Supporting Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students Thrive

This is the ninth post in the ‘Insights from Teaching’ Series

In today’s multicultural society, supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students is more crucial than ever. As a first-generation migrant who grew up in Melbourne’s outer East, I remember how predominantly white my school was. When I first learned about the techniques I’m sharing in this post, I felt a genuine excitement about being a teacher—it’s the kind of support I wish I had growing up.

As a teacher working at a large, multicultural school with over 3000 students, in Melbourne’s outer West, over 59% of students had a language background other than English. This was an invaluable experience for learning how to help CALD students thrive. In my second year, I took on the role of EALD Curriculum Leader, where I had the privilege of helping other educators develop the skills and understanding to support CALD students effectively.

CALD students come from a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and many face challenges in understanding and using English in academic contexts. To truly support these students, teachers need to employ a blend of language development strategies, cultural sensitivity, and inclusive teaching practices. By addressing their unique needs, we can help CALD students gain confidence and unlock their full potential.

Key Concepts of Supporting CALD Students

1. Cultural Sensitivity:
   • Cultural Awareness: Recognise and respect the diverse cultural backgrounds of CALD students. This includes understanding their cultural norms, values, and educational experiences.
   • Inclusive Curriculum: Integrate diverse cultural perspectives into the curriculum to make learning more relevant and engaging for CALD students. This is important. Students learn better when they can relate to the curriculum, such as being able to see themselves as the protagonists in the stories that they’re reading.
2. Inclusive Teaching Practices:
   • Differentiation: Tailor instruction to meet the varying language proficiency levels of CALD students. This can involve modifying tasks, providing additional support, and using varied teaching methods.
   • Collaborative Learning: Encourage group work and peer support to help CALD students practise language skills and build social connections.
3. Language Development (for EALD students):
   • BICS and CALP: Understand the difference between Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP). BICS refers to conversational language skills, while CALP involves the language needed for academic success.
   • Scaffolding: Provide support structures to help EALD students understand and use academic language. This can include visual aids, sentence starters, and graphic organisers.

Practical Approaches to Support CALD Students

1. Cultural Sensitivity Strategies:
   • Cultural Celebrations: Celebrate cultural diversity by acknowledging and incorporating students’ cultural traditions and holidays into classroom activities.
   • A simple first step could be to just acknowledge celebrations in homeroom/at the start of the day. In my homeroom, I’ve also had students present information or stories about cultural celebrations from their backgrounds.
   • Fun idea: Get parents involved! My friend visited her daughter’s child care centre during Chinese new year to teach the students about what CNY is about, she taught them how to make dumplings and handed out red packets with chocolate coins.
   • Culturally Relevant Materials: Use reading materials, examples, and case studies that reflect the diverse backgrounds of CALD students.
2. Inclusive Teaching Practices:
   • Differentiated Instruction: Provide differentiated tasks and assessments that cater to the language proficiency levels of CALD students. For example, offer simplified reading materials or allow oral presentations instead of written reports.
   • Peer Support: Pair CALD students with supportive peers who can help them with language and academic tasks. Encourage collaborative learning through group projects and discussions.
3. Language Development Strategies:
   • Visual Supports: Use visual aids such as pictures, diagrams, and charts to help EALD students understand new concepts and vocabulary.
   • Language Modelling: Model correct language use by speaking clearly, using simple sentences, and repeating key phrases.
   • Interactive Activities: Incorporate interactive activities such as role-plays, games, and discussions to make language learning engaging and practical.

By implementing these strategies, the teacher can create a supportive and inclusive environment where the CALD student feels valued and can succeed academically.

Final Thoughts: Supporting CALD Students

Supporting CALD students requires a combination of language development strategies, cultural sensitivity, and inclusive teaching practices. By addressing their specific needs and providing targeted support, teachers can help CALD students build confidence and achieve their full potential.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on supporting CALD students. This is one of my favourite teaching areas and I could talk about it for dayssss. Have you implemented any strategies to help CALD students thrive in your classroom? What challenges have you faced, and what successes have you seen?