National Center for Research on Cultural Diversity and Second Language Learning

National Center for Research on Cultural Diversity
and Second Language Learning

CENTER VIDEO SERIES

Jon Silver, Producer and Director
Migrant Media Productions

This video series is intended to provide examples of effective classroom instruction based on research of the National Center. Each video is accompanied by a guide that provides trainers with background information and suggestions for using the video in a variety of training formats. The guides offer focus questions based on the activities presented in the videos and highlights effective teaching strategies used by the teachers. The videos and guides are ideal for use in workshops, teacher-training institutes, or teacher education courses.

  • Video 1. Profile of Effective Bilingual Teaching: Kindergarten

    Pola Espinoza explains her teaching philosophy and demonstrates how to create a classroom environment that fosters children's language and literacy development. She shows how her belief in the ability of all children to succeed in school translates into practice, through the use of a variety of instructional strategies.

  • Video 2. Profile of Effective Bilingual Teaching: First Grade

    Erminda Garcia shows how to use thematic instruction and writer's workshop to create a lively classroom in which children are engaged and eager to learn. She demonstrates her philosophy in the classroom, holding high expectations for her children.

    *****This video was awarded a Silver Apple by the 1995 National Educational Media Network as an outstanding film in the area of Teaching and Education.*****

    Lively and colorful, both videos feature original songs and music by Jose Luis Orozco.
    Educators who have reviewed these videos have responded enthusiastically:
    "[These two teachers] establish classroom environments which promote active student engagement and provide teacher and peer support so that students can take risks with learning in general and with language learning in particular. In these classrooms, bilingualism and biliteracy develop naturally through meaningful and authentic communication with each other and with the teacher."
    Tamara Lucas, Teachers College
    "This is an example of bilingual education at its best. May all children throughout the United States be fortunate enough to begin their school experience in such a classroom."
    Betty J. Mace-Matluck, Southwest Educational Development Laboratory


  • Video 3. Instructional Conversations: Understanding through Discussion.

    This video showcases the instructional conversation (IC)--an interactive approach that achieves academic and linguistic goals through thoughtful discussion of meaningful content. Included is extensive footage of elementary and middle school teachers using the following IC elements, and others, in their classrooms:


    Reviewer's comments:
    "This video addresses two critical needs in instruction for English language learners: structuring situations for active dialogue and language development, and engaging students in critical thinking."
    J. David Ramirez, Ph.D., Center for Language Minority Education and Research, California State University, Long Beach

  • Video 4. Profile of Effective Teaching in a Multilingual Classroom

    In this video, model teacher Robin Liten-Tejada employs a wide range of effective practices to provide English instruction for middle school students from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Robin incorporates the following strategies for integrating language and content in social studies, reading, and math classes:



    Reviewer's comments:
    "This video offers both novice and experienced teachers a close look at one teacher attempting to meet the diverse needs of a multi-linguistic, multi-cultural, and multi-level classroom.......All teachers would benefit from watching this video, since the techniques used would be beneficial with any student"
    JoAnn Crandall, Department of Education, University of Maryland

    Coming Soon:


  • Video 5. Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Programs

  • Video 6. Profile of Effective Bilingual Teaching: Sixth Grade

    This video series was prepared with funding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) of the U.S. Department of Education, under Cooperative agreement No. R117G10022. The findings and opinions expressed are those of the Center and do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of OERI.

    TO ORDER VIDEOS

    Send $40 for each video ordered to

    Zena Mello
    Bilingual Research Center
    University of California
    Santa Cruz, CA 95064

    (408) 459-3351 or email brc@cats.ucsc.edu.

    All checks should be made payable to the UC Regents. Purchase orders cannot be used. However, purchase orders can be used to purchase the videos from The Center for Applied Linguistics, 1118 22nd St. NW, Washington, D. C. 20037.
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