Online Courses for Teachers

Preparing English Language Learners for Success

(Grades K-6) / Flex Course

PDI Course Number: 37T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC40111

Course Description

Do you find yourself struggling for ways to better assist your English language learners? This online course for teachers is designed for educators who want to dig deep into their own teaching practices and explore strategies and initiatives for incorporating students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences so that the focus is on the whole child/student, including his/her cultural and linguistic identity. The course begins by building a solid understanding of language domains, types, and the levels of language acquisition. Information on ENL best practices and models for teaching ESL are shared as well as specific strategies for incorporating them into the teaching of reading, writing, speaking and listening, mathematics, science, and social studies. Teachers will gain a solid understanding of the various ESL models and how to grow their ELL students’ vocabularies and comprehension by setting goals, using their home language and culture, and communicating with caregivers. Teachers will also learn appropriate ways to assess their ESL students. Finally, teachers will learn best practices for serving newcomers. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will feel more confident and effective teaching their ENL/ESL/ELL students. This online professional development course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. For detailed information on receiving university credit for your PDI professional development course, visit our credit page.

Need help? Kimya Nabavi, PDI Program Coordinator, is ready to assist.

"In my 15 years of teaching ESL, I can honestly say this was the best training I received. The content, the resources, the strategies were superior to any training I've received thus far." - Janine Burns