ENL - Hernandez Fellows Program Overview | Alliance for Catholic Education

Overview

In ENL, we believe that linguistic and cultural diversity enriches Catholic schools and educators play a critical role in the academic, linguistic, cultural, and social development of every student. The ENL Hernandez Fellows program seeks to advance the skills of educators who serve English learners across all grades and content areas.

As ENL Hernandez Fellows, through six courses, participants will learn to:

Implement teaching strategies and lesson modifications to support English learners
Value the role of culture in the lives of students
Practice culturally inclusive pedagogy
Understand how to create and modify assessments to measure progress in language proficiency as well as content knowledge
Recognize the way languages are acquired
Identify effective ways to serve as resource persons in schools

ENL Hernandez Fellows pursue their ENL/ESL certification and take a total of six graduate-level courses (18 credits) through the University of Notre Dame. For the 2024-2025 cohort, the one-year, hybrid format incorporates the best of virtual and in-person learning during the summer. The three-week summer experience begins with synchronous, virtual classes and culminates with a rich one-week experience on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Courses continue online throughout the fall and spring semesters. The ENL curriculum is tailored specifically to the reality of teachers in Catholic schools.

Overview

Program Experience

Summer 2024

Virtual Components

A typical day begins with an anchor Zoom call that delivers interactive instruction infused with small group collaboration and guided conversation. ENL Hernandez Fellows will meet for three hours of synchronous class time per day (12:00 - 3:00p.m. EST). This highly engaging, live, virtual instruction includes breaks and community building.

June 25, 2024
Virtual orientation in the evening before the start of the summer session
June 26-28, 2024
Course 1: Introduction to Linguistics and Language Acquisition (virtual course in the afternoons, 12:00 - 3:00p.m. EST)
July 10-12, 2024
Course 2: Introduction to Foundations and Teaching Second Language Learners (virtual in the afternoons, 12:00 - 3:00p.m. EST)

Learn more about the six ENL courses

On-Campus Experience

Hernandez Fellows will enjoy the enriching environment, beauty and sanctity of the University of Notre Dame for an entire week. Hernandez Fellows will arrive on campus the afternoon of July 16th and enjoy the full campus experience (dorm life, dining halls, the grotto, walks around the lake, retreat-like atmosphere) in the company of their Hernandez Fellows cohort. On-campus orientation will begin on the morning of July 17th, followed by a week of engaging coursework. Participants will resume their two courses (Foundations and Teaching Second Language Learners and Linguistics and Language Acquisition) in person in the mornings and afternoons from July 17-25 (8:00 - 11:30a.m. EST and 1:00 - 4:30p.m. EST). The summer will conclude in the evening on July 25th and Hernandez Fellows will leave campus the morning of July 26th.

July 16, 2024
Travel to the University of Notre Dame
July 17-25, 2024
One-week campus experience at the University of Notre Dame (coursework in the mornings and afternoons, community building, closing celebrations, etc.)
July 26, 2024
Travel from the University of Notre Dame

Fall 2024 - Spring 2025

In contrast to the summer, fall and spring courses will be online and asynchronous. Hernandez Fellows will have one-week intervals to complete instruction, guided practice, and assignments. Participants will take two courses in the fall semester and two courses in the spring semester.