AIBU to ask this question of any teachers on here?

[itswhereitsat]

Posting this on here for traffic really.

We currently live in an Arabic speaking country. My two children (DS 12 and DS 7) attend local language schools most subjects are in Arabic and English is taught as a second language. They are fluent in both languages and they speak English with a Southern Accent. In Arabic my eldest would be able to sit the GCSE Arabic exam. They visit the UK every year and I feel that they have a very good understanding of the life. I try to keep abreast of trends for children in the UK and when they return I don't feel their differences are very noticeable.
We are planning to return to the UK in Summer 2020 and live in the South Derbyshire area. My eldest would then be in Year 9 and the youngest, Year 4. I am most concerned about my eldest son as his written English is a little weak due to learning English as a second language abroad. I supplement what they both do at school with UK curriculum books and online resources like Literacy Planet, Spelling Zone and Reading Express. They also have a library of typical books that children would read in the UK eg Roald Dahl, David Walliams, Harry Potter etc. However, I don't think anything can match total immersion in English and spending all the school time learning only English.
I have a year to prepare him for the change and intend to ramp up the English supplementation. If there are any Teachers on here I would like to pose this question/scenario. My son appears in your classroom in a years time. What would you have liked me to have done to prepare him for life in a UK school and to improve his English writing further? Also, any advice on the move much appreciated.

English isn't your 1st language? Who is teaching them English?

CGP - they have all year groups and all subjects from primary upwards
www.amazon.co.uk/Maths-Year-Targeted-Workbook-answers/dp/1789083176/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1566835231&refinements=p_27%3ACGP+Books&sr=1-11

English tv? I found it massively helpful.

My first language is English, their Dad's is Arabic so at home they speak to us in our respective languages. At school they do English but it is too easy as taught as a second language. I do English with them at home but they get lots of homework at school plus Arabic tutoring (which tends to dominate to be honest) so there is a limited time that I can spend with them on this. I try my best though but I just feel that their written writing is weak. For example, there do a lot of grammar and comprehension at school but not much creative writing or anything like that. Always a battle with my eldest to write English in length perhaps due to confidence.

Just to be clear they are fluent English speakers, its just there writing that they find challenging.

Make sure they understand the difference between 'there' and 'their' for a start

Reading makes a huge difference to a child's ability to write well. I would really push them with reading a wide selection of English books.

Yes- lots of reading. It will help their written English more than any grammar exercises. Maybe get a Kindle and search for some of the lists of recommended books for each year group. Book Trust do one, but lots of teachers have done their own too.

As a science teacher, best case scenario is that the child is confident on key stage 3 material and can confidently say and spell the key scientific words from the topics. Science is almost a language in itself and even regional accents can make understanding difficult.

I would second the CGP revision guide/ workbooks. There's also lots of videos online, fuse school are good but mainly aimed at key stage 4+

In my school, we would be starting GCSE in year 9 so this would really give them a boost.

MarieG10 - Was that a dig at a typo? Scan read it and couldn't see an error, but even if there is, please give me a break. Just a Mum trying to do her very best, that's all. At least I care, plenty of parents out there who leave it solely to the school.

OP ignore snarky comments.. some people can't help themselves!

Thanks for those of you that have responded, really helpful. I'm in the UK at the moment so intend to stock up on lots of books.

Read as much as they can.

With the older one, get familiar with different types of writing (functional, persuasive, discursive, personal, creative).

Read some poetry and watch some Shakespeare.

Work on discussing shorter texts - newspaper articles. Comprehension is more about inference as they get older. Get them to ask lots and lots of questions about texts.

I am secondary English in Scotland. There are big differences in the exams but the basics are the same. Look at The Big Writing (Andrell Education) which is very helpful with improving writing beyond just the technical aspects.

Well done.

The GCP books are great I would definitely get some of those.

@MaureenSowerbutts -Yes, really annoying. Especially as I've used their and there in the right place in most of the post - just a simple error. What is it with people? Perhaps she'd be happier if I didn't write this post, didn't try to improve my children, then dumped them on a school to deal with any of their shortfallings. You can't win.

Dont worry OP standards here are not that high

@Cismyfatarse @MaureenSowerbutts Thanks for that, much appreciated.

I'm at it now CGP!!

I would try to get some more advanced books for your elder child. Michael Morpurgo"Private Peaceful" and "War Horse" as a start. Maybe a graphic novel of a Shakespeare play (one with the actual play words).
Books to look at: Holes, Hunger Games, Northern Lights. There is a good long list on Goodreads.
How is their comprehension? You could start by getting them to write book reviews (maybe start by getting them to do it verbally before moving on to writing it).
And what unlocked creative writing for my DD was telling her that she could just "steal" plots from TV shows, at least for school writing.
But overall if they start by year 9 they should be able to survive. You might want to talk to them about life in the UK, and try to think of how things will be different.

@itswhereitsat

Reading is really important it will help the writing especially for the primary aged child. Then the advice you’ve been given for secondary.

Also make sure on the school census their 1st language is recorded as Arabic regardless of how fluent they are in English because it’s their academic language is Arabic. We didn’t and I’m bitterly regretting it.

I think continue what you’re doing, we moved back to the U.K. with our bilingual child 7 years when both parents speak English.

@Mollybutton Thanks for your post and also your comment "if they start by Year 9 they should survive". I found that very reassuring :-). Off to look into some of the books you've mentioned.
I've been doing quite a bit of comprehension lately and the eldest is improving.
I'm a bit worried about the eldest making friends and bullying. Where he is now there is literally no bullying and I am worried that coming in as a new child so late and from a foreign country (Egypt) that he will be a target. Or maybe not.

Alan Peat writes books to guide through teaching creative writing and they are very effective - try Googoling him

Honestly, the fact you're aware that he may need a bit of extra support is going to do him the world of good. Being ready to take teachers' advice is part of the hurdle with a lot of parents. I think the average classroom is so diverse that he won't necessarily be any weaker than the others. Being bilingual will probably be a benefit when it comes to some of his subjects. I taught a boy who came to the UK aged 12 with absolutely no English. After a year he was in top sets and doing really well due to being exposed to the language. Are there any other English speakers he could spend time with in your area? Could you arrange for him to have a pen pal before you move to the UK?

Wouldn’t worry too much - here for year nine is in time. Their English skills will race ahead.

I recommend 2nd edition of 'in the middle' by Nancie Atwell for you (not the kids) on learning writing in workshops

Have a look in Aldi for Carol Voderman "Key Stage" books. I'm in Ireland but my local Aldi often has them. There are Science and Maths ones as well as English. It might give you an idea of where their English reading and comprehension is regarding maths and science vocabulary.

I'd also pick up some actual school books for their age group. Even within English children can be confused by people saying "5 take away 3 is 2" as opposed to "5 minus 3 equals 2".