Schools not only in NYC, but throughout the US, are experiencing ENL (English as a New Language) teacher shortages while also having an influx of ELL (English Language Learner) students. This has led to less ENL teachers available to support ELL students throughout the school day, leaving general education teachers to have the most contact with them. However, these gen-ed teachers lack formal ENL training and have a limited amount of time to search for resources on how to support their ELL students, leading to less overall support for these students and a higher chance that the students will not succeed in their classes. Mounting pressure to account for the needs of all students (ELL and non-ELL), differing levels in technological proficiencies, and ineffective cross-functional relationships between ENL and gen-ed teachers are all pain-points our primary learner (gen-ed teachers) currently face. 

Therefore, we would like to design a comprehensive course for general education teachers on how to effectively apply ENL strategies to support their ELL students. Our target audience is middle-high school gen-ed teachers. We defined this as the primary learner group because they are the individuals who need the most support in the ENL space, according to research we have conducted. 

As designers and educators, we know that the world of English language instruction is filled to the brim with acronyms -- which can be confusing to newcomers. Below are some common terms and abbreviations that we will be using throughout our project. 

ENL: "English as a New Language".  ENL refers to the "study of the English language by students who are non-native speakers of English" (Merriam-Webster). The term "ENL" differs from the more commonly used "ESL", English as a Second Language, in that it works to emphasize that a "new" language may be a students 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. This acronym will be used when talking about teachers who are certified in teaching and supporting ELL students.

ELL: "English Language Learner". ELL refers to a student who is limited in their English proficiency skills. ELL students consist of those who do not possess English as their first or primary language.

Gen-Ed: "General Education Teacher". A general education teacher is a professional who is tasked with providing instruction to all students in a general-education classroom. Their goal is to design, implement, and deliver lessons to students in a manner that works to meet all student needs, but they are usually not equipped with ways to effectively support ELL students and students with learning disabilities.