Frequently Asked Questions – Spring 2009

The Language Development in the Context of the Disciplines (LDCD) Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), is a collaborative effort between Touro College’s Lander Center for Educational Research and the New York City Department of Education’s Office of English Language Learners (OELL).

Who is eligible to participate in the LDCD Program?
The program offers certified New York City math, science, social studies, and English teachers of English Language Learners (grades 6 – 12) nine free graduate credits, and up to 35 hours of professional development that can count toward the New York State-mandated 175 hours required every five years for permanent certification.

What courses are offered through the LDCD Program?
(1)  Trends and Current Issues in Second Language Acquisition (EDU639)
(2)  Basic Reading and Writing Instruction: Teaching Reading and Writing for Second
      Language Learners (EDU634)
(3)  Second Language Learners and Content Areas (EDU637)

What will I learn through these courses?
Course 1 (EDU 639):  Trends and Current Issues in Second Language Acquisition

• Stages and Characteristics of first and second language acquisition
• Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS)
• Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALPS)
• Types of English Language Learners
• The Interplay of Culture, Language and Adolescent Identity Development
• New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test
• Vocabulary Acquisition
• Scaffolded Instruction
• National Issues: NCLB/AYP pressures; Immigration and student mobility
• Legally mandated resources for ELL students

Course 2 (EDU 634): Basic Reading and Writing Instruction: Teaching Reading and Writing to Second Language Learners

• Instructional Strategies for teaching comprehension and critical reasoning to diverse language learners
• Writing with Scaffolded Paragraph Frames: Exploring Text Structure
• Anticipation Guides
• Learning Logs
• Vocabulary Strategies: Academic English
• Reading and Writing in English Language Arts
• Reading and Writing in Social Studies
• Reading and Writing in Math
• Reading and Writing in Science

Course 3 (EDU 637): Second Language Learners and Content Areas

• What is Scientifically Based Instruction?

• Write Content Objectives
• Write Language Objectives
• Build Background Knowledge
• Build Academic Vocabulary
• Lesson Plan: Preparation, Scaffolding, Grouping Options, Integration of Language Processes, Application, and Assessment

If I have further questions about course content, who do I contact?
Contact Dr. Carol Bearse at Carol.Bearse@touro.edu or (212) 463-0400 ext. 5282

Must I take these courses in sequential order?
Yes. The courses are designed to build one upon another and every course includes assignments to implement various strategies with students in the classroom.

How do I apply for the program if I am not currently a Touro College student?

• You must be a certified New York City teacher of grades 6 – 12 in one of the major content areas: Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, or Social Studies.

• Obtain an application packet for non-matriculated admission to the Graduate Division of the Touro College School of Education from Rebecca Sharman: Call 212-463-0400, ext. 5387 or e-mail Rebecca.Sharman@touro.edu.

• Then submit, to Rebecca Sharman, the following:
• transcripts of undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) studies showing a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for LDCD, but official transcripts are required should you matriculate into the Master’s program)
• (a copy of your provisional, initial, or permanent New York State teaching certificate
•  your immunization record
• one letter of reference from your principal/assistant principal
• a personal statement (stating your current position, activities, and interests)
• a completed Touro College registration form

• Mail or bring the completed application packet to:

Ms. Rebecca Sharman
Touro College
Lander Center for Educational Research
43 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10010

• You will receive a letter notifying you of your acceptance into the program, or reasons for declining your application . At the point of your acceptance, your registration fee for the first course, $100 payable to Touro College by check or credit card, is due to Rebecca Sharman, who will then complete your registration process for you.

Once I have taken courses in the LDCD Program, if I want to matriculate into Touro College’s TESOL/ESL Program, what steps do I take?
Go to the Touro College Admissions Office on the third floor of 43 West 23rd Street and apply for matriculated status in the TESOL/ESL Program (or other graduate program of your choice). This will entail completing another application packet, which will require official transcripts, perhaps another reference letter, etc.

