EDF4011

ESL in the Mainstream

Ms Jill Brown

6 points - 2 hours per week - First semester - Clayton

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject should be appreciative of the knowledge and experiences students from non-English speaking background bring with them to the learning situation and the factors influencing the school experiences and learning outcomes of students from non-English speaking backgrounds. As a result of their own experience as a second language learner, they should have developed an awareness of the importance for second language learning of a classroom environment which fosters self esteem and encourages risk taking, and of the importance of focussing on meaning and language form. They should have explored ways of making subject specific language more comprehensible for second language learners and have gained an understanding of the reading process, the difficulties encountered by students from non-English speaking backgrounds in reading, They should also have developed strategies to develop the reading skills of these students within the context of their specialist subject area. Students will have gained an awareness of the importance of making explicit to students the criteria for successful completion of writing tasks within the context of their specialist subject area and be familiar with strategies which can be used to assist students from non-English speaking backgrounds to develop writing skills across the curriculum. They should have an understanding of the importance of oral language development for overall language development of students from non-English speaking backgrounds, an appreciation of the opportunities for language development inherent in small group work and have developed a range of strategies and activities for successful small group work.. Students should understand how the implementation of a culturally inclusive curriculum will improve the educational outcomes of students from non-English speaking backgrounds as well as those from English-speaking backgrounds and have examined strategies and developed a framework for implementing a culturally inclusive curriculum at both the classroom and whole school level.
Synopsis The subject is designed to develop awareness and understanding of the language related needs of students from non-English speaking backgrounds and to develop skills in meeting these needs within the context of mainstream subject teaching. Students will be introduced to the notion of a culturally inclusive curriculum and given guidance and practice in evaluating and designing appropriate materials and activities. They will experience learning in a second language and consider the implications of this experience for their own teaching. They will identify the reading and writing demands of their specialist subject areas and develop strategies to teach the necessary skills to their students. They will also be made aware of the importance of oral language work in the classroom and will learn ways to make effective small group work a regular part of their teaching. Students will also consider strategies for the development of collaborative working relationships with other members of staff as an important means of best meeting the needs of students from non-English speaking background.

Assessment Reading log (1,000 words) 25% - Analysis and evaluation of text (1,000 words) 25% - Teaching practicum diary (1,000 words) 25% - Audit of materials and teaching approaches (1,000 words) 25%

Recommended texts

Bain R, Fitzgerald B & Taylor M Looking into Language: Classroom Approaches to Knowledge about Language Hodder and Stoughton, United Kingdom, 1992
Brubacher A, Ryder P & Kemp R Perspectives on Small Group Learning Rubicon Publishing, Ontario, 1990
Carrel P, Devine J & Eskey D (eds) Interactive Approaches to Second Language Reading Cambridge University Press, Melbourne, 1998
Directorate of School Education Bridges to the VCE: Support Material for VCE Teachers who have ESL Students in their Classes Victoria, 1993
Emmitt M & Pollock J Language and Learning: An Introduction for Teaching Oxford University Press, Australia, 1991
MacGregor M & Moore R (eds) Teaching Mathematics in the Multicultural Classroom: a Resource for Teachers and Teacher Educators University of Melbourne, 1991
Nunan D Language Teaching Methodology: a Textbook for Teachers Prentice Hall English Language Teaching Series, Hertfordshire UK, 1991
Nunan D (ed) Collaborative Language Learning and Teaching Cambridge Language Teaching Library, Victoria, 1992
Wallace C Learning to Read in a Multicultural Society: the Context of Second Language Literacy Pergamon Press, NSW, 1986

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