ENL Hernandez Fellows

ENL Hernandez Fellows Cohort 19 Group Photo

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Program Overview

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 research-based strategies and lesson modifications to support English learners
  • Value the role that culture plays in the lives of students and implement culturally inclusive pedagogy
  • Create and modify assessments to accurately measure progress in language proficiency as well as content knowledge
  • Recognize the stages of language acquisition and how this influences the learning process
  • Identify effective ways to advocate for English learners and serve as in-house experts for their school

ENL Hernandez Fellows take a total of six graduate-level courses (18 credits) through the University of Notre Dame over the course of three semesters. The three-week summer semester 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 busy educators working with English learners.

 

Hernandez Fellows classroom

 

Overview

Program Experience

Summer 2025

Virtual Components
The program begins with a virtual orientation session and is followed by six days of synchronous Zoom calls. Hernandez Fellows meet from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST for highly engaging, live, virtual instruction. These sessions lay the foundation for the remaining summer coursework that will be completed on campus.
  • June 23, 2025
    Virtual orientation in the evening before the start of the summer session
  • June 24-26, 2025
    Course 1: Introduction to Linguistics and Language Acquisition (virtual course in the afternoons, 12:00 - 3:00p.m. EST)
  • July 8-10, 2025
    Course 2: Introduction to Foundations and Teaching Second Language Learners (virtual course in the afternoons, 12:00 - 3:00p.m. EST)

Learn more about the six ENL courses

 

On-Campus Experience
Hernandez Fellows enjoy the enriching environment, beauty and sanctity of the University of Notre Dame for an entire week. Hernandez Fellows arrive on campus on July 15th and enjoy the full campus experience (dorm life, dining halls, the grotto, walks around the lake, retreat-like atmosphere) in the company of their cohort. On-campus orientation begins on the morning of July 16th, followed by a week of engaging coursework. Participants resume their two courses (Foundations and Teaching Second Language Learners and Linguistics and Language Acquisition) in person in the mornings and afternoons from July 16-24 (8:00 - 11:30a.m. EST and 1:00 - 4:30p.m. EST). The summer concludes in the evening on July 24th and Hernandez Fellows leave campus the morning of July 25th.
  • July 15, 2025
    Travel to the University of Notre Dame
  • July 16-24, 2025
    One-week campus experience at the University of Notre Dame (coursework in the mornings and afternoons, community building, closing celebrations, etc.)
  • July 25, 2025
    Travel from the University of Notre Dame
ENL Summer Calendar 2025

 

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026

In contrast to the summer, fall and spring courses are online and asynchronous. Hernandez Fellows complete one-week intervals in which they complete readings, engage in online discussions, and submit assignments. Participants take two courses in the fall semester and two courses in the spring semester.

Application Information

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Contact Sarah Butch (sbutch@nd.edu) with any questions.