EAL Toolbox

About

Adam Lewis

I teach English as an Additional Language at a British international primary school in Hanoi, and I have taught multilingual learners in Vietnam since 2013.

I support class teachers to make mainstream lessons work for children who are learning in English, and I lead professional development for colleagues on supporting multilingual learners.

I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Bath. My thesis looks at EAL practice and pedagogy in British international primary schools around the world. I have written for the EAL Journal, the International House Journal and the Heddle EAL blog.

The EAL Toolbox is where I share the tools I build to make the job easier. They are free for any teacher to use.

Experience

  1. 2022 to now

    EAL Teacher

    British International School Hanoi (Nord Anglia Education)

    • Teaching English as an Additional Language across the primary school.
    • Working alongside class teachers on resources and plans for reading, writing, maths and humanities.
    • Designing and leading a CPD pathway for primary colleagues on supporting multilingual learners.
    • Leading workshops on pedagogical translanguaging at international conferences.

  2. 2017 to 2022

    Head of International Programmes and Head Teacher

    SenTia School, Hanoi

    • Led implementation of the Oxford International Curriculum at primary and lower secondary.
    • Taught English, ESL, maths and science at Key Stage 2.
    • Built school-wide systems for behaviour, teacher coaching and quality assurance.

  3. 2015 to 2017

    Head of English, Secondary

    Wellspring International School, Hanoi

    • Taught IGCSE ESL and advanced academic English.
    • Designed and delivered a professional development programme for the English team.

  4. 2014 to 2015

    Primary EAL Teacher

    St Paul American International School, Hanoi

    • Led the development of a full EAL curriculum across all grades.
    • Helped set up a withdrawal programme for pupils with acute EAL needs.

Qualifications

Away from school

I am from Liverpool and a founder member of the Hanoi Reds supporters' club. I play golf, read a lot of twentieth-century history, and keep a diary. I am also the author of A New Dad’s Diary: the (mis)adventures of a learner dad, available on Kindle.