Learning Village by Across Cultures

09/10/2026

A new homepage. A clearer methodology.

Our new Learning Village homepage is live — and it gives a much clearer picture of the approach behind the programme.

At the heart of Learning Village is a structured methodology for supporting multilingual and low-literacy learners:

-Learning through images to make meaning visible and inclusive for ANY language background
-Immersive English learning that gives learners repeated exposure to language in context as well as translation into over 100 languages.
-Structured and scaffolded language and literacy development that builds from vocabulary to sentence patterns (using chunks) to real language.
-Independent and teacher-supported learning so digital learning is blended to support interaction, modelling, feedback and independence.
-Curriculum access so learners can develop the language they need to participate in classroom learning.

And underpinning it all:

Research-informed. Human expertise. AI-enhanced.

Take a look at the new Learning Village:
https://buff.ly/ZxNcIUe

08/10/2026

How much of Learning Village are you really using?

Whether you’ve been a member for years or are exploring Learning Village for the first time, our one-day Best Practice Course is designed to help you get more from your approach to supporting multilingual and low-literacy learners.

We’ll move beyond the basics to look at practical ways to assess needs, target language and literacy teaching, adapt learning and demonstrate progress.

And if it’s been a while since your last Learning Village training, there’s plenty that’s new — from Basic View and new resource-creation tools to AI-enhanced assessment and feedback.

Come away with practical strategies you can use straight away and a clearer understanding of how Learning Village can support learners across the curriculum.

📅 14th October (Virtual) and 20th October (London)

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Virtual and In-Person Training Courses for EAL and Multilingual, ESOL and SEND Teachers, Assistants and Leaders.

07/10/2026

A learner who feels safe is more likely to have a go.

For multilingual learners, that might mean trying a new word, answering a question or speaking in front of others — even when they’re not sure they’ll get it right.

Creating a classroom where mistakes are expected, peers support one another and learners feel they belong can make a real difference to confidence and participation.

Download our FREE resources with practical classroom activities and self-regulation strategies.
https://buff.ly/QUSFk2C

06/10/2026

Looking for practical ways to better support EAL learners?
Our FREE webinar recording, EAL Teaching: Top Tips and Strategies, explores the needs and challenges EAL learners may experience – and, importantly, what teachers can do to support them.
Discover practical tips and strategies that you can take back to your classroom and start using with your learners. Perfect for teachers who are new to EAL, or anyone looking for a useful refresher.
Watch the FREE recording here: https://buff.ly/otahlAB

Across Cultures produces regular free professional development webinars and on-demand videos on EAL, SEND and low-level literacy teaching in schools. You can access these videos for free by entering your contact details after clicking on a video.

05/10/2026

Does EAL support sit with a few specialists in your school – or is it everyone's responsibility?
Creating a whole-school approach sounds straightforward. Making it work consistently in practice can be much harder.

On Wednesday 21 October at 2pm (UK time), Dr Eowyn Crisfield (https://buff.ly/L22IQ1y) joins us to introduce the Multi-Tiered System for English Language Acquisition (MTS-ELA).

We’ll look at how schools can build strong classroom provision for all learners, add targeted support where needed and provide specialist intervention when required. If you're reviewing your EAL provision this year, come and join the discussion.
👉 Register:https://buff.ly/u90JddX
Find out more - https://buff.ly/uTKSwgc

02/10/2026

“Will they be okay if they don’t speak English?”

It’s a question many families ask when a young multilingual child starts school.

In our latest article, Raj Ladva Head of Early Years from King's College International School Bangkok discusses how their Early Years setting supports children from day one – valuing home languages, using visuals and Makaton, involving families, encouraging translanguaging and creating an environment where children can understand routines and communicate their needs.

These principles also sit at the heart of Learning Village: visual, accessible language learning with home-language support, helping multilingual learners build the language and literacy they need to participate with confidence.

Read the full article: https://buff.ly/B6HJp9t

Practical guidance for supporting multilingual children in Early Years by valuing home languages, using translanguaging and creating an inclusive environment.

01/10/2026

A story in a child’s home language is doing more than you might think.

Multilingual stories can help learners:
🌍 connect new English to what they already know
💬 strengthen understanding
🙌 build confidence
🤝 feel that their language and identity belong in the classroom

Supporting a child’s home language doesn’t hold back English development – it can provide a valuable foundation for learning (Gibbons, 2015).

💡 Try it: Give learners opportunities to read, discuss or revisit familiar stories in their home language before exploring them in English.

📥 Want to put this into practice? Download our FREE multilingual books resource:
https://buff.ly/Dht3peX

29/09/2026

"It gives students the opportunity to revisit tasks, practise key skills, and build confidence.” (Teacher feedback, May 2026)

We love hearing how Learning Village is being used in mixed-ability classrooms.

Florinah Jion from Kinabalu International School, Malaysia, highlights how learners can work at their own pace, revisit learning and practise the skills they need – supporting individual needs while building confidence.

🌍 Different learners. Different needs. Their own pace.

28/09/2026

🌍 Should families keep using their home language when their child is learning English? Absolutely.
Maintaining a child’s home language can provide an important foundation for developing additional languages, literacy and learning.
Schools can play an important role too – reassuring families that continuing to talk, read and interact in the language they know best is valuable.
Find practical tips for supporting multilingual families with maintaining home languages: https://buff.ly/Kp0uuwH

24/09/2026

We're delighted to be exhibiting and we'd love to meet you there!

Learn more and register here:

Register now