The field experience for graduate students in San Antonio is a unique opportunity to observe and work with experienced, highly qualified teachers at work in quality bilingual/ESL programs in order to gain new perspectives, as well as knowledge about curriculum and strategies. This close collaboration will lead to the discovery of how teachers meet the demands of NCLB for their English learners, and build relationships with students, parents, and the community. By hearing teachers’ stories of things that worked and things that didn’t work, participants will learn about teachers’ philosophies (perhaps based on the university programs they completed), in order to have a broader perspective on teaching second language learners.  

San Antonio participants will be also able to compare the level of communication that exists between teachers in bilingual programs, and also between bilingual/ESL teachers and those in the rest of the school, and how bilingual schools and schools with bilingual programs deal with the implications and demands of No Child Left Behind. Graduate students will also identify the models of bilingual education that are being used, their strengths and weaknesses and how English learners testing is administered —information to be used as a foundation for possible changes in, and greater effectiveness of, Idaho bilingual programs. 

SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS:  

ED-BLESL 509 (Field Experience in Bilingual Classrooms) and ED-BLESL 510 (Field Experience in ESL Classrooms) are only offered once a year during the Spring semester. 

The class will be going to San Antonio to visit exemplary models of Dual Language Immersion and English as a Second Language classrooms. We will also be meeting faculty and doctoral students from the University of Texas, San Antonio to share their research and findings conducted at these settings. 

NON SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS  

You are welcome to sign up for the practicum experience listed in the catalog as ED-BLESL 509 and ED-BLESL 510 (there is no difference in the code between the San Antonio and the local experience). Local sites and dates will be announced at the beginning of the semester.  

Please note that you are welcome to join us for the San Antonio practicum experience, however you will be responsible for airfare and maybe hotel.

For more information, contact Olgie Castillo at OlgieCastillo@boisestate.edu or call 426-4077