This unit will provide pre-service teachers with an understanding of the issues associated with teaching English to primary students with diverse language needs.  Diversity of learning styles and gender will be considered as will the language needs of NESB children, exceptionally gifted students, children who engage in English language with a non-standard dialect including Aboriginal students, refugees and children with learning difficulties.

Pre-service teachers will develop an awareness of the educational, social, cultural and linguistic diversity of students across a broad range of primary contexts and will develop a repertoire of professional practices and resources that are appropriate for the teaching of English to diverse language learners.  With the increasing number of Aboriginal students in Australian classrooms, a specific module will be introduced that focuses on language acquisition and Indigenous students.