Novice Teachers' Perspectives on Preservice Teacher Preparation for Multilingual Learners

• In Event: 61.069 - MTCC Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 61.069-4 - Preservice Teacher Perspectives and Practices Working With Multilingual Learners

Abstract

Over 10% of students in U.S. public schools speak a language other than English at home (NCES, 2015). In an era of increased focus on rigorous academic language in instruction, as well as anti-immigrant and racist political discourse, scholars suggest all teachers should be prepared to educate multilingual learners (MLLs). In response, many states and teacher education programs have incorporated coursework related to teaching MLLs into their general education programs. This study focuses on graduates of teacher education programs working as general education teachers who completed state required ESL coursework. Graduates were interviewed and observed during their first year of teaching to explore pre-service experiences and contextual factors that helped them to retain and apply skills and orientations for teaching MLLs.

Author

• Laura Jeanne Quaynor, Lewis University