Persuasive Writing for EAL Learners: A Functional Grammar Approach
6 November 2025. 5:30pm – 6:30pm AEDT, Online
Persuasive writing can be particularly challenging for students learning English as an additional language. This session introduces teachers to functional grammar as a powerful tool to support all learners in producing effective persuasive texts.
Rather than focusing on grammar rules in isolation, functional grammar focuses on using language to achieve meaning in context. Anchored in the Teaching and Learning Cycle, the session will explore how to build language skills systematically, connect teaching to the EAL curriculum, and scaffold students from model texts to independent writing.
Participants will leave with practical classroom-ready strategies and resources to help students write persuasive texts with greater clarity, coherence and purpose. While designed for teachers of Years 3–6, the session will also be valuable for those working with lower secondary students.
Speakers
Rebekah Piper Jones is an experienced EAL educator and the Primary Curriculum Coordinator at Blackburn English Language School. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary) from the University of New England and a Master’s in TESL/TEFL from the University of Birmingham. With over 20 years of experience, she has taught English to both school-aged and adult learners across Australia, Japan, and Guatemala.
Rebekah is a trained tutor of How Language Works, a functional linguistics course developed by Lexis Education, which she has delivered regularly to staff in the New Arrivals Program as well as to mainstream teachers. She has worked closely with Emeritus Professor Beverly Derewianka and VicTESOL on the Teaching and Learning Cycle project and has collaborated with organisations such as the NGV and the Immigration Museum to develop EAL teaching resources.
Drawing on her expertise in the functional model of language, Rebekah supports teachers to design practical, purposeful, and engaging learning tasks that prepare EAL students for the academic demands of mainstream schooling.
Cost
$10 – VicTESOL members (including members of other state TESOL associations)
$30 – Non-members
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Please note: VicTESOL is a not-for-profit organisation. Your registration ensures we can continue to offer high quality professional learning. Registrations are per participant. Purchasing a ticket buys the participant the right to the live online session. Registration is not to be shared with any other person who has not purchased a ticket.
