English Language Learner Teacher Preparation in Rural Settings: "Did You Warn Them About the Diversity?"

• In Event: Addressing Rurality in Educator Preparation and Development

Abstract

A dynamic context has emerged in rural Midwestern communities: changing demographics that provide a counter-narrative to the assumption that emergent bilinguals (EBs) in rural Midwestern schools are Spanish-speaking immigrants. Rather, the Midwest is increasingly home to linguistically diverse communities that teachers in rural schools find themselves under-resourced and unprepared for. We present a case study of a place-based field experience for two cohorts of preservice teachers (PSTs) who participated in week-long field experiences in a rural, linguistically diverse community in the Midwest. We describe this field experience and analyze PST reflections to provide findings that speak to the novel considerations, affordances, and constraints for the preparation of ELL teachers in rural settings.

Authors

• Erika L. Bass, University of Northern Iowa
  Presenting Author

• Aliza Fones, University of Northern Iowa
  Presenting Author