Teaching speaking and listening through chants, rhymes and songs
21 October 2025 5:30pm – 6:30pm AEDT, Online
In this session you will learn how to support newly arrived students to speak clearly, practise vocabulary and learn the language structures of every day spoken Australian English. You will learn how to use chants, rhymes and songs to engage and motivate students, as they learn how language works, in a fun way. You will also learn how to create your own chants, rhymes and songs to build your students’ confidence and help improve their language and literacy skills.
Speaker
Barbara Dahlsen
Barbara Dahlsen has worked in education for over 25 years, starting her Primary teaching career in country Victoria and the inner- city western suburbs of Melbourne. She has worked as an EAL specialist teacher in the New Arrivals Program for the past 15 years and is currently the learning specialist at Blackburn English Language School, working across campuses in East Burwood, Croydon North and Wodonga. Barbara is particularly interested in teaching new arrival students from Foundation to Year 6 as they begin to learn in English and settle into life in a new country.
Barbara presented at the New Arrivals Program Conference in 2024: Teaching speaking and listening through chants, rhymes and songs and co authored a chapter in the book An EAL/D Handbook: Teaching and learning across the curriculum when English is an additional language or dialect.
Barbara Dahlsen & Rebekah Jones with Beverly Derewianka (2020)
Chapter 2 Supporting new arrivals
Helen Harper & Susan Feez (Eds)
The Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA)
Cost
$10 – VicTESOL members (including members of other state TESOL associations)
$30 – Non-members
Become a member today, for member prices!
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.
