English Language Learners

Catalog description

This course focuses on the development of foundational knowledge for teacher education students to assist English language learners successfully in their future classrooms. Students will gain a basic understanding of the processes of second language acquisition and an understanding of the influence of culture on the educational process as viewed from current theoretical and pedagogical perspectives. The course content follows Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidelines for pre-service teachers for meeting the instructional needs of English Language Learners. The basic premise of the course is that teachers play an important role in creating a positive classroom learning environment and bringing school success, especially for English language learners. Students will be supported to develop essential dispositions, skills, and knowledge to fulfill this important role while exploring the issues of culture, language, learning contexts, instruction and professionalism. Students will study these five major courses topics through courses readings, class discussions and cultural explorations of our own and others’ cultures while engaging in individual, social, and experiential learning opportunities together. Recommended: Students should be able to read and understand the textbook and have competent writing and organizational skills to allow them to complete assignments. Students should be able to use the internet for research.