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Centering The Needs Of Language Learners Within Educators’ Professional Learning And Development: An Investigation Of Teachers’ Perceptions And Experiences In Meeting The Needs Of Language Learners, Kimberly Tsukiyama

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study explores K-12 classroom teachers' perceptions and experiences in meeting the needs of language learners, specifically English language learners (ELLs) and dual-language learners (DLLs). Addressing two main research questions, it investigated how teachers' preservice learning and development prepared them for instructing language learners and identified preparatory experiences and professional learning considered beneficial and critical to their development in this area. Through surveys, teacher interviews, and classroom observations, the study highlighted challenges faced by teachers in settings with diverse language populations, including native Japanese, Spanish, and Arabic speakers, as well as native English speakers learning a second language. It …