Information about what is required to matriculate in any of Touro College’s graduate programs is found at:
http://www.touro.edu/edgrad/Programs.asp

If I’m already a matriculated Touro College student, can I participate in the LDCD Program?
Yes. If you are a certified New York City content-area teacher of grades 6 – 12, you need to obtain a memo of approval from the Program Chair of your current program to determine whether these credits count toward your particular degree.

Once I am in the LDCD Program and have taken Course 1, how do I register for the next course?
There are two possible ways to register for Course 2 and Course 3:

• During one of the last sessions of Course 1 (EDU639) and Course 2 (EDU634), Rebecca Sharman will come to your class and distribute registration forms for the next course, and then she will come back to the next session to collect these forms and your registration fee ($100) for the next course.
• You can schedule an appointment with Rebecca to register with her at her office.

What is the course schedule?
Spring 2009 Courses begin on January 12.
Course 1 (EDU639):

• Course 1(EDU639) Section 1: Wednesdays, 5 – 8p.m., 50 W. 23rd Street, Room 610, Professor Cruz
• Course 1(EDU639) Section 2: Thursdays, 5 – 8p.m., 50 W. 23rd Street, Room 610, Professor Nunes
• Course 2 (EDU634): Tuesdays, 5 – 8p.m., 50 W. 23rd Street, Room 610, Professor Nunes
• Course 3 (EDU637):  Mondays, 5 – 8p.m., 50 W. 23rd Street, Room 610, Professor Bearse

Can I take two LDCD courses simultaneously?
No. This is strongly discouraged because the courses are designed to build one upon the other.

Can I take an LDCD course and an additional Touro TESOL/ESL course at the same time?
Yes, if you are a matriculated Touro College TESOL/ESL student.

How do I apply these three courses to further certification opportunities?
To this question, there is an easy, straightforward answer, and a more complex answer. First, the easy answer.
You may apply to Touro College’s 36-credit TESOL/ESL Program, through which you can earn a Masters Degree in TESOL/ESL and qualify for initial New York State certification in ESL. One advantage of this program is that upon completion of 18 credits in TESOL/ESL courses at Touro College, you will qualify for an Internship Certificate, which allows you to work in an ESL position for two years as you complete your degree program – in other words, you do not need to complete your degree and have your certification prior to obtaining an ESL job as long as you do complete the degree and obtain certification by the end of the two years. Your nine LDCD credits count toward the 36 credits required for this degree.

Second, the more complex answer, which entails two options:

• Go to the NYC DOE Recruitment Office at 65 Court Street in Brooklyn and ask to speak with a Certification Officer. Take your transcripts and ask the Certification Officer to explain what courses you still need in order to obtain a 15-credit NYC DOE ESL Extension. Be persistent and patient in pursuing the answer to this question.
• The BOCES Intensive Teacher Institute (ITI) is a program that offers tuition assistance for particularly specified courses that lead to a 15-credit New York State ESL Extension. Touro College’s TESOL Program is an approved collaborating Institution of Higher Education (ITE) in the ITI Program and the nine LDCD credits apply toward the 15 credits. If you are accepted into this program, you will receive tuition assistance for additional courses past the three you have taken in the LDCD Program. However, for the 2008-2009 school year, funding for this program was cut and special education teachers will receive priority. See http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/biling/docs/2007-08_ITI_Graduate_Application.pdf for last year’s information about the BOCES Intensive Teacher Institute (ITI) and call 631-286-6551(General Ed) or 631-286-6748 (Special Ed) between the hours of 8a.m. and 3p.m. for information about applying to this tuition-assistance program.

What other professional development opportunities are available through the LDCD Program?

• The LDCD Program will sponsor each participant to attend one multi-day QTEL Institute.
• Each Fall- and Spring-semester course includes an optional six-week online study group.
• LDCD sponsors one-day professional development seminars and institutes.

Who should I contact if I have further questions?