How Can Tech Tools Support EALD Learners?
English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) learners make up a significant and growing part of Australian classrooms. Over 600,000 EALD learners are currently enrolled across Government and Catholic schools in Australia, with 30% of all Australian school students coming from a language background other than English. In NSW alone, 40% of public school students are from a non-English-speaking background, and 65.4% of those students are actively learning English as an additional language or dialect.
These numbers reflect the scale of the challenge and the opportunity. For schools looking to better support EALD learners, having the right digital education resources in place can make a real difference in how students access content, build confidence and participate in classroom learning.
ReadCloud provide digital education resources that support students who need more time, more repetition and more confidence when working with English text. As an edtech platform, ReadCloud gives teachers and students access to digital textbooks and other tools that can improve comprehension, independence and participation.
Why digital textbooks matter for EALD learners
EALD learners bring valuable language skills, perspectives and experiences into the classroom. But reading in English can still be challenging, especially when students are working with unfamiliar vocabulary, academic language or complex sentence structures. For many EALD learners, the barrier is not just understanding the text itself, but feeling confident enough to engage with it consistently and independently.
That's where ReadCloud's immersive eReader can help.
Inclusive features
Support diverse learning needs with tools such as text-to-speech, customisable text appearance and spacing, and syllable breakdowns. These features are designed to accommodate different learning styles and make reading more manageable for students who need extra support with fluency, decoding or comprehension.
Language translation
Translate classroom content into over 120 languages, helping international and EALD students better understand curriculum content in their native language. This can reduce confusion, support learning momentum and give students a stronger starting point before moving back into English.
Flexible access
Allow students to read at their own pace, revisit difficult sections and engage with texts in a way that suits their learning needs. ReadCloud makes it easier for students to access reading materials independently, whether they are learning in class, at home or on the go.
Better vocabulary support
Help students build understanding of new words and subject-specific terms in context. Instead of stopping learning to look things up elsewhere, students can stay within the text and continue developing comprehension as they read.
More confident participation
When reading feels more accessible, students are more likely to stay engaged with classroom learning. ReadCloud helps create a reading experience that supports confidence, inclusion and active participation, especially for students who may otherwise struggle to keep up.
How can teachers support EALD learners in the classroom?
Supporting EALD learners well means more than simplifying content. It's about creating the right conditions for students to access meaning, build confidence and participate fully in learning. When teachers are intentional about how reading is introduced, paced and discussed, they can help EALD learners engage with the curriculum in a way that feels achievable rather than overwhelming.
How do tech tools like ReadCloud help?
ReadCloud eBooks make it easier for teachers to support EALD learners through flexible digital reading. With ReadCloud, teachers can:
- Pre-teach key vocabulary: Teachers can introduce important words before the reading task, then help students see those same words in context as they read. With Dictionary Lookup, students can highlight any word or phrase and instantly access a definition, making it easier to connect new vocabulary to the text.
- Chunk reading into smaller sections: Instead of asking students to read a full chapter at once, teachers can assign smaller sections and work through them one at a time.
- Support repeated reading: Students can return to the same text easily, which helps them build understanding, recognise words more quickly and feel more confident with the material.
- Pair texts with discussion and guided questions: Teachers can use the text to prompt class discussion and check understanding. With ReadCloud, students can save key sections with unlimited bookmarks and add personal annotations to highlight words, sentences or pages for later review.
This approach gives teachers a practical way to combine classroom teaching, independent reading and revision.
Supporting technology in education with ReadCloud eBooks
Technology in education should make learning more accessible, not more complicated. For EALD learners, eBooks can help bridge the gap between classroom expectations and individual reading needs.
By combining tools such as digital textbooks and eReaders, ReadCloud supports a more inclusive approach to learning. It gives students a better chance to engage with texts, build confidence and keep up with classroom content.
Ready to support EALD learners with ReadCloud?
If your school is ready to give EALD learners better access to curriculum content, ReadCloud can help. With Dictionary Lookup, Text-to-Speech, unlimited bookmarks and multi-language translation, ReadCloud makes reading more achievable and classroom participation more confident. Get in touch to see how ReadCloud works for your students.
