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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.
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 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.
August is the time to take that well-deserved break from school, colleagues, and learners, and to rest, have fun, and hopefully enjoy some much-needed sunshine. Without a doubt, summer is when many teachers around the world recharge their batteries before the craziness and delight of the new academic year start all over again.
In the last edition, we considered the importance of not using a Whole Language approach in isolation as a primary method of literacy instruction, but rather ensuring that a systematic, skills-based approach is used to guarantee reading and writing progression for second language learners. This begs the question, which systematic approach should we use? The two systematic methods adopted by most practitioners for first language learners are the Analytical or Analytic Phonics approach or the Synthetic Phonics approach.
What tools are there if you have a sixth sense that something is not quite right?
At what point does a teacher start to question whether an EAL student’s lack of progress is due to English Language Development (ELD) issues or due to specific learning differences (SpLD).
These questions come up again and again. Learning English as an Additional Language is not a learning difficulty, however 20% of EAL students will follow the norm of having specific learning differences (Chapter 1, SFR24/2012, GovUK). Therefore, there is a possibility that an EAL student has SpLDs.