EDPN 673 Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language
This course provides a historical overview of second language acquisition theories and teaching methods. Students learn how to apply current approaches, methods and techniques, with attention to the effective use of materials, in teaching English as a second language. Students will engage in the planning and implementation of standards-based ESL instruction which includes differentiated learning experiences geared to students’ needs. Emphasis is placed on creating culturally responsive learning environments. Includes 15 hours of field work.
“One of my biggest takeaways from this course was learning about a variety of resources and strategies that I can use to better guide my instruction and make learning more meaningful and accessible for a wide range of learners. This course also encouraged me to experiment with resources and technology tools that I had never used before, such as Copilot and creating infographics, which helped expand my creativity and thought process when designing instruction. This course helped me become more reflective and intentional in planning lessons that support both language development and academic growth for multilingual learners.”
Gianna Luna, Touro University TESOL Candidate, EDPN 673
Gianna Luna is an Inclusive Childhood Education teacher and graduate student in the TESOL program at Touro University. She currently works as a consultant teacher in an elementary school setting, providing push-in and small-group support to students with diverse learning and language needs. She is passionate about creating inclusive and supportive learning environments that help multilingual learners build confidence and academic skills.
Using Copilot throughout this assignment helped me realize how supportive technology tools can be during the lesson planning and design process. It encouraged me to experiment with resources I had never used before, such as creating infographics and using AI to brainstorm differentiated instructional ideas. I found that Copilot helped guide my thinking, organization, and creativity while still allowing me to personalize materials by redesigning them to meet the needs of my learners. This experience showed me how technology can be used as a meaningful support tool when designing accessible and engaging instruction for multilingual learners.
My experience in the TESOL program at Touro University has helped me become a more reflective and intentional educator. Throughout this course, I learned how to better support multilingual learners through meaningful scaffolds, and I also gained confidence experimenting with new instructional resources and technology tools that I can continue using in my future classroom.
Gianna Luna – Touro TESOL Candidate, EDPN 673
Gianna Luna – EDPN 673
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