<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">
<title>Re: [EnglishLanguage 3202] Re: ESL Teacher Training</title>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:Tahoma;
        panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {color:blue;
        text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {color:blue;
        text-decoration:underline;}
p
        {margin-right:0in;
        margin-left:0in;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.emailstyle18
        {font-family:Arial;
        color:navy;}
span.emailstyle20
        {font-family:Arial;
        color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle21
        {font-family:Arial;
        color:navy;}
@page Section1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
        {page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Thanks for all the great and interesting
postings and points of view represented by list members on a number of
topics. I teach public high school </span></font><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>ESOL</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>, teach college English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses, and
develop & facilitate teacher-training products for Adult </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>ESOL</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> in my county.
If you are interested, since we are posting about case-studies, I
happen to have a case study of a secondary-age Haitian immigrant adolescent
male, published Spring 2008 in the <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Sunshine
State TESOL Journal</span></i> at this link:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a
href="http://www.sstesoljournal.org/PichardOBEN2008.html">http://www.sstesoljournal.org/PichardOBEN2008.html</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Peace,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Mercedes Pichard</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Mercedes Pichard, Ed.D.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>ESOL Educator</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>School District</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> of </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Lee</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>County</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Fort Myers</span></font><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>, </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>FL</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>33919</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
englishlanguage-bounces@nifl.gov [mailto:englishlanguage-bounces@nifl.gov] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Martin Senger<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Tuesday,
December 02, 2008</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>12:56 PM</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> The Adult English Language
Learners Discussion List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [EnglishLanguage 3204]
Using case histories to get advice fromother ESL teachers</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Pax all!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Janet Isserlis has
mentioned something that I am becoming more interested in when asking my peers
about teaching issues with my students: case histories.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Has anyone here used them
in an “official” capacity to network with your fellow ESL teachers?
I am working on an on-line course using them, and I thought it might be a good
way to give my fellow teachers enough info to help me when I need advice. I
belong to an officially-sanctioned peer-ESL teacher group in NW PA, and we
often turn to each other for advice. What “fields” would we need to
get a good feel for a student? Any help would be greatly appreciated!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Martin E. Senger</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><strong><b><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Adult
ESL / Civics Teacher,</span></font></b></strong></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>G.E.C.A.C. / The R.
Banjamin Wiley </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Learning</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Center</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Erie</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>, </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Pa.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><strong><b><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>ESL
Co-Director,</span></font></b></strong></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Pa.</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> Assoc. for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE)</span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
englishlanguage-bounces@nifl.gov [mailto:englishlanguage-bounces@nifl.gov] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Janet Isserlis<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Tuesday,
December 02, 2008</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>12:29 PM</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> The Adult English Language
Learners Discussion List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [EnglishLanguage 3203]
Re: ESL Teacher Training</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:
1.0in'><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>MaryAnn
and all<br>
<br>
Thanks for this – and for the specific mention of case studies as a way
of bringing ancillary (or 'soft') skills to the foreground. It is
difficult to measure what a 'good' practitioner does, but easier, maybe, to
look at behaviors, and the knowledge and attitudes that inform those behaviors.<br>
<br>
So, for example, if I know that a Chinese speaker might repeat an adjective for
emphasis in Cantonese, that might help me understand how she constructs
language in her head; if I've spent time with her and her family and hear that
use of language in Cantonese (which i don't speak, but do ask her about), then
that gives me some small understanding of her use of language. If I spend
break and other out-of-class time with learners and see what matters to them,
or have lived in any other culture/country/setting outside my comfort zone and see
that there are ways of doing things that may differ from my own; if I sit in on
another teacher's class — all of these things remind me that we each
frame things in our own ways. I don't need to know, necessarily, in
advance, what each situation will look like, but I do need to understand that
I'll need to be aware of things like personal space, eye contact, tone of
voice, which fork to use, or when chopsticks can be used in a communal bowl and
when they can't. All of which to say that I DON'T need to know everything
about everything, but do need to know that there are frameworks and
assumptions/expectations in each setting. This knowledge does have a
bearing on how I work as a teacher or teacher trainer, and teaches me to (TRY)
to remember to listen and observe closely. <br>
<br>
Teaching (direct ESOL teaching as well as facilitating professional
development) has to be informed by what we know as educators – and that
has to include ways of developing ongoing assessment of what our learners know
and want to know, and a sensitivity to how they best come to know those things.<br>
<br>
So, examination of case studies, viewing of videos. etc can all provide
concrete examples through which to observe, discuss and understand the
complicated processes that contribute to good teaching.<br>
<br>
Janet Isserlis</span></font></p>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>
<hr size=3 width="95%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><b><font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold'>From: </span></font></b><font
size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>MaryAnn Florez
<mflorez@dclearns.org><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Reply-To: </span></b>The Adult English
Language Learners Discussion List <englishlanguage@nifl.gov><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Date: </span></b></span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>Tue, 2 Dec 2008</span></font><font size=1><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'> </span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:
9.0pt'>11:48:22</span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'> -0500<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To: </span></b>'The Adult English Language
Learners Discussion List' <englishlanguage@nifl.gov><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject: </span></b>[EnglishLanguage 3202]
Re: ESL Teacher Training<br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hello Lynda and all:<br>
<br>
As I often find on this discussion list, I’m fascinated with the many
perspectives and points that are being laid on the table in response to
Lynda’s original question. Once again, I am reminded of things that
I have forgotten or tucked away, validated in some of the things that I believe
and practice, and challenged by points that are poking at my particular
paradigm. Oh, if every conversation or exchange could do all those
things, I’d be such a better teacher---and person!<br>
<br>
One of the things that keeps coming to the forefront for me in many of the
comments that have been posted is what I’ll call—for lack of a
better term--the “soft skills” that teachers need to have and be
able to use. I have been working with teacher preparation and
professional development for some time, and while we’re always
incorporating and refining the language learning and best practices skills and
knowledge that teachers need to better support their learners, I also
can’t help but constantly think about where and how the nurturing of soft
skills fits in. I’m talking about things like interpersonal skills, not
only intercultural skills, but general facility in interacting one-to-one and
in groups, and general behaviors like curiosity, openness, empathy, engagement,
and personal and professional flexibility that are very important in an
instructional situation. I think a number of people touched on such
issues, for example in discussing the many benefits of the experience of living
and functioning in another culture and language, as well as learners’
responses to teacher enthusiasm and openness. I have no doubt that
everyone sees the value of such skills. But it is a tricky area, so how
do we approach it (and I realize some people may even say we can’t
really, as it’s beyond our purview)? I try to do it by being
mindful when I select case studies or examples to use in trainings. I
include prompts around such aspects in analysis of video samples viewed.
I laud such behaviors in teacher observation debriefings or incorporate
them in suggestions for ways to approach teaching challenges. In preparation
courses, I have asked participants to make connections between teacher behaviors
and language learning theories and methods.<br>
<br>
Does anyone else have any comments or examples of how they approach soft
skills?<br>
<br>
Thanks.<br>
<br>
MaryAnn <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'>MaryAnn Florez<br>
Project Director<br>
</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Adult</span></font><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Education</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Professional</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Development</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Center</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><br>
D.C. LEARNs<br>
</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Washington</span></font><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>, </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>DC</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>20006</span></font></p>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in'><b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:
bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> englishlanguage-bounces@nifl.gov [<a
href="mailto:englishlanguage-bounces@nifl.gov%5d">mailto:englishlanguage-bounces@nifl.gov]</a>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Joyce Bogdan<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Saturday,
November 29, 2008</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>1:48 PM</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> The Adult English Language Learners
Discussion List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [EnglishLanguage 3164]
Re: ESL Teacher Training<br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Lynda,<br>
Yes, I think that the ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages programs do
adequately prepare teachers. Mine is a MA in education from UConn, </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Univ.</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> of </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Connecticut</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>-the
certification is bilingual/bicultural ESOL N, K-12, adults. It is a
master program which includes teaching ESOL students, methods, strategies,
materials, practical application, validating cultures, learning about
cultural expectations, linguistics, statistics, brain studies that relate to
language acquisition, additional language acquistion in the theories and
methods. I also have completed a 6th year in additional coursework with
reading, differentiated instruction,etc. <br>
<br>
My students usually are from about 14 different language groups during one
year. Even between Spanish speaking students there is a range of cultural
similarities and differences. I have taught all levels (grade and ESOL
levels). I presently teach middle school, adult beginners and am a
university instructor to mainstream teachers. This year many of my students are
from </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Nepal</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> and </span></font><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Tibet</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>. <br>
<br>
If you are interested in a 3 credit Independent Studies graduate course
"Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TELLs") that you
can complete at home, e-mail me directly. It is from </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Chapman</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>University</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> in CA.
