Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency in multilingual classes

Duration: 5 days

Program Overview:

This program has been specifically designed for teachers of Limited-English Proficient students. Ideally, the program should empower teachers to provide equal access to the same core curriculum delivered to fluent English speakers, through high-quality, grade appropriate content instruction. It is not intended to replace primary language content instruction; in fact, primary language literacy is a prerequisite for effective teaching.  The course leads to up-skilling and even re-skilling in Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency in multilingual classes using Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills as a resource.

Program Objectives:

By the end of this program, you will gain an understanding of the following:

Lesson Preparation. How to:

• Clearly define content objectives
• Clearly define language objectives
• Select content concepts that are appropriate to learners’ age and educational background. Use a variety of supplementary materials to make the lesson clear and meaningful (computer programs, graphs, models, visuals)
• Adapt the content to all proficiency levels
• Use authentic and meaningful activities and integrate them into lesson concepts

Building Background. How to:

• Explicitly link concepts to students’ background experiences
• Explicitly link past learning to new content
• Emphasize key vocabulary

Comprehensible Input. How to:

• Use speech that is appropriate for students’ proficiency level
• Clearly explain academic tasks
• Use a variety of techniques to make content clear (model, use visuals, demonstrations and hands-on activities)

Learning Strategies. How to:

• Provide ample opportunities for students to use strategies
• Consistently use scaffolding techniques throughout the lesson
• Include a variety of question types that promote higher-order thinking skills

Interaction. How to:

• Provide students with frequent opportunities for interaction and discussion between teacher and student and among students and encourage extended student discourse about the lesson concepts.
• Carefully configure the grouping of students to support language and content of the lesson
• Consistently provide sufficient wait time for student responses. Provide ample opportunities for students to clarify key concepts in their native language

Practice and Application. How to:

• Provide hands-on materials and/or manipulatives for students to practice using new content knowledge
• Provide activities for students to apply content and language knowledge in the classroom
• Use activities that integrate all language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking)

Lesson Delivery. How to:

• Clearly support the content objectives in lesson delivery
• Clearly support the language objectives in lesson delivery
• Engage students 90 percent to 100 percent of the time
• Pace the lesson appropriately to students’ ability level

Review and Assessment. How to:

• Include a comprehensive review of key vocabulary
• Include a comprehensive review of key content concepts
• Provide regular feedback to students on their output
• Conduct assessments of student comprehension and learning of all lesson objectives throughout the lesson

Methodology:

• The training and development sessions will be done through practical workshops.
• Learners will receive a Learner Pack and CD with exemplars and videos.
• Continuing email and telephonic support is provided at no additional cost. On-site visits will also be conducted.
• All training will be conducted in English by our trained facilitators who have a proficiency in the language and the subject matter.

Assessment:

• Evaluating applied experiential activities during the course and on-site action-learning activities documented to demonstrate competence in relation to the skills taught. A certificate of attendance recognised by the South African Council for Educators (SACE) with 40 notional hours workshop time and 40 hours on-site application.