ABSTRACT
Languages are community entities that help people to communicate their needs and wants to those around them. Language development, therefore, should also be a community entity, whether it be a first language, second language, or even a third language. Language development, along with early development, requires a consistent approach from teachers, practitioners, and parents and should be approached with the same vigour and enjoyment that one would approach any developing aspect of early life. The author's career path has seen him travel throughout the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, and Mainland China to work with fellow educators, parents, and institutions so that they might better understand developmentally appropriate practice, specifically as it relates to language development. English as an Additional Language (EAL), like other additional needs, is a spectrum and it's up to practitioners and parents together to understand the types and degree of support required for an EAL child.
