Dr. Rincon's Corner

Featured Interview: Spanish in the 21st Century-¿Sobrevivirá el Español Americano?

Martin Luther King Jr. Award

Opening Doors Through Bilingual Education

Recent Publications

Usted, the Prononominal Address of Familiarity In an Urban Community: Hispanic Journal

Presentations:

Fourth Annual Title III Management Institute San Antonio TX, May 2006

Educator Preparation Program in Bilingual Education

A program that provides the foundations for Texas teachers seeking the supplemental certification in Bilingual Education (EC-4)

Program Description

The Educator Preparation Program in Bilingual Education is a specialized sequence that provides educators with a sound knowledge of bilingual education and prepares them for success on the TExES #102, Bilingual Education Supplemental-Spanish (EC-4) and the TOPT test in Spanish.

The program is directed to educators interested in acquiring a sound knowledge of bilingual or ESL education and to certified teachers or certification-seeking students interested in adding a supplemental certification in Bilingual Education in Spanish EC-4 that will enable them to teach in a bilingual or an ESL classroom at the same grade level and in the same content area as the base certificate.

The program is a specialized sequence that focuses on the fundamental language concepts and the study of the structure and conventions of the English language, the study of the foundations of bilingual education and of the factors that contribute to an effective multicultural and multilingual learning environment. Likewise, it focuses on the development of bilingual methodologies integrating content-area instruction, the assessment and monitoring in the bilingual classroom, and the study of the biliteracy process of the bilingual learner. Additionally, the program deals with the development of effective curricular and instructional approaches in the bilingual classroom, well as on the creation of assessment procedures that are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

    Courses in Bilingual Education

For admission to this preparation program, students must take a Spanish placement test, which will serve to design their language proficiency plan.

• Courses offered in Bilingual Education:

*BE 474 Biliteracy for Bilingual and Dual Classrooms

Prerequisites: Spanish placement test at the 200 level via Spanish placement exam

*BE 470 Bilingual Assessment and Monitoring

Prerequisite: BE 474

*BE 472 Bilingual and Dual Language Methodologies

Prerequisite: BE 474

Course must be taken concurrently with SPAN 303 Spanish Composition and Conversation

*BE 476 Content Area Instruction for Bilingual Programs

Prerequisite: BE 472 and SPAN 303

Course must be taken concurrently with SPAN 317 Spanish Conversation and Diction

     What's next?

After successful completion of the courses proposed by this preparation program, certified educators will be able to add the Supplemental Certificate in Bilingual Education Spanish EC-4 by passing the TExES test #102 and the Spanish TOPT test. Preparation manuals for TExES #102 and for TOPT may be viewed at the following websites:

Preparation Manual for the TEXES # 102 http://www.topt.nesinc.com/PDFs/TO_20052006_RegBulletin.pdf

     Dates of Course Offerings

*BE 474 spring semester

*BE 470 fall semester

*BE 472 summer semester

*BE 476 spring semester starting Spring 2007

*SPAN 303 offered spring, fall and summer semester

*SPAN 317 offered spring and fall semester

Other Spanish courses that prepare competency in the language currently offered at Texas A&M-Texarkana include:

*SPAN 310 Spanish Grammar and Composition

*SPAN 360 Introduction to Hispanic Literature

     Grant Opportunities and Financial Assistance

Region VIII ESC, through Title III, provides funding to assist students and teachers interested in the bilingual program. Because of this financial assistance, we have been able to support the new students in the program with school fees and tuition as well as textbooks. For information on scholarships for bilingual and ESL education, contact

• Jean Carrell, Educational Specialist Region VIII ESC                                                            
• PO Box 1894 Mount Pleasant, TX 75467-1894                                                                   (903) 572-8551 Ext. 2740                                                                      http://www.reg8.net/default.aspx?name=cit.fp.esl

Many school districts pay for tuition for teachers seeking bilingual certification. However, those educators not covered by Title II grants through their school districts may review financial options for preparation in bilingual education at the following sites:

• For information on assistance with tuition for teacher assistants and substitute teacher go to http://www.collegefortexans.com/cfbin/tofa2.cfm?ID=38
• If you are a Hispanic student, you may try the following sites:
  The Hispanic Scholarship Fund http://www.hsf.net/
  Hispanic College Fund http://scholarships.hispanicfund.org/applications/
  LULAC  http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Centers.html