subject: Christine Gillions on Meeting the Needs of International Students [print this page] Christine Gillions on Meeting the Needs of International Students
Reporter: What resources do you use/rely on to support and teach international students.
Christine Gillions: The resources I use are generally those which provide support and strategies for international students, so these students can have a high degree of success across the mainstream curriculum. I firmly believe in using resources (often created by myself) which address the needs and goals of the particular students I am teaching at the time. This means I try to avoid using resources which are designed to have the students meet the demands of a commercially prepared ESL program that is not related directly related to the fundamental purpose of my students i.e. to exit a high quality Australian school with qualifications that will gain them entry into the tertiary course of their first choice.
Reporter: What sort of support and training should be provided to those working with international students in order to meet their needs more fully?
Christine Gillions: There needs to be a whole-school approach to generally supporting staff and this is certainly true in regards to supporting the needs and training of staff working with international students - in pastoral care, administration and teaching roles. Accessing outside professional development of ESL supports staff should also be encouraged and supported by school management. Schools should also subscribe to the major state and national TESOL organisations and their publications, which further develops the ESL staff members' professional knowledge and skills. It is vital that the ESL staff are highly qualified, and any personal commitment to further professional learning should be encouraged, acknowledged and applauded by the leadership team if the school is to retain desirable ESL teachers.
