Language and Language Development

Phonology

• Describe aspects of English phonology that could interfere with communication for different language groups.
• Develop approaches to support students’ transfer from their first language to English that include an understanding of English phonemes.
• Identify speech sound patterns and strategies that help students avoid primary language interference.
• Identify student phonological skills that assist with fluent reading and writing.
• Develop strategies to determine English learners’ hindrances and needs associated with phonology.
• Analyze English Language Development (ELD) programs with a focus on phonology.

Morphology

• Analyze English morphemes.
• Describe morphology and develop strategies to help English learners with language development.
• Identify student morphological skills that assist with fluent reading and writing.
• Develop strategies to determine English learners’ hindrances and needs associated with morphology.
• Analyze English Language Development (ELD) programs with a focus on morphology.

Pragmatics

• Distinguish pragmatic features of both oral and written language that will guide the speaker’s choice for communicating style.
• Understand important pragmatic features of different communication settings in English.
• Analyze elements that affect a learner’s choice of pragmatic features.
• Develop strategies to determine English learners’ hindrances and needs associated with pragmatics.

Discourse Aspects of Language

• Analyze how sentences relate to one another to convey meaning, and analyze oral and written discourse for cohesion and coherence.
• Describe similarities and differences between language structures used in the spoken and written English language, including describing text structures of different genres for their language function.
• Develop strategies to promote English learners’ communicative competence using formal and informal discourse and verbal and nonverbal sociolinguistic competences.
• Evaluate English Language Development (ELD) programs related to formal and informal discourse and sociolinguistic competences.

Theories, Processes, and Stages of Language Acquisition for the English Learner

• Review the major theories of second language acquisition.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of English language development in alternative language services.
• Apply the nature and process of language acquisition to classroom instructional methods and materials.
• Compare and contrast the differences in language acquisition.
• Analyze the significance of understanding the contemporary theories of language acquisition.
• Explain the cognitive processes of language rules including memorization, categorization, generalization, and metacognition.

Theories, Processes, and Stages of Second Language Acquisition

• Identify the characteristics of each stage in language acquisition and the proficiency levels of English language acquisition.
• Examine instructional strategies that strengthen oral language development.
• Identify factors that influence early literacy development.
• Examine theoretical perspectives and research on emergent literacy.
• Synthesize research on current theories and models of language acquisition.
• Explore how language can be acquired where speaking and writing are facilitated by listening and reading.
• Understand the cognitive and social strategies used in developing an additional language.

Cognitive, Linguistic, Physical, and Affective Factors Affecting Language Development

• Analyze cognitive, linguistic, and physical factors affecting second language acquisition.
• Analyze the integrated nature of cognitive and affective language development, including social, regional, and functional factors.
• Analyze affective factors that influence the acquisition of second languages.
• Examine pedagogical processes of affective factors for the instruction of English learners.
• Analyze how students’ home culture and language affect their affective factors for learning a second language.
• Understand how teacher expectations affect a learner’s second language acquisition.

Sociocultural Factors in the Classroom

• Analyze the sociocultural and political factors affecting development of additional languages.
• Compare and contrast each of the political and sociocultural factors that can affect learning an additional language.
• Explore the pedagogical implications of sociocultural and political factors for the instruction of English learners.
• Explain the various ways to create a culturally inclusive classroom.
• Explore sociocultural factors in the classroom, including stereotypes, attitudes, acculturation, and classroom culture.