Episode 46: Understanding the Silent Period in Multilingual Classrooms with Adrienn Szlapak | Supporting EAL Learners Through Language Acquisition | Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell

Welcome to Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, the podcast for teachers, school leaders, EAL specialists, and educators who are passionate about supporting multilingual learners and creating inclusive classrooms.

In Episode 46, Helen Bodell is joined by Adrienn (Adri) Szlapak to explore one of the most important stages of language acquisition for many multilingual learners: the silent period in EAL.

The silent period is a natural part of learning an additional language, where learners may listen, observe, process, and build understanding before they feel ready to speak. In this episode, Helen and Adri discuss why understanding this stage is essential for educators and how schools can better support learners during this important part of their language-learning journey.

Together, they explore how educators can reframe silence as a positive sign of language development rather than a cause for concern, and how creating supportive environments can help learners develop confidence at their own pace.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• What the silent period is in English as an Additional Language (EAL).
• Why silence can be a natural stage of language acquisition.
• How multilingual learners process and develop a new language.
• Practical strategies for supporting learners during the silent period.
• How teachers can avoid putting unnecessary pressure on new language learners.
• Ways schools can build confidence and participation for multilingual pupils.

Understanding the silent period helps educators recognise the learning happening beneath the surface. By valuing listening, observation, and gradual participation, schools can create environments where multilingual learners feel safe, included, and ready to communicate.

Whether you are an EAL Lead, classroom teacher, teaching assistant, international educator, or school leader, this episode provides valuable insights into supporting learners who are developing confidence in a new language.

Meet Adrienn Szlapak

Adrienn (Adri) Szlapak is an experienced EAL/ESL specialist and academic manager. Having been an EAL learner herself, Adri brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work supporting multilingual learners.

She is currently the Elementary EAL Leader at St Joseph’s Institution International School Malaysia, where she is passionate about plurilingual education and professional learning.

Adri regularly attends and presents at international conferences. She also serves on the IATEFL YLTSIG committee as Blog Editor, leads the Primary EAL Network for the Association of International Malaysian Schools, and runs her own blog, EAL Diaries.

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