ERIC Number: EJ1371451
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2374-7404
EISSN: N/A
Preparing Preservice Teachers to Work with Emergent Bilingual Students: Highlights from an Exploratory Service-Learning Trip to Central Mexico
Casey, J. Elizabeth; Kuklies, Kimberly; Warner, Chelsea
Texas Journal of Literacy Education, v9 n3 p21-33 Win 2022
It is important to build preservice teachers' self-efficacy in working with diverse learners. During summer of 2021, faculty from a mid-sized public university in the southwest took a small group of preservice teachers into central Mexico to provide opportunities in working with diverse learners and/or emergent bilingual students. Although this foray into central Mexico was an exploratory trip to plan for future International Field-Experiences for preservice teachers, the trip involved a lot of service and a lot of learning. Jacoby (2015) defines service-learning as "a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs" (p.1). While this project to central Mexico was not tied to any coursework, preservice teachers and university faculty engaged in service-learning that was mutually beneficial to all stakeholders. At the same time, preservice teachers gained self-efficacy in their ability to support the needs of emergent bilingual students. Students and faculty from the university worked with approximately 22 children in a remote village in central Mexico, with support from translators. Through this experience, a unique bonding experience took place. For five consecutive days, faculty and preservice teachers worked with emergent bilingual students ranging in age from four to fourteen. Only a few translators assisted with communication, but they were able to support the faculty and preservice teachers during literacy and educational technology instruction. The second author received support for translations as she conducted vision and hearing screenings for students, parents, and community members. The experience was life changing. Faculty, through this experience, recognized their own bias towards another cultures' fundamental beliefs about education and medical needs, a humbling experience. However, it prepared students and faculty to learn and grow from others with differing views.
Descriptors: Preservice Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Teacher Competencies, Bilingual Students, English Language Learners, Service Learning, Foreign Countries, Experiential Learning, Self Efficacy, Student Needs, Rural Areas, Consciousness Raising, Cultural Awareness, Literacy Education, Technology Education, Screening Tests, Individualized Instruction, Learning Activities, Educational Technology
Texas Journal of Literacy Education. Texas Woman's University Department of Reading, MCL 9th Floor, PO Box 425769, Denton, TX 76204. Web site: http://www.talejournal.com/index.php/TJLE
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Mexico; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A