Columbus, IN – IU School of Education at IUPUC faculty member Aija Pocock, Ph.D., recently presented at the 43rd International Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Convention in Denver.

Along with Annela Teemant, Ph.D., and Thomas Upton, Ph.D., both from IUPUI, Pocock led the presentation, “Do we really prepare ESL specialists for K-12 classrooms?”

The presentation focused on the argument that K-12 English as a Second Language Teacher Preparation programs need to be re-conceptualized to align with current public school realities.  The presenters discussed the effects of current K-12 ESL program models on the marginalization of students and teachers, outlined the parameters for the debate on what ESL teacher preparation should be doing, and proposed a new view of ESL teacher preparation to meet the needs of rapidly increasing numbers of English Language Learners by K-12 teachers and schools. 

Pocock is a clinical assistant professor of ESL education for the IU School of Education at IUPUC.