This thesis reports on a mixed-methods research study based on faculty and English as a Second Language (ESL) students' perceptions of ESL students' linguistic and cultural preparedness for academics in a Canadian university. Research has shown dramatic differences between English for academic purposes (EAP) and academic disciplines in environments, instructional approaches, and faculty expectations and reported on the challenges and needs of ESL students in academic programs; however, only limited research has investigated how academic instructors can adapt to better meet the needs of ESL students. By surveying and interviewing first-year undergraduate ESL students and interviewing academic faculty, this project examines the gaps in ESL students' academic skills and cultural knowledge. In addition, the study considers implications for current teaching practices and recommends ways in which academic faculty and the institution can better support ESL students. The research questions were: (a) How do teachers in the undergraduate programs perceive the linguistic preparedness of ESL students in their undergraduate courses? (b) How do ESL students who are enrolled in first year academic courses perceive their linguistic preparedness for their current field of study? (c) What are effective teaching practices instructors can use in the academic programs of universities to support ESL students? and (d) Which are the factors involved in the success of ESL students in their undergraduate courses? Based on the results of a mixed-methods methodology, I offer implications for teaching, and provide a number of recommendations to improve the quality of instruction. I offer recommendations around the following themes: online resources (e.g. Moodles for courses); communication and relationship building (e.g. group work, marks for participation, and office hour conferencing); time constraints; language and cultural support services; and admission requirements. The recommendations are based on an analysis of findings in the study and literature reviewed. Furthermore, I suggest ways to improve policy and practice in institutional and faculty development. Finally, I suggest issues and areas for further research.

ESL Readers and Writers in Higher Education describes the challenges ESL students in U.S. postsecondary institutions face when studying in a second language, and offers suggestions for how teachers, advisors, tutors, and institutions might provide support that meets the reading and writing needs of this very important student population. Because the ESL profession as a whole, including what professionals are doing in the classroom, sits under the umbrella of an institutional response to a language-related challenge, some solutions aimed at helping students achieve optimal proficiency lie outside of the classroom. As such, this book is based on the assertion that language development support is not the sole responsibility of language teachers. Everyone on campuses that hosts ESL students bears some responsibility for these students' language development. Chapters are therefore, intentionally adapted to appeal to a wide variety of readers from classroom teachers, and teachers in training, to admissions officers, academic advisors, and international student advisors.

Co-published with TESOL Press There is a growing need for knowledge and practical ideas about the preparation of teachers for English language learners (ELLs), a growing segment of the K-12 population in the United States. This book is for teachers, administrators, and teacher educators looking for innovative ways to prepare teachers for ELLs and will position teachers to empower these students. This volume will appeal mostly to those preparing teachers in contexts that have not have historically had large numbers of ELLs, but have had a high rate of recent growth (e.g., Midwestern U.S.). This work is the combination of teacher preparation and ELL issues. This volume is unique in tackling pre-service and inservice teacher preparation. Additionally, the chapters collectively aim to go beyond merely equipping teachers to meet the needs of ELLs, but to reach a level of effectiveness with the outcome of equity. The book highlights the knowledge, skills, and beliefs of teachers about ELLs. Part I addresses teacher perceptions of, and beliefs about, ELLs and teacher preparation specifically addressing what they should know in terms of students’ perspectives. Chapters attend to the experiences and beliefs of immigrant teachers about their roles, the role of service learning in teacher preparation, and the potential of understanding home literacy practices to change teacher beliefs about ELLs. Part II focuses on skills necessary to teach ELLs—writing skills teachers can draw on to inform their teaching practices, technological skills teachers need to develop, and skills related to focusing on the Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics. Each chapter explicitly addresses implications for teacher education or professional development.

The changing and growing student population in the U.S. demands well-equipped and trained teachers who have the adequate preparation and pedagogical tools to fully meet their diverse needs. This research study examined the perceptions of teachers' preparedness and their efficacy beliefs for teaching English Language Learners. A mixed-method was carried out to address four research questions: 1) What perceptions are held by in-service teachers about teaching practices for ELLs? 2) What is the relationship, if any, between teacher knowledge about teaching ELL students and the instructional practices employed by teachers when instructing ELL students? 3) How effective do in-service teachers feel in teaching ELL students? 4) What factors influence teachers' perceptions of self-efficacy about teaching ELL students? Over 144 teachers participated in the survey questionnaire along with five teachers who participated in focus-groups, interviews, and classroom observations to identify in-depth analysis on their feelings of perceptions and efficacy beliefs. Results from the quantitative study revealed differences in perception and efficacy beliefs for teachers who are bilingual in a second language, teachers who hold a bilingual/ESL certification, and the route in which teachers receive their certification. Qualitative results included the methodologies and cultural competencies that teachers employed in their classroom for English Language Learners. Additionally, participation in professional development activities was found to have an effect in teachers' instructional decisions for teaching ELLs.

Emerging from a critical analysis of the glocal power of English and how it relates to academic literacy and culturally responsive pedagogy, this book presents translanguaging strategies for using ESL students' mother tongue as a resource for academic literacy acquisition and college success. Parmegiani offers a strong counterpoint to the "English-only" movement in the United States. Grounded in a case study of a learning community linking Spanish and English academic writing courses, he demonstrates that a mother tongue-based pedagogical intervention and the strategic use of minority home languages can promote English language acquisition and academic success.

As non-natives are increasingly found teaching languages, particularly English, both in ESL and EFL contexts, the identification of their specific contributions and their main strengths has become more relevant than ever. This volume provides different approaches to the study of non-native teachers: NNS teachers as seen by students, teachers, graduate supervisors, and by themselves. It contributes seldom-explored perspectives, like classroom discourse analysis, and social-psychological framework to discuss conceptions of NNS teachers.

Teaching Academic ESL Writing: Practical Techniques in Vocabulary and Grammar fills an important gap in teacher professional preparation by focusing on the grammatical and lexical features that are essential for all ESL writing teachers and student-writers to know. The fundamental assumption is that before students of English for academic purposes can begin to successfully produce academic writing, they must have the foundations of language in place--the language tools (grammar and vocabulary) they need to build a text. This text offers a compendium of techniques for teaching writing, grammar, and lexis to second-language learners that will help teachers effectively target specific problem areas of students' writing. Based on the findings of current research, including a large-scale study of close to 1,500 non-native speakers' essays, this book works with several sets of simple rules that collectively can make a noticeable and important difference in the quality of ESL students' writing. The teaching strategies and techniques are based on a highly practical principle for efficiently and successfully maximizing learners' language gains. Part I provides the background for the text and a sample of course curriculum guidelines to meet the learning needs of second-language teachers of writing and second-language writers. Parts II and III include the key elements of classroom teaching: what to teach and why, possible ways to teach the material in the classroom, common errors found in student prose and ways to teach students to avoid them, teaching activities and suggestions, and questions for discussion in a teacher-training course. Appendices to chapters provide supplementary word and phrase lists, collocations, sentence chunks, and diagrams that teachers can use as needed. The book is designed as a text for courses that prepare teachers to work with post-secondary EAP students and as a professional resource for teachers of students in EAP courses.