Theories, Methods, and Materials for Teaching English Learners

Catalog description

This course focuses on theories, issues, and practices involved in first and second language acquisition and maintenance. It provides an overview of assessment instruments and state policies to identify and place English learners (EL), state-adopted English Language Development (ELD) standards, and teaching strategies to support students’ language development. An emphasis is placed on second language acquisition theories, best practices for teaching reading, writing, and language development, as well as integrating students’ cultural backgrounds and assets into literacy instruction. Candidates also explore the socio-cultural, legal and political factors influencing language policies and impacting English learners. The culminating assignment for the course involves designing and conducting a tutoring project that demonstrates candidates’ proficiency in diagnosing an English learner’s language needs in their content-area and developing and implementing a tutoring plan that addresses those needs. A minimum of 10 hours of fieldwork is required for this course.