Description
This course, ESOL: Introduction to Teaching English Learners (Part 1), emphasizes that multilingual learners bring valuable linguistic and cultural strengths that should be viewed as assets in the classroom. It highlights the importance of fostering identity, belonging, and equity so students feel respected and supported in their learning environment. This course is designed for K-12 educators with the specific intention of encouraging reflection on their purpose and adopting an asset-based mindset when designing instruction. This course also explains how language development should be integrated with content learning rather than taught separately. Finally, it introduces key instructional approaches such as scaffolding, productive struggle, and structured student interaction to support both language and academic growth.
This course is for professional development credit only. It does not count towards the ESOL Endorsement.
Because of its new content, this course may be taken for renewal credit, even if you have taken ESOL: Introduction to Teaching English Learners prior to Spring 2027.
Course Outline
Week 1: Student Orientation
Week 2: Why Understanding Multilingual Learners Matters: Who’s in My Classroom?
Week 3: Why Multilingualism Matters: Benefits and Learner Rights
Week 4: Why Multilingual Education Matters: Language, Proficiency, and Goals
Week 5: How Program Models Support Multilingual Learners
Week 6: How Emotions and Belonging Support Multilingual Learners
Week 7: How Teachers Engage Multilingual Families
Prerequisites
This is an intermediate level course for teachers, literacy coaches, curriculum specialists, professional development specialists, or other school personnel. Participants are expected to have regular access to computers with Internet access. In addition, participants should be proficient with browsing the Internet, uploading and downloading content, navigating to computer files, and with using word processing software, email, and attachments.
Required Materials
The required text for this course is Welcome to Teaching Multilingual Learners! An Illustrated Guide by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Valentina Gonzalez. The text can be ordered in Kindle or text formats for less than $50.00 on Amazon. All materials in this course are the property of the South Carolina Department of Education Office of VirtualSC PD. All course materials needed/required for the workshop are available online.