Teaching Academic Vocabulary to English Language Learners (ELLs)

Confronted with dual learning tasks—learning English as a 2nd language and grade-level content, English Language Learners (ELLs) in K-12 are often found struggling to become fluent in English and falling behind in academic studies. It is commonly recognized that academic vocabulary is strongly related to academic achievement. Academic vocabulary is of critical importance in content learning and key to classroom interactions as students are engaged in learning activities using academic language. This article will zero in on the challenges students encounter in learning academic vocabulary. It will start with the importance of teaching ELLs academic vocabulary, followed by a classification of academic vocabulary, and an elaboration of the characteristics of academic language. Teacher candidates will explore why sheltered instruction is indispensable for the learning of vocabulary and how the two main sources of word learning—incidental learning and explicit instruction, facilitates vocabulary development. The focus will be placed on the specific strategies to help students develop a rich academic vocabulary inventory. It is hoped that teacher candidates will walk away with some guiding principles on teaching academic vocabulary and find these principles helpful in their classrooms with ELLs.

IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING FOR FUTURE NON-LINGUISTIC SPECIALISTS WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE SIOP MODEL

Introduction. The article deals with the problem of students’ academic professional literacy development by means of a foreign language based on the implementation of the SIOP Model. The foundations of the question have been borrowed from the SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) Model that focuses on helping English Language Learners (ELLs) with academics in a mainstream classroom. The SIOP Model provides a practical and flexible tool for educators to use in planning, implementing and observing Sheltered Instruction. The SIOP Model is one of the two major areas, the other being General English, which is established in the English-speaking world. The professionally oriented English course is developed for students from different non-linguistic specialties. The goals, objectives, content of the course are compiled according the students’ requirements of real target foreign language communication situations. The principles and approaches that underlie occupational mobility are outlined. It is revealed that occupational mobility serves as a criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of professional development. The aim of the study. The aim of this paper is to outline the improving the efficiency of foreign language teaching for future non-linguistic specialists with the iplementation of the SIOP Model. Methods of the research. Methods of the research include theoretical - study of literature, experience on the problem, theoretical analysis of philosophical, sociological, psychological, pedagogical literature on research topics, synthesis of theoretical and empirical material, its generalization and systematization of data, modeling, comparison, forecasting; as well as a set of empirical methods – observations, study and generalization of pedagogical experience. Results. . It is revealed that The SIOP Model was developed to assist mainstream teachers in using research-based practices which ensure ELLs success with academic language and vocabulary. Over time, the model has proven to be a form of best practices for educators. It is also known to reach ELLs by focusing on academic language in order to obtain optimal results. Learning foreign languages in the context of intercultural paradigm has great potential for personal development. It is determined that professional mobility and competence are interdependent. The curriculum should include a cultural component, on the basis of which intercultural communication competence is formed. It is revealed that in the process of forming professional mobility it is very important to distinguish personal characteristics that provide mobility, activity and creativity of a person. The pedagogical conditions of professional mobility with the help of foreign languages are outlined. It is determined that the process of learning foreign languages is aimed at forming elements of general cultural and professional competences. Good command of a foreign language enables future professionals to effectively carry out their professional activities in their field, which will significantly increase the level of language training. It is considered that the formation of communication skills at the present stage implies the development of students' communicative competence. The component of directions of formation of multicultural communicative competence in the conditions of studying foreign languages for professional purposes is considered. Conclusion. The purpose of teaching foreign languages for future non-linguistic specialists with the application of the SIOP Model should upgrade the skills and abilities that allow the future specialist to effectively pursue a professional activity in their field: work with foreign literature, participate in discussions in a foreign language, speak or write a professional translation of business literature in professional field. The process of foreign languages learning with the implementation of SIOP Model is aimed at forming professional competencies. The combination of these competencies in the future will determine the level of training future professionals, the degree of their readiness for professional self-determination and professional activity. The SIOP components and functions demonstrate a number of aspects that make a teacher's performance effective. The SIOP Model combines the features of effective learning into one whole, integrates a foreign language with professional learning that in the context of modern Ukrainian education is especially relevant in the transition to a system of training future specialists.

Academic Languages and Literacies in Content-Based Education in English-as-an-Additional-Language Contexts

From the 1960s to the early 21st century, different terms have arisen in diverse research traditions and educational contexts where teachers and researchers are interested in exploring and researching ways of helping learners to learn both language and content at the same time. These terms include content-based instruction (CBI), immersion, sheltered instruction, language across the curriculum (LAC), writing across the curriculum (WAC), and content and language integrated learning (CLIL). Common to all these traditions, however, is the monoglossic and monolingual assumption about academic language and literacy. The dynamic process turn in applied linguistics has changed our view of the nature of language, languaging, and language learning processes. These new theoretical insights led to a transformation of research on LAC toward research on academic languages and literacies in the disciplines. A paradigm shift from monoglossic to heteroglossic assumptions is also particularly important in English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) contexts.

The Effectiveness of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model of Developing Mathematical Achievement in Preparatory Year Female Students at Al-Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University: فاعلية نموذج التدريس الوقائي (SIOP) في تنمية لدى طالبات السنة التحضيرية في جامعة الإمام محمد بن سعود الإسلامية

The aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) model in teaching mathematics in English language for the preparatory year in improving the level of mathematical achievement. To achieve the aims of the research, the mixed design of the concurrent type was used, in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected simultaneously. The study was applied to a sample of (167) students in the preparatory year of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University for the first applied track. They were divided into two experimental groups that were taught Mathematics using the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) model and two control groups that were taught Mathematics using the usual standard method. The groups were subjected to an achievement test, and a sample was chosen according to the level of the achievement test for individual interviews. The results of the research showed that there is a statistically significant difference at the level of (α ≤ 0.05) between the average score of the female students in the control groups who were taught according to the traditional method, and those in the experimental groups who were taught according to the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) model in the achievement test, in favor of the experimental group. Additionally, the use of the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) model also had a high impact on the size of the achievement test by more than 0.14 as measured by squared Eta effect size. The use of the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) model was characterized by high effectiveness in developing mathematical achievement for students of the preparatory year in the experimental groups. The research also recommended the importance of training teachers on how to prepare and apply the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) model, paying attention to activities that combine content and language

Observed Effects of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Methods in Education of Students in Uganda [Kennesaw State University]

Researchers have examined the effects of the SIOP, Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol, model on English Language Learners (ELLs) in the United States. With the SIOP model, teachers use research-based instruction that benefits all students including ELL students. However, there is a need to examine its effects for students in other countries. This study compares the performance and engagement of students in a rural setting in Uganda when they experience instruction that follows parts of the SIOP model. Many students in Uganda struggle in mathematics because of the lack of support due to class sizes of about 65-105 students. This study will highlight the use of researched methods for ELLs within the United States for students in other countries, such as Uganda, that will help students in Uganda’s educational system. Based on the observations of participation, engagement, and performance on the tests given by the researcher during this study, the data gathered from the researcher and the local teachers will show that the methods are working for the students at Ekitangaala. The analysis of this observational data has resulted in cross-cultural symbiotic pedagogical learning. The results show that the students are more engaged when they are learning in an environment that employs SIOP researched methods and better retain content for testing which allowed for better performance.