Henderson to host ESOL Institute for Arkansas teachers in July

Henderson State University will host an ESOL Institute this summer which will provide Arkansas Educators an opportunity to earn 12 graduate credits and apply for an ESL Endorsement.

ESOL represents English Speakers of Other Languages.

Participants will receive a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition and fees, and one administration of the ESOL Praxis.

“The ESOL Institute is a tradition in Southwest Arkansas in which Henderson State University partners with Dawson Educational Cooperative to provide a six-day intensive learning opportunity,” said Dr. Holly Cothren, associate professor and director of the ESOL Institute at Henderson.

The institute will be held July 15-20 in Room 7 at Dawson Coop. The summer sessions are in person, with four online follow-up sessions on Sept. 7, Nov. 2, Feb. 1, and April 5.

“We have room for 75 participants who are teachers in Arkansas with standard teaching licenses,” Cothren said. “They will learn the skill sets necessary to help English learners in their classrooms acquire English as their second language.”

Online registration and additional information is available at http://bit.ly/2425ESOLInstitute. There is a $25 application fee. Teachers are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Cothern said the institute will provide participants with textbooks, materials, t-shirts, and food from other cultures.

The institute is a high-quality educator training program for Arkansas-licensed educators leading to their eligibility to apply for an Arkansas ESOL Endorsement. School districts have an obligation to provide the personnel and resources necessary to effectively implement their self-selected ESOL program delivery model.

This includes ensuring an adequate number of highly qualified teachers to provide English Language Development and meaningful access to core instruction, as well as trained administrators who can evaluate teachers.

The ESOL Institute provides the equivalent of 80 hours of face-to-face or synchronous training, and four courses addressing Second Language Acquisition, Teaching People of Other Cultures, Second Language Methodology, and Second Language Assessment.