TESOL training is for an immersion process not a bilingual process, preparing teachers to teach students whose first languages the teacher may not know. As some already pointed out, it's possible to have several language groups in one class. Few of us have the time or talent to learn even the basics of each language. 
 
That said, it is helpful for ESL teachers to have the experience of learning a second language just to be able to sympathize with students. 
 
It is also helpful to learn some basic concepts of languages - does the language have 3rd person singular? a past tense? Is there a written language? This is a great opportunity for students to teach each other and the teacher.
 
Jennifer Barber
English as a Second Language
 
Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Office: 2214
Aberdeen, WA 98520
360-538-2516
jbarber at ghc.edu
www.ghc.edu/faculty/barber
 

________________________________

From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Teresa Durkin
Sent: Mon 12/1/2008 8:08 AM
To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List
Subject: [EnglishLanguage 3168] Re: ESL Teacher Training


I totally agree with you, Lynda, that having some understanding of a student's native language helps us to teach them more effectively.  I also speak Spanish. My work with adults from different language backgrounds has shown me how much my knowledge of the Spanish language and culture has been beneficial in conveying English language concepts to my Spanish speaking students.  However, it has been much more difficult to convey those same concepts to students whose language is totally unknown to me.
 
I have also been called upon to teach English to elementary children during the summer prior to their first exposure to school in the USA.  Again, my knowledge of Spanish has been extremely helpful in communicating concepts to those who spoke Spanish.
 
I think it would be great to have a source to go to where we could at least learn about the basic sentence structure of different languages.  It might help us explain some concepts better.
 
Teresa Durkin
Adult Education Coordinator
Special Programs Coordinator
Lake County ESD
tdurkin at lakeesd.k12.or.us 
 
On 11/28/08, LYNDA OSBORNE <lyndaosborne at att.net> wrote:

	Greetings, everyone.
	 
	Quick query. I'm an elementary school teacher and have wondered, "Are ESL teachers required to learn the linguistic frameworks of their students' primary languages?"  My current school does not have an ESL program, but I did work at a school several years ago that had one. I had about 33% Mexican-American Spanish-speaking students and found that their learning and use of English improved during my time with them. This may be because I speak Spanish and know the basics of the language's grammatical/conversational structure. I feel this knowledge helped me to better support English learning and conceptual understandings with these students. I know that there are some ESL courses that prepare teachers in this field over a 6-week summer course, which I'm not certain would be quite enough time to expose teachers to a variety of linguistic constucts [languages] if they didn't already have such knowledge. 
	 
	My success with those students may also be attributed to their level of comfort with me knowing that I respected them [and their language enough to learn and practice, etc.]. Since language is so intricately tied to the thinking process, a teacher's ability to "understand where a student is coming from" in terms of how they think and speak [and culture] can serve to motivate student learning and help the teacher to access gaps, needs, strengths, etc. I suppose that my final question rounds out to be, "What is the general focus for ESL training and do you think that ESL teachers are prepared adequately in these training programs?
	 
	Thanks for your input!
	 
	Lynda Lee
	 
	Lynda Lee Osborne
	Teacher of the Year 2008-9 
	FLL Robotics Coach
	Global Economics Project Coordinator
	A. Philip Randolph Elementary 
	Fulton County Schools
	lyndaosborne at att.net <mailto:lyndaosborne at att.net> 

	 

	
________________________________

	From: "Liden, Astrid" <Astrid.Liden at state.mn.us>
	To: englishlanguage at nifl.gov
	Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 12:17:02 PM
	Subject: [EnglishLanguage 3158] ESL Learners with Low Levels of Literacy
	
	

	Special Topic: Research and Best Practice Concerning the Instruction of ESL Learners with Low Levels of Literacy

	We are pleased to announce that the 25th anniversary volume of the MinneWITESOL Journal is now available online at www.minnewitesoljournal.org <http://www.minnewitesoljournal.org/> . The first section of this volume includes articles that concentrate on our special topic: research and best practice concerning the instruction of ESL learners with low levels of literacy.  Articles include an overview of research-based methods for teaching ESL students with low levels of literacy, a report on a year-long research study on teaching learning strategies to students with low levels of literacy, and several reviews of materials for low-literacy students.

	Astrid Liden 
	ABE Professional Development Coordinator 
	Minnesota Department of Education 
	Adult Basic Education (ABE) 
	1500 Highway 36 West 
	Roseville, MN 55113-4266 
	Phone: 651-582-8424 
	Fax: 651-634-5154 
	Email: astrid.liden at state.mn.us 

	 


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