About The ESL Endorsement

The ESL Endorsement program is a series of six video and CD-ROM anchored courses coupled with a practicum of ongoing and integrated fieldwork.  Based on research-based knowledge and practices for English language learners are courses in foundations, second language acquisition, assessment, partnerships, literacy, integration of content, and practicum using a distance-learning format called ProfessorsPlus.  This format allows the program to be adapted to multiple public school and university sites and adjusted to the needs of rural, suburban, and urban populations as well as the work schedules of in-service educators.  Video anchoring and the use of a certified on-site facilitator ensure consistent high-quality content. 

The Professors part of the delivery system includes carefully-crafted video segments, CD-ROMs, and an instructional guide, all of which enhance learning and transfer. The instructional guides support active learning and encourage reflection. Every activity in every course models best practices for teaching English Language Learner (ELL) students. The video segments and CD-ROMs create, in essence, a visual and conversational textbook. Using a strategy of showing rather than telling, the video segments and CD-ROMs capture audience attention and contextualize important teaching points. The perspectives expressed by various university professors and researchers are juxtaposed against the real-world voices and examples of students, educators, parents, and other community members. This technique makes the relationship between theory and practice easy to discern.

The Plus part of the delivery system is an on-site facilitator with extensive public school experience, expertise in ESL, and a master's degree. This facilitator is responsible for creating a sense of community among learners. Employing teacher immediacy to foster interaction, the facilitator shares objectives, uses active learning strategies, provides opportunities for performance, and assesses learning.

Program developers have included Annela Teemant, Winn Egan, Stefinee Pinnegar, Carl Harris, Ray Graham, Marvin Smith, Melanie Harris, Valerie Hales, Jeff Gomm, and the ESL coordinators from our Partnership School Districts:  Alpine, Jordan, Nebo, Provo, and Wasatch.