Equal Rights to the Curriculum: Many Languages, One Message(10 Parents' and Teachers' Guides)

The parents of second language children are often seen but not heard in schools. This book is unique in addressing the many issues facing parents of children whose first language is different from that of the school classroom. Drawing on teaching theory, the book provides these parents with a wealth of practical information, guidelines and checklists, enabling them to ask schools intelligent and challenging questions to test whether their children’s linguistic diversity is really being properly catered for. The theory review and best practice guidelines should be of value also to teacher trainers, teachers, administrators and policy makers. They provide an accurate analysis of important issues together with pragmatic pointers towards improving educational practice so that all children growing up in a school’s multicultural society will be guaranteed what they deserve: Equal Rights to the Curriculum.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Foreword by Jim Cummins Introduction Chapter 1. Hidden and Overt Power Structures in International Schools Chapter 2. Research, Theory and Good Practice Chapter 3. Third Culture Children Chapter 4. ESL Parents - Seen But Not Heard Chapter 5. Promoting Other Languages Chapter 6. Choosing an Effective International School for Your Child Glossary Bibliography Further Reading Appendix 1 - An Internationalism Audit Index

About the Author :
Eithne Gallagher is recognised as an authority in the field of ESL in International Education. She has worked in International Education for over twenty years and has taught English as a foreign language, French as a foreign language and ESL at both primary and secondary levels. Presently Eithne works as an ESL teacher in the Elementary department of Marymount International School Rome. She has been chair of the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) ESL & Mother-tongue committee, is a regular presenter at International School conferences and has delivered workshops and lectures for teachers and administrators across Europe. Her writings on ESL & Mother-tongue issues have been published in the International Schools Journal and Magazine. Eithne is the mother of three bilingual children and lives with her family on a hilltop outside Rome.

Review :
"The book is challenging and the author's approach is novel but it is extremely readable and there is a wealth of research-based sources to give strong theoretical background to her arguments. There is also an enormous amount of practical and usable advice for parents, teachers, students and school leaders. I believe it is worthy of becoming one of the most fundamental and influential contributions to the field of SLA in the International Schools in many years. Terry Haywood, Head, International School of Milan."