Program Overview

English Language Learner/Bilingual Endorsement Program

Introduction

The Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education offers teachers and teacher-candidates the opportunity to complete the coursework for their endorsement program in English Language Learner (ELL) and/or Bilingual Education. This program leads to an additional endorsement in English Language Learner and/or Bilingual Education based on Washington State English Language Learner endorsement competencies and Washington State Bilingual Education endorsement competencies, when accompanied by a professional teacher education program and a first endorsement in a qualifying content area.

Why Consider an English Language Learner Endorsement?

Students who are English learners (ELs) are the fastest growing student population in the public school system. Statewide, approximately 10% of all P-12 students are ELs, but in some districts that percentage is much, much higher. In order to meet the needs of this diverse population in the regular classroom and as an ELL specialist, we need teachers at all grade levels and content areas who have the ELL endorsement. For many schools, this is a highly recommended endorsement.

Teachers with the endorsement in English Language Learners from Western Washington University possess in-depth understandings of the role of cultural and linguistic diversity in each student’s education. Our program focuses on developing the mainstream P-12 classroom teacher’s ability to shelter and support the instruction of language learners in mainstream classrooms, who are at all levels of fluency, as they work to achieve state expectations in subject matter content. Some teachers with ELL endorsements go on to become school ELL Specialists. ELL Specialists are usually experienced teachers who have taught language learners successfully for several years and have previously earned the ELL endorsement. Many earn a master’s degree or National Board certification in ELL prior to becoming a school or district ELL Specialist.

The ELL endorsement program prepares you to:

• Obtain the WA state endorsement for English Language Learners
• Teach a range of language learners in a mainstream classroom.
• Work with families from various cultures and home languages.
• Serve as a resource for other teachers.
• Plan instruction using the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP).
• Instruct using effective methods including strategies from the Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD).
• Thrive in culturally and linguistically diverse settings.

Why Consider a Bilingual Education Endorsement?

Teachers with the endorsement in Bilingual Education from Western Washington University possess in-depth understandings of the role of cultural and linguistic diversity in each student’s education and the demonstrated ability to use research-based instruction when teaching in English and also in a non-English target language. The numbers of bilingual schools continue to grow across the United States as research documents the benefits of quality programs. Our program includes study of a variety of models for bilingual education, including two-way, dual, one-way, and early exit models. In addition, current issues related to bilingual education are explored. Teachers who earn the Bilingual Endorsement can also apply for the English Language Learner Endorsement.

The Bilingual Education endorsement prepares you to:

• Obtain the WA state endorsement for Bilingual Education.
• Teach standards-based content in a target language other than English.
• Work with families from various cultures.
• Serve as a resource for other teachers.
• Instruct using effective methods including strategies from the Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD).
• Thrive in culturally and linguistically diverse settings.

Requirements (25 credits)

• One course from:
  • MLE 441 - Language, Culture, and Equity: From Global to Local (Credits: 5)
  • MLE 541 - Language, Culture, and Equity: From Global to Local (Credits: 5)
• One course from:
  • MLE 442 - Language, Culture, and Equity in the Classroom (Credits: 5)
  • MLE 542 - Language, Culture, and Equity in the Classroom (Credits: 5)
• One course from:
  • MLE 443 - Methods for Teaching Entering and Emerging Multilingual Learners (Credits: 5)
  • MLE 543 - Methods for Teaching Entering and Emerging Multilingual Learners (Credits: 5)
• One course from:
  • MLE 444 - Understanding and Teaching Disciplinary Language (Credits: 5)
  • MLE 544 - Understanding and Teaching Disciplinary Language (Credits: 5)
• One course from:
  • MLE 445 - Methods for Teaching Developing, Expanding, and Bridging Multilingual Learners (Credits: 5)
  • MLE 545 - Methods for Teaching Developing, Expanding, and Bridging Multilingual Learners (Credits: 5)

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement

Student Resources

• Department Website: Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education
• Department advising: See the Multilingual Education webpage for more information.
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers: Classroom teacher P-12, ELL specialist, Language Teacher/Bilingual Coach

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process)

Once you are admitted into a teacher education professional program in Woodring, stop by the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education Department to declare this endorsement.

Grade Requirements

Each required course must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better and within a seven-year span, based on the start date of the first class.