Syllabus

English as a Second Language (ESL) Practicum I

07E/07S: 118

Fall 2007

Course Instructor: Cindra Visser

Office: N277 Lindquist Center

E-mail: cindra-visser@uiowa.edu

Office hours: Monday, 11:30 - 12:30

                        or by appointment

Cell Phone:  641-780-6509

Course Supervisor: Dr. Leslie Schrier

Office: N244 Lindquist Center; 335-5048

E-mail: leslie-schrier@uiowa.edu

Department Office

College of Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

N259 Lindquist Center, 335-5324

*Office is available during business hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00a – 5:00p*

______________________________________________________________________________

Course Description:

          The primary purpose of this practicum is the continued development of a theory and practice-based philosophy of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).  The practicum course provides those teacher education students who are planning to teach ESL in the public schools with an opportunity to interact with ESL teachers and students in the elementary classroom.  Practicum students will continue to gain an understanding of the world of ESL, and the challenges confronting teachers, students, and administrators, and the resources available to deal with these challenges.  The focus of the course is the practical application of knowledge and skills of teachers of ESL students, and the development of those skills.

          Through readings, structured classroom observations, an eight-week in-school practicum, class discussions, lesson plan designs, and written assignments, practicum students will have opportunities to develop and build on their current understanding of the teaching-learning process. Practicum seeks to prepare teacher education students for student teaching and the personal and professional challenges of teaching in the public schools. 

Goals, Objectives, and Expectations: ESL Practicum students will…

- Demonstrate an understanding of the theories of second language education and how those theories impact classroom planning

- Prepare and lead a discussion on concepts of second language practice

- Identify and relate key ideas in ESL education from class readings and discussions to what is observed within the practicum classroom

- Generate a multicultural book list

- Design well-developed lessons to be used in an elementary ESL classroom

- Maintain a reflective journal about all in-school practicum experiences

- Articulate their professional development based on their experiences through a final reflection paper, in the format of a teaching philosophy

- Generate an electronic portfolio of assignments and projects throughout the semester

Required Texts:

Echevarria, J., Vogt, M., & Short, D. (2009). Making Content Comprehensible for Elementary English Learners: The SIOP

               Model. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN  978-0205627561

Flaitz, J (2003). Understanding Your International Students: An Educational, Cultural

and Linguistic Guide. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0472088669

Igoa, C. (1995). The Inner World of the Immigrant Child. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence

Erlbaum Assoc. ISBN 0805880135

TESOL. (2006). ESL Standards for Pre-K – 12 Students. Alexandria, VA: TESOL.

               ISBN – 978-1-931185-31-8

Other Helpful Resources:

Echevarria, J. & Vogt, M. (2007). 99 Ideas and Activities for Teaching English Learners with the SIOP Model. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN: 0205521061

Flaitz, J (2006). Understanding Your Refugee and Immigrant Students: An Educational, Cultural and

Linguistic Guide. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press.

ISBN 978-0472030989

(You may substitute this book for the other Flaitz version in the required texts section if you have a greater interest in students from the refugee immigrant population).

Herrell, A. L. & Jordan, M. (2003 and after). Fifty Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc.  2007 ISBN: 013199266X

Reiss, J. (2008). 102 Content Strategies for English Language Learners. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall

Inc.     ISBN  0-13-221819-4