<br>
Joyce Bogdan<br>
ESOL teacher</span></font></p>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
<hr size=1 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in'><b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:
bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> LYNDA OSBORNE <lyndaosborne@att.net><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> The Adult English Language
Learners Discussion List <englishlanguage@nifl.gov><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Friday, November
28, 2008</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>9:49:55 AM</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [EnglishLanguage 3161]
Re: ESL Teacher Training<br>
</span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font>Greetings, everyone.<br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font>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. <br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font>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?<br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font>Thanks for your input!<br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font>Lynda Lee<br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><i><font color=blue><span style='color:blue;font-style:italic'>Lynda
Lee Osborne<br>
</span></font></i><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><i><font color=blue><span style='color:blue;font-style:italic'>Teacher
of the Year 2008-9 <br>
</span></font></i><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><i><font color=blue><span style='color:blue;font-style:italic'>FLL
Robotics Coach<br>
</span></font></i><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><i><font color=blue><span style='color:blue;font-style:italic'>Global
Economics Project Coordinator<br>
</span></font></i><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><i><font color=blue><span style='color:blue;font-style:italic'>A.
Philip Randolph Elementary <br>
</span></font></i><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><i><font color=blue><span style='color:blue;font-style:italic'>Fulton
County Schools<br>
</span></font></i><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><i><span style='font-style:italic'>lyndaosborne@att.net</span></i>
<a href="mailto:lyndaosborne@att.net"><mailto:lyndaosborne@att.net></a> <br>
<font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><br>
</p>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
<hr size=1 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in'><b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:
bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> "Liden, Astrid"
<Astrid.Liden@state.mn.us><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> englishlanguage@nifl.gov<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Tuesday,
November 25, 2008</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>12:17:02
PM</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [EnglishLanguage 3158]
ESL Learners with Low Levels of Literacy<br>
</span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span></font><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Special Topic:</span></b><font
size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Research
and Best Practice Concerning the Instruction of ESL Learners with Low Levels of
Literacy<br>
</span></b></span></font>We are pleased to announce that the 25th anniversary
volume of the MinneWITESOL Journal is now available online at
www.minnewitesoljournal.org <a href="http://www.minnewitesoljournal.org/"><http://www.minnewitesoljournal.org/></a>
. 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.<br>
<font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Astrid
Liden</span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>ABE Professional Development Coordinator</span></font><font size=1><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Minnesota Department of Education</span></font><font size=1><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Adult Basic Education (ABE)</span></font><font size=1><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>1500 Highway 36 West</span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:
9.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Roseville, MN 55113-4266</span></font><font size=1><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Phone: 651-582-8424</span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:
9.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Fax: 651-634-5154</span></font><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>
<br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Email: astrid.liden@state.mn.us</span></font><font size=1><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'> <br>
<br>
</span></font><br>
</p>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div style='margin-left:.5in'>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>
<hr size=3 width="95%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>----------------------------------------------------<br>
National Institute for Literacy<br>
Adult English Language Learners mailing list<br>
EnglishLanguage@nifl.gov<br>
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to <a
href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/englishlanguage">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/englishlanguage</a><br>
Email delivered to janet_isserlis@brown.edu</span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>