Local News
SMCISD’s online language tool praised
San Marcos — Sixty six San Marcos English as a second language (ESL) students proved that online tools can help with learning a new language.
An independent study presented in the National Forum of Teacher Education Journal revealed the effectiveness of an online language program, ESLreadingsmart.com, with Hispanic students in ESL classrooms at San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. The study tracked the program’s effectiveness over two school years.
“The interactive and self-paced nature of ESLreadingsmart makes it ideal for a class of students with varied backgrounds, at different levels and with different proficiencies,” said Donald Davis, SMHS ESL teacher.
ESLreadingsmart.com is a Web-based program for ESL students and teachers from fourth through 12th grades. The program uses multimedia, computer-enabled instruction to improve English language and reading skills, accommodating different learning styles and proficiency levels.
The study was conducted in Texas, where the majority of ELL (English language learners) or ESL (English as a second language) students are Hispanic with traditionally low performances on statewide academic assessments, officials said. ESLreadingsmart’s online instruction was provided as a supplement to the materials already used in the classroom.
“The program is particularly valuable since it is available online, allowing students with computer access — at home or in the library — a way to continue to learn outside the classroom,” said Judy A. Leavell, an associate professor at St. Edward’s University in Austin.
With an increasing number of ELL/ESL students entering the classroom and the demands of the No Child Left Behind Act, school systems have had to step up their efforts to keep ELLs on track to graduate, officials said.
The first web-based instructional tool to be adopted by a state board of education for ESL classroom instruction, ESLreadingsmart.com is also aligned with reading standards in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina and Virginia. Additionally, ESLreadingsmart began programs in Canada, China and Mexico.
Alloy Multimedia, Inc., publisher and creator of ESLreadingsmart.com, is an international software developer and publisher with offices in Houston and Caracas, Venezuela.
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