Transformative Teacher Education in Action: Preparing Pre-Service Teachers to Support English Language Learners

2013 ◽  
pp. 121-138
2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi L. Hallman ◽  
Hannah R. Meineke

This article discusses teacher educators’ response to the issue of preparing prospective teachers in core content areas to be teachers of English language learners. In the case study we present in the article, the views of English language arts teacher educators, as analyzed from a nationwide survey of the teaching of English, are articulated. As a follow-up to the survey, focus groups were conducted with a sub-section of survey respondents. Findings indicate that, although the teaching of ELLs is viewed as a priority for teacher education, the field has yet to determine how to adequately address program coherence and partnership approaches to teaching ELLs within pre-service teacher education.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-406
Author(s):  
Bogum Yoon

Abstract The reality that English language learners (ell s) have not been receiving adequate support in the mainstream classroom calls for urgency to prepare teachers in teacher education programs. Grounded in the theoretical construct of praxis and linguistically and culturally relevant approach (lcra), the purpose of this article is to share the author’s experience on how she supported monolingual teachers to engage in equity-based pedagogy. This article will focus on the specific projects that the author’s graduate students (mostly white and monolingual teachers/teacher candidates) conducted as a way to better understand the diverse needs of ell s in the dominant English context. The projects include: reflecting on monolingual identities through being in ell s’ shoes, building professional capital through theories of language learning, discussing and critiquing texts on ell s with a critical lens, designing lessons that integrate ell s’ culture as well as conducting the fieldwork in local schools, and synthesizing learning through the options of multiple final projects including learning a new language (e.g., ell s’ primary language). These activities intended to promote monolingual teachers’ transformative thinking process through the process of praxis and lcra in teacher education programs.


Author(s):  
Guofang Li

Building upon existing research on preparing teachers for English language learners (ELLs), this chapter examines current practices and challenges of integrating ELL education into teacher preparation programs in the U.S. The analyses reveal sporadic efforts of ELL integration into the American teacher training institutions. Most programs focus on cultural diversity rather than language and linguistic challenges that all teachers will also encounter in their future classrooms. Findings also reveal several challenges in integrating language and linguistic diversity into teacher education: a lack of faculty expertise in ELLs, programmatic constraints, and minimum policy support. The findings suggest that teacher education programs need to extend the current focus on cultural diversity to equip future teachers with teaching competencies to address the increasing sociolinguistic complexities in the classrooms.


Author(s):  
Hyesun Cho ◽  
Peter Johnson ◽  
Sylvia S. Somiari

This chapter investigates how the incorporation of service-learning to a teacher education course changes teacher candidates' perceptions of English language learners (ELLs). It also examines the benefits and challenges of the service-learning project in which preservice teachers worked with ELLs individually or in groups in the elementary classroom. Through course artifacts and focus group interviews of 48 preservice teachers at a large Midwestern U.S. university, the impacts of service-learning as authentic practice with ELLs are discussed. Findings reveal that the experience reduced participant anxiety about working with diverse populations, provided opportunities for self-reflection, and promoted a sense of confidence and competence which led to professional growth for teacher candidates. This chapter concludes with recommendations for teacher educators interested in implementing service-learning in a teacher education program as well as directions for future research.


ELT Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-462
Author(s):  
Esma Biricik Deniz ◽  
Elif Kemaloglu-Er ◽  
Yonca Ozkan

Abstract English as a lingua franca (ELF) is a recent paradigm in ELT which acknowledges non-native varieties in their own right and NNSs as having their own unique characteristics rather than assessing them against an NS benchmark. Despite the changing needs of today’s English language learners, there is little research on how to integrate ELF into pre-service teacher education programmes and English language teaching practice since there is a theory–practice gap due to lack of clear pedagogical descriptions and concrete classroom-driven data. This study presents an intensive educational model for pre-service teachers aiming to raise their awareness of the pedagogy of ELF, synthesizing theory with practice. It investigates how prospective teachers exposed to the ELF-aware teacher education model integrated ELF into their teaching and their viewpoints about the process. The entire process has been reported to contribute significantly to the participants’ professional development as well as presenting several challenges.


Author(s):  
Kelly Moser ◽  
Daina Zhu ◽  
Ha Nguyen ◽  
Emily Williams

English language learners (ELLs) are increasingly placed in classes with mainstream teachers lacking training and experience to teach diverse populations. Rural areas are being characterized by a growing number of ELLs, challenges to attract and retain qualified educators, and budgetary constraints. One solution to this quandary is to provide all teachers with ELL-related knowledge and skills prior to certification. The purpose of this article was to explore the experiences of secondary preservice teachers across a variety of disciplines in a rural teacher education program as they learned about and implemented strategies for differentiating instructions for ELLs. The article sought to examine if a simulation experience contributed toward an inclusive view of teaching ELLs and if preservice teachers were able to apply learned strategies to lesson planning and reflection activities. By studying how these experiences impact future teachers, this study attempts to contribute to improving teacher education that ultimately leads to a better educational experience for all learners.


Author(s):  
Kevin G. Murry ◽  
Socorro G. Herrera ◽  
Stuart S. Miller ◽  
Cristina A. Fanning ◽  
Shabina K. Kavimandan ◽  
...  

The Standards for Effective Pedagogy and Learning (CREDE, 2014) specify five transnational universals of teaching that are especially effective for the rapidly growing population of English language learners in North America. CLASSIC is an evidence-based, CREDE-aligned model of teacher education for classroom educators of English language learners. CLASSIC has utilized with more than 10,000 teachers in 100 school districts, located in eight states, in collaboration with eight different universities. This study examined the impact of the transnational standards of CLASSIC curricula on teachers


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