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English Language Learners Program for MNPS Teachers

In collaboration with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of education and human development is offering a new professional development program for teachers who wish to obtain an ELL endorsement. The program will provide licensed teachers with opportunities to learn how to differentiate instruction for children enrolled in grades PreK to 12 who are learning English as a second language. The program includes both foundational and practical information to help teachers effectively serve these populations.

Benefits to MNPS teachers include:
• Earn your endorsement in one year.
• Courses will be offered onsite at the MNPS District ELL Office.
• Teachers enter as a cohort and progress together, establishing a network of ongoing resources.
• Coursework will fulfill requirements for continuing education.
• Teachers will be enrolled as "Special Students" and will not be required to take the GRE or other placement assessments.

The ELL Endorsement Program
Vanderbilt's Peabody College is one of the nation's top-ranked graduate schools of education. Its ELL program is distinguished from other programs offering short-term ELL endorsements by providing high-quality, in-depth instruction and intellectual content drawn from current research. The program meets Tennessee and national Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) standards for the English as a Second Language PreK-12 added endorsement. The ELL endorsement requires successful completion of 15 credits of ELL coursework and field work to meet licensure standards.

Coursework is organized into the following components:

Foundations for ELL Education (3 credits). This course focuses on understanding the processes of second language acquisition and development, and the theoretical, historical, political, legal, and research bases for the education of ELL students. A one-credit practicum (1 hour) is taken concurrently with this course. It is designed as a community immersion project to better understand the backgrounds and cultures of the individuals with whom teachers interact, and the implications that this has for teaching.

Multicultural Education in Today's Classrooms (3 credits). This course reviews many of the social and cultural factors that affect the learning and teaching of culturally and linguistically diverse students, including ELL students.

Methods and Materials for ELL Education (3 credits). This course focuses on bilingual (native language and ESL) curriculum development and instruction for ELL students (PreK-12) in a variety of language and program settings and content area instruction (literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, English education). A one-credit practicum (1 hour) is taken concurrently with this course to help teachers develop the necessary dispositions, knowledge, and skills for teaching ELLs through situated learning experiences.

Assessment of ELL Students (3 credits). This course focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of language testing for second-language learners. A one-credit practicum (1 hour) is taken concurrently with this course. Students will participate in a field-based practicum observing classroom assessment of English language learners and working with teachers of ELLs.

The specific schedule for the 2009-2010 year is below: