EAL Training
Workshop Details
WHEN: Monday, 23 April to Wednesday, 25 April 2018
WHERE: ISKL Melawati & ISKL Ampang Campuses
FEES: Free for ISKL Faculty
FOCUS: ISKL EAL Faculty
Workshop Overview
As the demography of international schools continues to change with the result that every classroom has more English learners than ever before, it is necessary to turn the often-heard mantra, 'every teacher is a language teacher' into actual classroom practice. First and foremost is the changing role of EAL specialists from 'fixers' of learners to 'coaches' of teachers in order to build and sustain asset-based classrooms to teach English learners alongside their peers.
This training, solution-driven session - focuses on the EAL - immersion issues in schools with a majority of students coming from non-native English backgrounds.
Student Learning Outcomes
During this training, participants will:
- Distinguish between historical, deficit-based vs. current, asset-based EAL paradigms as they relate specifically to international-school settings.
- Make informed decisions on the most effective EAL program options based on school-specific variables.
- Understand the changing roles and responsibilities of EAL specialists from "fixers" of students to coaches of colleagues so that indeed "all teachers are teachers of language and of language learners".
- Establish responsive school-wide practices for increased collaboration between EAL specialists and mainstream teachers (whether in push in or pull out programs).
- Understand how classroom teachers and EAL specialists can seamlessly work together to differentiate and scaffold progressively instruction and assessment equitably without resorting to past instructional approaches such as modifications, interventions, remediation, accommodations, or simplifications (MIRAS).
- Recognize the differences between immersion for English learners vs. inclusion for learning support students in international-school settings.
- Utilize self-assessment tools to determine strategic action plans for improving the learning environment for English learners as well as for all other learners.
Virginia Rojas
Dr. Rojas conducts professional training on effective programs and strategies for English learners from pre-school through grade 12 for ESL (EAL) and classroom teachers. She has worked with over 300 international schools on language education policies, programs, and professional development. Dr. Rojas specializes in developing academic English as an Additional Language (EAL) and in providing access for English learners through teacher collaboration and effective instructional practices for teaching English learners in mainstream classrooms. She provides professional development sessions, job-embedded coaching, demonstration lessons, and conducts linguistic audits of ESL/EAL programs.
Dr. Rojas is a faculty member and author with ASCD (www.ascd.org) and partners with the Teacher's Training Center (http://www.theptc.org) to offer an EAL certification for international-school teachers.
Dr. Rojas was inducted into the AAIE (Association for Advancement of International Education) in February 2016 and is semi-retired as of 2017. She will continue to work with the TTC EAL certificate on a part-time basis, provide professional development through Knowledge Source Institute (http://www.ksithailand.com) and has agreed to coach selected schools with their EAL journeys this year.
