Credit Bearing Courses

Extending Opportunities for English Learners
July 29-31, 2010

Instructor: Jennifer Kobrin
Phone: 856-533-2710
jkobrin@foundationsinc.org

Course Description
As the fastest-growing segment of the school-age population, English learners (ELs) are quickly becoming a key group in many school districts across the United States. Many ELs continue to fall far behind their native-speaker peers on standardized tests, high school graduation rates, and other measures of achievement. The needs of this group are wide and complex; many ELs face ‘double the work’: learning academic content while attempting to become proficient in English.

In this course, students will gain practical, research-based skills to support ELs in a variety of educational settings, using a variety of materials that can be easily shared with colleagues. Topics include the essentials of language acquisition, methods for stretching English skills, and strategies for supporting English learner success in school and beyond. Through applied learning assignments, discussions, readings, observation, and self-assessments, students will put theory into practice and learn strategies and techniques to support language learners. A culminating portfolio will reflect student learning, and provide students a means to apply their knowledge and experience to their own educational setting.

Objectives:

• Understand the fundamentals of second language acquisition, including stages of development, learner needs and differences, and techniques for promoting language practice
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver meaningful, engaging, and appropriate lessons, activities, and projects to promote language learning
• Identify and connect with community and school-based resources to expand students’ language learning opportunities
• Share and gain strategies for engaging families of diverse backgrounds
• Be able to use a range of assessments to evaluate student progress and program environment as it relates to English language development
• Be able to lead, facilitate and/or support the professional development of staff to incorporate best practices for English language learning

Required Course Text: 
Weisburd, C. and Sniad, T. (2007). More than Just Talk: English Language Learning in Afterschool. Foundations, Inc.: Moorestown, NJ

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