Discover practical approaches to fostering language and literacy skills among English language learners.

Overview:

We know that two languages are better than one for children’s cognitive development, so how can we capitalize on the strengths of English language learners while also promoting their ongoing language and literacy development?

The Opportunity of Bilingualism is a new online professional development program for teachers, early childhood educators, literacy coaches, parents, and community-based professionals. Based on the research of HGSE Professor Nonie Lesaux, the workshop provides strategies for promoting language and literacy development in linguistically diverse settings and explores implications for policy creation to support this important work.

Program Details:

This two-week online workshop includes a mix of self-paced learning, group discussion, and job-embedded application. Activities include:

  • Video lectures from Professor Lesaux
  • Research summaries and assigned readings
  • Self-assessment and reflection prompts
  • Facilitated cohort discussions
  • Job-embedded practice where you will apply the concepts and techniques learned

A core part of the HGSE experience is cohort learning, and this curriculum is designed to create a community of practice for participants to learn with and from each other.

The online workshop will require a total of 5-7 hours of work. Participants who complete all individual assessments and contribute to group discussions will receive a certificate indicating completion of five clock hours of instruction.

Objectives:

  • Explore language and literacy development among language learners, with a focus on how early development is connected to later outcomes
  • Discover how age-old instructional strategies and universal screening practices can be leveraged to promote 21st century learning among language learners
  • Identify effective ways to partner with families to support children’s learning
  • Explore policies that create optimal learning opportunities for language learners

Who Should Participate:

  • Teachers
  • Early childhood educators
  • Paraprofessionals
  • Literacy coaches
  • Parents
  • Community-based professionals working with children 1-12 years old