What is EAL level 1?

EAL Level 1 typically refers to the beginner stage in English language proficiency frameworks used to assess and support EAL students. Students at this level are usually new to English or have very limited exposure to the language. They may understand basic social English but struggle significantly with academic language and complex classroom instructions.

At Level 1, students often rely heavily on visual cues, gestures and their home language to understand content. They might recognise familiar words and phrases but have difficulty constructing complete sentences in English. For example, a Level 1 student might point to objects when asked questions, use single words or short phrases to communicate and depend on picture cards or diagrams to follow lesson content.

In academic settings, Level 1 EAL students require substantial support to access the curriculum. They benefit from heavily modified materials, visual supports and opportunities to demonstrate knowledge through non-verbal means. A science lesson might involve hands-on experiments with picture vocabulary cards, allowing students to engage with concepts while building language skills simultaneously.

Teachers working with Level 1 EAL students focus on building foundational vocabulary, introducing basic sentence structures and creating low-anxiety environments where students feel safe to experiment with English. Progress tracking at this level often emphasises understanding and basic communication rather than complex language production, recognising that comprehension typically develops before speaking confidence.