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Texas Two-Way Dual Language Education
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Module Description

The descriptions of the twelve TExES learning modules are listed here.
  • Unit 1
  • Unit 2
  • Unit 3
  • Unit 4
  • TOPT

Unit I: Foundations of Bilingual Education
(Competency 001)

Module 1: History and Research

  • Historical, theoretical, and political foundations of bilingual education
  • Federal and state legislation
  • Court cases

Module 2: Bilingual Program Models

  • Overview of bilingual and ESL program models
  • Goals of different program types
  • Factors that determine nature of program on particular campus
  • Research findings on effectiveness
  • Acculturation

 Module 3: Multilingual & Multicultural Learning Environment

  • Cultural and linguistic diversity in the bilingual classroom
  • Creating an effective multicultural and multilingual learning environment
  • Factors that contribute to cultural bias
  • Importance of respecting students' diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Advocacy for ELL students (particularly at SPED/LEP intersection)

 Module 4: The LPAC

  • Overview of the LPAC Process and Decision-Making Manuals
  • State-mandated assessments
  • LEP exemptions from TAKS
  • Assessing LEP students with standardized tests

Unit II: Language Acquisition and Development (Competency 002)

Module 5: Concepts of Language

  • Overview of linguistics: phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon, semantics, discourse, and pragmatics
  • Social vs. academic language (BICS & CALP)
  • Interrelatedness of listening, speaking, reading & writing

 Module 6: L1 & L2 Acquisition

  • Theories of L1 & L2 acquisition
  • Stages of L1 & L2 development
  • Interrelatedness of L1 & L2 development
  • Instructional implications of theories
  • Common difficulties experienced by ESL students

 Module 7: Second Language Teaching

  • Introduction to ESL methodology
  • Review of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for ESL
  • Introduction to content-based instruction for English Language Learners
  • Effective and appropriate methods for promoting cognitive, linguistic, and affective factors affecting L2 acquisition

Unit III: Literacy and Biliteracy (Competency 003)

Module 8: L1 Literacy Development and Assessment

  • Development of L1 literacy
  • Spanish language arts
  • Formal and informal L1 literacy assessment

 Module 9: L1 & L2 Language Arts Standards

  • There will actually be two modules for Module 9—one for those seeking the EC-4 Bilingual Supplemental and one for those seeking the 4-8 Bilingual Supplemental.
  • Module 9a: L1 & L2 Language Arts TEKS for EC-4
  • Module 9b: L1 & L2 Language Arts TEKS for 4-8

 Module 10: Biliteracy Development and Instruction

  • What transfers between L1 & L2 literacy
  • Promoting biliteracy
  • Biliteracy development
  • Introduction to ESL reading techniques
  • Strategies for developing L1 & L2 reading and writing
  • Facilitating reading comprehension in L1 &L2

Unit IV: Content Area Instruction (Competency 004)

Module 11: CALP and the Content Areas

  • Introducing CALP and its development
  • Approaches for comprehensible input in content instruction
  • Using content-area instruction in L1 & L2 to promote students' cognitive and linguistic development
  • Content-area learning in L2
  • Creating authentic learning in L1 & L2

 Module 12: Content Area Instruction and Assessment

  • Differentiating content instruction for L1 & L2 proficiency
  • Assessing content area knowledge and CALP in L1 & L2
  • Importance of developing critical thinking skills
  • Using formal and informal assessment to plan and adapt instruction

Known as the Texas Oral Proficiency Test - TOPT

The descriptions of the three language proficiency prep learning modules are listed here.

Language Proficiency Unit

Module 13: Oral Picture Tasks

  • Give directions
  • Describe a place/activities
  • Narrate in present time
  • Narrate in past time
  • Narrate in future time

 Module 14: Oral Topic Tasks

  • Give instructions
  • State advantages/disadvantages
  • Give a brief factual summary
  • Support an opinion
  • Hypothesize on an impersonal topic

 Module 15: Oral Situation Tasks

  • Speak with tact (e.g., apologize, lodge a complaint)
  • Speak to persuade someone
  • Propose and defend a course of action
  • Give a professional talk
  • Give advice

For further details about the tasks that are tested go to: pages 21-34 of the Registration Bulletin

http://www.texes.ets.org/assets/pdf/topt/
topt_registration_bulletin_07_08.pdf

Written proficiency tasks will be added when they are released to the public.

 For further details about the TOPT test go to: http://www.texes.ets.org/topt/AboutTheTest/