Preparing Mainstream Teachers to Support ELLs

Abstract

This capstone aims to resolve the issue of the lack of preparation of mainstream teachers in teaching English Language Learners (ELLs). Three influential factors to this issue include current legislation, inadequacy in teacher preparation programs, and insufficient professional development opportunities. These issues affect a teacher’s abilities to effectively instruct ELLs in a mainstream classroom setting. Research has also shown that these deficits and teachers’ perspectives and attitudes towards the ELLs play a critical role in ELLs’ learning and success. This capstone argues that all teachers are teachers of ELLs, and they need to be provided with various forms of training to support the needs to ELLs. The solutions to these issues are presented in the form of a professional development titles “Supporting ELLs.” This product also provides the schools with surveys to identify the specific content areas or trainings that need additional support. Additionally, this capstone makes recommendations to further research in relation to this problem.