Working with English language learners

This handbook is to be used by teachers in charge of ESOL programmes to provide professional development for teacher aides and bilingual tutors working with English Language Learners.   It is designed to be completed as a professional development programme over two terms, taking approximately two hours per fortnight.  It consists of ten modules for teacher aides to work through, in conjunction, with the teacher in charge of ESOL at their school.

• Module 1: Strengthening the role of the bilingual teacher aide
• Module 2: Contexts and ways of working
• Module 3: Understanding additional language acquisition
• Module 4: Effective teaching and learning, self-access learning and vocabulary development
• Module 5: Supporting oral language development
• Module 6: Supporting questioning
• Module 7: Supporting reading
• Module 8: Supporting writing
• Module 9: Supporting learning to learn
• Module 10: Supporting learning in the curriculum areas

This document is available for download below.

Working with English Language Learners DVD

The Ministry has developed the Working with English Language Learners DVD to assist teacher aides and their co-ordinating teachers to work through the content of the Working with English Language Learners Handbook for Teacher Aides and Bilingual Tutors.

Rae Si’ilata, University of Auckland researcher and facilitator of the Pasifika Bilingual teacher aide training course, is the ‘virtual presenter’ on the DVD, which begins with a short introductory video and features audio introductions by Rae of each of the ten modules which make up the course.

For each module there are opportunities to practise using key strategies and learning activities and the DVD features short excerpts from the Making Language and Learning Work DVD 3 which illustrate these. Participants are encouraged to monitor and reflect on their progress as they move through the modules.

The DVD is designed to be used by a co-ordinating teacher with a teacher aide or a small group of teacher aides. The involvement of the co-ordinating teacher is a critical component in ensuring successful outcomes (see page 8 of the handbook). The completion certificate is included on the DVD, with each module being signed by the co-ordinating teacher and the certificate being signed on completion by the principal.

While this professional development resource was designed for use by schools in remote locations or where there are very small numbers of English language learners, and the teacher aides may not have access to face to face professional development opportunities such as ELA (English Language Assistant) or Pasifika Bilingual Teacher Aide training, it will be useful for any school where teacher aides are working with English language learners.

Copies of the handbook and DVD can be ordered from the Down the Back of the Chair or by calling 0800 660 662.
You are free to make multiple copies of the DVD.

Teacher Aide and Bilingual Tutor Certificate in Working with English Language Learners

A completion certificate for schools to present to their teacher aides who have completed the Working with English Language Learners, A Handbook for Teacher Aides and Bilingual Tutors professional development programme is now available.

Remember that the school should have selected a coordinating teacher to guide teacher aides and bilingual tutors through the modules in this handbook. The coordinating teacher will sign off each module and the principal endorses this process when all the modules have been completed.

A copy of the certificate for completion is available for download below.