About the English Language Learning Program
ELL Program Mission and Vision
We are a program of faculty committed to the improvement of education for English Learners (ELs).
We believe ELs bring rich linguistic and cultural assets to the classroom and to their communities. We believe these assets should be recognized and enhanced in the classroom in collaboration with teachers, families, and communities to promote academic learning in preparation for college and life success.
We believe generating new knowledge via robust research can improve instructional practices by seeking solutions to complex educational problems.
Our mission is to translate research into practical solutions via powerful collaborations with school districts, practitioners, specialists, and families.
Professional Development and Research
- Project E3: $1.8 million to prepare instructional leaders across the state
- Project ICMEE (International Consortium for Multilingual Excellence in Education) via University of Nebraska $75,000.
- ReInvent Schools Las Vegas: $2.5 million (Partnership with CCSD and City of Las Vegas)
- Preparation of K – 12 Instructional Leaders in Nevada, Colorado, Indiana, Tennessee, and Indiana
Application Deadlines
- Spring Term: November 15
- Summer Term: April 15
- Winter Term: July 15
Contact Information
EMS Graduate Coordinator
What Makes Us Proud
Small Student-Instructor Ratio (average class size of 17)
Evening Classes
Integration of Special Education Content
Field-Based Learning Experiences
Advising
Faculty Advisors
The faculty advisors are full-time faculty members responsible for research, teaching, and service. Their role as your academic faculty advisor is to help you with academic course related questions pertaining to our M.Ed. ELL Program.
Faculty
Alain Bengochea, Ph.D.
Sharolyn D. Pollard-Durodola, Ed.D.
Getting Started in the M.Ed. ELL Program
Step 1: Contact Your Assigned Advisor
Email your assigned advisor to introduce yourself and learn about their preferred method of proceeding/meeting/advising.
Summer/Winter Break
If you are contacting us in the summer or during winter break, we may not be on contract, so you may not hear back from us until the regular fall or spring semester has started.
Fall/Spring Semester
We are available to meet with you during the regular fall and spring semesters during which we hold regular office hours. You can check our doors for a schedule, but it is always best to email us to set up a time to meet.
Step 2: Register for Courses
Register for your courses on MyUNLV.
- View the required courses on our degree page.
- If you are trying to register over the summer and your advisor is not available to meet before registration, simply follow the outlined courses. Once you meet with your advisor, you can continue planning from there.
- When you meet with your advisor, he/she can also help you pace out your courses. In general, we talk about the following:
- Think about how quickly you want to get through the program.
- We generally recommend you register for 2 courses (6 credits) to start.
- You should also take the core “TESL” courses in order since they build on each other (i.e., TESL 750, 751, 752, etc.)
Prerequisite Waivers
We can waive prerequisites for lower-level TESL courses such as 750, 751, and 752. For upper-level TESL courses such as 754, 755, 757, and 759 you will need to have taken the lower-level courses as foundations.
Reasons for Blocked Registration
If you run across a need to get special permission to register, fill out the Enrollment Request Form and let your advisor know.
If you run across any message from the graduate college about being blocked for registration for a non-related financial issue, it could be because you have not filed your degree plan. See the "Home" page for instructions to this important process.
Step 3: Complete Paperwork on My Rebel Gateway
Please work with the Graduate College and read their emails and instructions carefully.
Filling out the electronic paperwork ensures you are:
- Officially on the books with the Graduate College in terms of your degree plan
- Not blocked from classes
- Able to graduate
Failing to fill out this paperwork will prevent all of the above.
Preparing to Graduate
If you are entering the last semester in the M.Ed. ELL Program, do the following:
- Apply for graduation on time
- Register for TESL 770 Culminating Experience.
- The course is variable credit (1-3 credits), so choose the number of credits you need for financial aid.
- Your culminating experience project is to create an E-Portfolio.
- Turn in your E-Portfolio (Culminating Experience) on time
- In order to evaluate your culminating experience as a committee, your advisor will need your E-portfolio project completed at least one month before the Graduate College's "Last Day To Submit The Culminating Experience Results" listed on their website (select "For Students NOT Completing a Thesis, Dissertation or Doctoral Project").
E-Portfolio and Culminating Experience
Your culminating experience project is to create an E-Portfolio.
Instructions (including a grading rubric) regarding the E-portfolio can be found on the degree page under “Plan Degree Requirements.”
How to Create an E-Portfolio
You can easily create an E-portfolio website using Google Sites linked to your UNLV gmail. Example E-portfolios:
Many thanks to Ms. Wei Wei Xu and Mr. Benhor Dimalibot for permission to share their examples!
Endorsements and Certificates
Certification Information
Important Note: The M.Ed. in ELL is not tied to a Nevada Teaching License or to a certification to teach English abroad, but the following resources may be helpful:
To receive the ELAD Certificate, a person must have:
- A valid elementary, middle school/junior high school, secondary, or special teaching certificate; and
- The courses of study listed below:
- Language Acquisition Theory and Development Practices (TESL 751)
- Methods and Curriculum for Teaching ELs (TESL 752)
- Assessment and Evaluation of ELs (TESL 754 )
- Policies, Critical Issues and Best Practices for Pre-K and Elementary ELs (TESL 759) OR Policies, Critical issues and Best Practices for Secondary ELs (TESL 759)
- English Language Acquisition and Development (ELAD) Practicum (TESL 757)
- CLD Leadership (TESL 758)
- Foundations in CLD Education (TESL 760)
To receive a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Endorsement, a person must have:
- A valid elementary, middle school/junior high school, secondary, or special teaching certificate; and
- Twelve (12) semester credits from any of the courses of study listed below:
- Methods and materials for teaching English as a Second language; (TESL 752)
- Theories for the acquisition of a second language; (TESL 751)
- Testing and evaluation of pupils studying English as a second language; (TESL 755) or
- Developing a curriculum for pupils studying English as a second language (TESL 753)
If you are an undergraduate student, then you must take: TESL 471, 442, 474, and 754 (must appeal to take it - talk with your undergraduate advisor)
To receive the ELAD Endorsement, a person must have:
- A valid elementary, middle school/junior high school, secondary, or special teaching certificate; and
- The courses of study listed below (Key: EDRL = undergraduate courses; TESL = graduate courses)
- Language Acquisition Theory and Development Practices (EDRL 471 or TESL 751)
- Methods and Curriculum for Teaching ELs (EDRL 474 or TESL 752)
- Assessment and Evaluation of ELs (EDRL 475 or TESL 754 )
- Policies, Critical Issues and Best Practices for Pre-K and Elementary ELs (EDRL 470 or TESL 759) OR Policies, Critical issues and Best Practices for Secondary ELs (EDRL 476 or TESL 759)
- English Language Acquisition and Development (ELAD) Practicum (EDRL 480 or TESL 757)
Resources
This is a compilation of resources that may be useful as you explore information about ELLs at any stage of your career (e.g., as you think about applying, as you go through your coursework, and as you work in the field).