Teaching Science to English Language Learners (Graduate Certificate)

As English language learners (ELLs) increase their ability to understand and communicate in English, they also face the significant challenge of learning the academic discourse of science. In Massachusetts, ELL students represent the lowest-scoring category on the MCAS science exams. ELLs also have the highest withdrawal rates. The efforts to increase learning opportunities for ELLs places increased demands on science teachers and highlights the necessity of helping students develop mastery of both language and content. In response, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requiring teachers of ELLs to receive a special license by 2016. Known as the Endorsement in Sheltered English Instruction (SEI), the license must be achieved through completion of a course entitled Rethinking Equity and Teaching for ELLs (RETELL). The UMass Boston Certificate in the Teaching of Science to English Language Learners builds upon this basic RETELL preparation by developing advanced instructional skills for in-service, practicing teachers.

The certificate provides teachers with strategies to increase ELL students’ knowledge of academic English and to improve their science achievement. It includes courses in three fields: science, curriculum and instruction, and applied linguistics. It focuses on the teaching of science in SEI settings. Topics relate science instruction and learning to evaluation and assessment, multicultural education, second-language teaching methodology, first-language maintenance, and applied linguistics. It is open to all English-as-a-second-language; early childhood; and elementary, middle, and secondary teachers of science.