How the ELL Brain Learns
This course translates current research into easily applied strategies and techniques for immediate application within the classroom, including working with struggling English Language Learners.
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Course Name: How the ELL Brain Learns |
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Course Number: EDUC 718A |
Semester Credits: 3 |
Course Description
About 10% of public school students live in households where English is not the primary language. These English Language Learners (ELLs) typically become proficient in “social” English within 2-3 years but require several more years to become proficient in “academic” English. It is largely the latter that determines advancement in American society so bringing ELLs up to grade-level competence in academic English becomes a top priority.
This course provides an understanding of the problems faced by ELLs and offers strategies for addressing them in contexts devoted to teaching English across all required subjects. Brain mechanisms for language learning are presented and referenced throughout the text for a broad understanding of how ELLs acquire language. Methods used for teaching ELLs are identified and highlighted with the educator in mind. Upon completion of this course, students will understand the amount of effort ELLs exert in order to master course content and which teaching methods should be applied to meet their specific needs.
Goals
- Value the experiences, cultures, and accomplishments that English Language Learners (ELLs) bring to the classroom.
- Work effectively with the distinction between social English and academic English.
- Understand the brain regions that handle languages and how they may differ across ages, sexes, and first languages.
- Develop a mindset that combines teaching English as a new language with teaching grade-appropriate content.
- Know a variety of methods to assess the progress that does not add stress beyond that normally felt by anyone learning to function in a new language.
- Be able to identify learning difficulties by looking beyond linguistic performance to ELLs’ abilities and accomplishments in academic subjects.
- Be able to locate, evaluate, and utilize multiple Teaching Tips when teaching the English language and required content area subjects.
- Know sources of practical and research information to consult when in need of additional help.
Course Contents
- Learning, comprehending, and processing the first language
- Learning a new language (English)
- Teaching English language listening, speaking, reading, and writing
- Teaching English Language Learners across content area subjects
- Recognizing and addressing problems in learning English
- Identifying ELL students with disabilities
- Identifying gifted ELL students
- Acquiring social and academic language
- Correlating instruction with stages of second-language acquisition
- Differentiating instruction
- Programs for ELL
Evidence of Learning Outcomes
Upon completing How the ELL Brain Learns, the student will understand the amount of effort ELLs exert in order to master course content and which teaching methods should be applied to meet their specific needs.
How to Register
How the ELL Brain Learns can be completed in either an online or via emailed PDF format. It is open for anyone to register at any time during an open semester. After completion, students receive graduate, non-degree semester credit on official transcripts from the University of La Verne, an accredited university in La Verne, California.
Registration is fast and straightforward and can be done online or over the phone. Courses are offered on a rolling basis during three standard semesters, and you can begin whenever you are ready! The registration dates are:
- Fall: September 1 - January 31
- Spring: February 1 - May 31
- Summer: June 1 - August 31