can provide peace and serenity in times of difficulty. EAL learners can feel significant pressure to achieve the same level as their English-proficient peers, yet being in nature can proceed a release at challenging times (perhaps when learners are becoming accustomed to their new setting).

Learning outdoors in nature can be an extension of what is happening in the classroom. Learning can be content, language or perhaps even interaction focussed. It can promote problem-solving or reflection, and many of your day-to-day classroom activities can be adapted to work well out in the natural world.

Being a friend of nature

Being a friend of nature is an important inclusion in the classroom. There are many ways that EAL learners benefit from being involved with nature, including the exploration of the outside world, and a creative use of natural resources in the classroom. However, for your learners to benefit from nature, teachers need to embrace it too. Are you offering your EAL learners positive experiences in nature?

Access your complimentary downloadable resource with ideas on how to encourage your EAL learners to be friends of nature, by clicking on the buttons at the top and bottom of this article.

References

Tillmann S, Tobin D, Avison W, et al Mental health benefits of interactions with nature in children and teenagers: a systematic review J Epidemiol Community Health 2018;72:958-966. (access here)

White, M. P., Alcock, I., Wheeler, B. W., Depledge, M. H., & Fleming, L. E. (2019). Spending time in nature is associated with reduced stress: A systematic review. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(6), 3294-3303.

Download Activity ideas for encouraging EAL learners to be friends of nature
Email share link LinkedIn share link Twitter share link Facebook share link

More articles from our blog

Plan successfully for EAL learners

Created: Thu 5th Jun 2014

Everyone is talking about differentiation for EAL in whole class teaching, but how do we actually approach it consistently and effectively?

At Across Cultures we have been developing some systematic ways of approaching this in a structured, yet flexible format. In the downloadable plan you'll see a framework to support EAL teachers with planning for content learning alongside language learning. The plan is based about the theme of sea pollution and provides a writing frame for a persuasive text.

This lesson follow a particular format:

a parent and child talking and reading

Supporting parents in maintaining their children's mother tongue

Created: Fri 11th Mar 2016

Often, for busy EAL teachers, the focus is on the child. However, it is important to remember that, for some parents, the transition period can be just as difficult.

Approaches to bilingual upbringing

Some parents worry about bringing up their child with two languages and question whether it would be more beneficial for the child if they speak the language of the new country to help them become more competent in the new language and learn it faster. We need to discourage this approach, supporting parents in understanding the value of using their mother tongue.

Felt pens

Marking and feedback

Created: Tue 19th Jun 2018

Marking and feedback is a crucial part of any teacher’s workload, and is essential for EAL learners. The importance of good-quality marking and feedback has been evidenced by many academic professionals, notably William & Black (1998) and, more recently, William (2018) and Hattie (2012). Hattie discusses the idea of rigorous approaches to marking and feedback, stating that through assessing learners, teachers themselves learn about their own impact: “As a professional, it is critical to know they impact.

Back to Blog