English as a Second Language Program Specialist Certificate

EDU 551 Field Experience – 2cr/60 hours
This course serves as the field experience for individuals in the ESL Specialist Certification program. The students will spend a total of 60 hours in the field working with English as Second Language students. Emphasis will be placed on the application of the content studied in EDU 559 – Curriculum, Assessment and Instructional Strategies for Teaching the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students. This field participant will use effective teaching strategies, adapt and modify instructional materials and implement appropriate assessments. The field participant will be a collaborative member of the instructional team. A college supervisor will maintain contact with the cooperating teacher and the field student throughout the experience.
EDU 559 Co-requisite

EDU 552 Assessment and Evaluation of English Language Learners – 3 credits
This course, designed for the graduate level student, focuses on approaches to designing, adapting, implementing and interpreting assessments for the English Language Learner. Students participating in this course will learn to implement multiple formative and summative assessment measures for a variety of purposes. Students will understand how formal and informal assessments guide appropriate instruction. Assessment concepts will also include discipline specific tests such as the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs. Finally, the learner in this course will understand how assessment can act as a measurement for accountability purposes.

EDU 555 Developing Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity – 3 credits
Students will study the relationship between cultures, multicultural education, and effective teaching strategies for all students. This course will prepare educators to create an environment that will be cultural sensitive and support varied instructional approaches. It will include a study of knowledge, skills, and strategies that enable teachers to facilitate learning for students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

EDU 556 Second Language Acquisition and Language Development – 3 credits
This course will provide education practitioners with an awareness of the process of language acquisition for first and second languages both in terms of the theoretical background and in terms of the practical application in the classroom. Cognitive stages of language development, basic linguistics, and the structure of English will be introduced. Practitioners will develop competency in the integration of TESOL and PDE standards in speaking, listening, reading, and writing as well as instructional and assessment strategies to successfully increase English language learners L2 competency. Course goals will be achieved through class lecture, discussion, research, presentations, and practical application projects.

EDU 558 Approaches to Educating ELL’s – 3 credits
This course offers educational practitioners a survey of the major approaches to teaching different types of English language learners in terms of method, instructional strategies, assessment. The practical application of research including adapting materials, assessment and evaluation techniques, and access to student/teacher resources will be the primary focus of the course. These topics and other issues faced by ESL teachers and learners will be addressed in a multicultural context with the goal to develop competency in the integration of TESOL and PDE standards in the classroom. This course is designed for master’s level education students and other education practitioners. Course content will be covered through lecture, discussion, student facilitation, practical application projects, and research.

EDU 559 Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction Strategies for Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students – 3 credits
This course prepares the graduate level elementary and secondary teacher to meet the special needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students in the PreK-12 general education classroom. Students in this class will develop an understanding of the impact of being a non-native English speaker on the learning process and socialization in the classroom. The student will develop this understanding through the study of second language acquisition and through obtaining specific teaching techniques and better aid the ESL student in the learning process. In addition, intercultural communication skills will be acquired. An emphasis is also placed on the teachers’ respect and appreciation for culture and language.
Prerequisite: EDU 550.