College of Education
Lingistically Diverse Education (LDE) Program
(formerly known as ESL) - Resources
Below
you will find many resources, organized into the following sections:
If you have other resources you feel would be helpful or useful, please contact us at cbrown@uccs.edu.
Professional Resources
TESOL
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc.
CoTESOL
The Colorado Affiliate of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
It sponsors a fall conference in the Denver area and other activities throughout
the year.
The Colorado Springs chapter of CoTESOL
Co-liaisons Margie Brown (D11) and Barbara Potter (D12) sponsor a local conference(s)
in the Pikes Peak region. To receive an email notification of the conferences, email
Margie Brown at brownkamel@aol.com with
CoTESOL in the subject line of your email.
Additional Resources for classroom teachers of English language learners.
Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)
The private, non-profit organization: a group of scholars and educators who use
the findings of linguistics and related sciences in identifying and addressing language-related
problems.
Cultural Orientation Resource
Center
The United States Refugee Program helps thousands of refugees resettle in the United
States each year. Its Cultural Orientation Project website provides free Culture
Profiles on many refugee populations and Best Practices--Cultural Orientation Activities.
7 Secretos Escolares
7 Secretos Escolares (Secrets of School Success) video/DVD available through Iris
Media (877-343-4747). The video follows a Latino family as it sets up a study-skills
program for their children.
Colorado Springs World Affairs Council
The World Affairs Council has a local site, which can also lead you to the national
organization. The WAC features an expert on some subject of international interest
who speaks during a luncheon at noon at the Rocky Mountain Ballroom, Broadmoor West.
Cost is $19.00 for members and $25.00 for guests. The address and calendar are on
the website.
Office of English Language Acquisition
The Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement
for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA) provides national leadership in promoting
high quality education for the nation's population of English language learners
(ELLs). Traditionally, this population has been known as limited English proficient
students (LEPs). OELA's mission is to include various elements of school reform
in programs designed to assist the language minority agenda. These include an emphasis
on high academic standards, school accountability, professional development, family
literacy, early reading, and partnerships between parents and the communities.
UNA-USA has recently established a Southern Colorado Chapter.
UNA-USA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for the purpose of supporting the
work of the United Nations. It encourages community, state, nation, and world participation
and education to promote peace and harmony, human rights, global health, equitable
economic development, and international justice. For information, contact Dr. Patricia
Richard-Amato at richardamato@earthlink.net.
Teacher Resources
TESL/TEFL/TESOL/ESL/EFL/ESOL Links
Student Resources
Parent & Community Information
(CPIRC) Colorado Parent Information and Resource Center) is funded by the US Deptartment
of Education with the mission to build partnerships between schools and families.
CPIRC offers free school-based workshops in English and Spanish for parents, free
professional development for educators, and more.
Contact Tina House at (303) 355-5387 or thouse@gwclayton.org.
Website: http://www.cpirc.org
National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs (from the National
PTA)
It takes time and care to be an involved parent. Who are your child's friends?
What excites your child at school? Questions like these can lead you to the keys
to the success of your child in school, with friends, and in life. Explore some
ways that you can make a difference in your child's life. Website:
http://www.pta.org/
Material, Books, and Articles
Culture
Banks, J. A. (2002). An introduction to multicultural education (3 rd ed.) . Boston, Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon.
This text examines the field of multicultural education, to include its historical background, goals and misconceptions, and benchmarks by which to measure a successful program.
Pipher, M. (2002). The Middle of Everywhere: The world’s refugees come to our town. New York: Harcourt, Inc.
An engaging novel that introduces readers to the inspiring refugees from all corners of the earth that settle in the author’s hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. Pipher works tirelessly with these newcomers in schools and social service agencies.
Takaki, R. (1993). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America. Boston: Little, Brown.
This book researches the roots of immigration in the United States. It provides a historical perspective to the very multicultural issues we experience today in our classrooms and in society in general.
Valdez, G. (1996). Con Respeto: Bridging the distances between culturally diverse families and schools.
This work is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the cultural tapestry of Mexican families. It is an ethnographic portrait in which the author studies 10 families over a 3-year period in a town on the Mexican American border.
Nieto, S. (2000). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical contexts of multicultural education. (3 rd Ed.). New York: Addison-Wesley.
This book provides a comprehensive examination of multicultural issues as they relate to the education, acculturation and identity of English language learners.
Language Acquisition
Heath, S. B. (1983). Ways with words. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
This ethnographical study chronicles research done by the author in two communities in the Carolinas, Trackton and Piedmont, regarding how language is learned and developed. Both communities consist of working class families with Trackton being an African American population and Piedmont, a white population.
Krashen, S. D. (1996). Under attack: The case against bilingual education. California: Language Education Associates.
In this monograph, Krahsen argues in favor of bilingual education. He examines research and programs that point to its benefits and success. Topics in this text include; literacy transfer, the status of English, the analysis of public opinion regarding bilingual education.
Krashen, S. D., Tse, L., McQuillan, J. (Eds.) (1998). Heritage Language Development. California: Language Education Associates.
This text examines the importance of first language literacy as it determines success in succeeding language learning.
Lightbown, P. M., & Spada, N. (1999). How languages are learned (2 nd ed.). New York, New York: Oxford University Press.
This text presents a very readable explanation of how first and second languages are learned and developed. It includes careful outlines of well-known theories and theorists as well as many actual linguistic examples and patterns.
Payne, R. (1995). A Framework for Understanding Poverty.
A Houston educator outlines the resources, which are necessary for success in school. Additionally, she explains why it is difficult for students in lower economic populations to achieve in the middle class public school context.
Valdes, G. (2001). Learning and not learning English: Latino students in American School. New York: Teachers College Press.
Valdes closely examines the experiences of 4 Latino students in the California public school system over a period of 2 years. As a result of her research, she makes recommendations for the education of English language learners.
Teaching English Language Learners
Gibbons, P. (April 5, 1993). Learning to learn in a second language. New Hampshire: Heinemann.
This text provides teachers with tips, examples and explanations of ways to create comprehensible lessons. She stresses the idea that non-native speakers are not just learning English; they are learning to learn in English.
Lewis, M. & Hill, J. (January 1, 1999). Practical techniques for language teaching. England: Language Teaching Publications.
This training manual is a collection of practical and useful principals and techniques for teachers of English Language Learners. It is quick paced with chapters that range from basic student-teacher relations to explanations for misunderstood language points.
Samway, K.D. & McKeon, D. (1999). Myths and Realities: Best Practices for Language minority students. New Hampshire: Heinemann.
This handbook examines common myths about language acquisition and dispels them with research-based explanations. Additionally, it provides scenarios to demonstrate examples of best practices for teachers working with English language learners.
Skelton, E. & Milligan, D. (2003). Putting it all together: TPRS for English Language Learners. Colorado: TPRS English Publishing. Set contains a Teacher Guide and Student Guide:
- Teacher Guide
The Teacher Guide to this handbook provides instructors with an in-depth overview of TPRS; its history, basic commands to use, basic topics with lesson outlines and components (e.g. questions to ask, grammar points, props, vocabulary). - Student Guide
The Student Guide of the series provides students with visuals to accompany the stories and follows the Teacher Guide closely. Additionally, the Student Guide has exercises in which students can practice their vocabulary, writing, and retelling the story with their own creative talents.
Reading For Fun and Pleasure
Carlson, L. (Ed.) (1994). Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on growing up Latino in the United States. New York: Fawcett Books.
A collection of poems in English and Spanish garnered from all over the United States, many with young adult themes such as identity, survival, dating and dreams.
Carlson, L. (1998). Sol a sol: Bilingual poems written and selected by Lori Marie Carlson. New York: Henry Hold & Co.
Beautifully illustrated children’s poems written in Spanish and English.
Elya, S.M. (2003). Oh no, gotta go! New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
A delightful rhyming story, in English and Spanish, about a little girl who needs to find a restroom in a hurry!
Perez, A. I. (2002) My diary from here to There. Mi diario de aqui hasta alla. California: Children’s Book Press.
A touching autobiographical sketch of the author’s move from Mexico to California as a child, which is told in both English and Spanish.