Glossary

TESL

Teaching English as a second language.

TESOL

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is a professional association of teachers, administrators, researchers and others concerned with promoting scholarship, the dissemination of information, and strengthening of instruction and research in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages and dialects.

TPR

Total Physical Response (TPR) is a language-learning approach based on the relationship between language and its physical representation or execution. Emphasizes the use of physical activity for increasing meaningful learning opportunities and language retention. A TPR lesson involves a detailed series of consecutive actions accompanied by a series of commands or instructions given by the teacher. Students respond by listening and performing the appropriate actions (Asher, 1981).

Target Language

The language that a child is learning as a second language. For English language learners in the US, the target language is English. For native English speakers in dual language programs, the target language might be Chinese or Spanish.

Teacher Mentoring

As defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001:^[3]

The term teacher mentoring' means activities that —
(A) consist of structured guidance and regular and ongoing support for teachers, especially beginning teachers, that —
(i) are designed to help the teachers continue to improve their practice of teaching and to develop their instructional skills; and part of an ongoing developmental induction process —
(I) involve the assistance of an exemplary teacher and other appropriate individuals from a school, local educational agency, or institution of higher education; and
(II) may include coaching, classroom observation, team teaching, and reduced teaching loads; and
(B) may include the establishment of a partnership by a local educational agency with an institution of higher education, another local educational agency, a teacher organization, or another organization.

Technology

As defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001:^[3]

The term 'technology' means state-of-the-art technology products and services.

Theoretically based studies

Theoretically based studies examine the theoretical basis for a program or practice. Such studies answer the questions: What is the theory behind this program or practice? What are the theory's guiding principles? What does the theory explain?

Theory

A set of propositions that are interrelated in an ordered fashion such that some may be deductible from others, thus permitting an explanation to be developed for the phenomenon under consideration. The theory provides the organization of a research project, determines the use of methods and the interpretation of the results.

Threshold Theory

Research on thinking and bilingualism suggests two "thresholds", each a level of language competence in the first or second language that must be passed to reach the next level of competence. The three levels are: limited bilingual, less balanced bilingual (age-appropriate competence in one language) and balanced bilingual (age-appropriate competence in both languages). The Threshold theory, developed by linguist Jim Cummins, helps to explain why language minority children taught only through the second language may fail in school and why children educated in developmental bilingual programs may have a cognitive advantage over monolingual students (Baker & Jones, 1998).

Transfer

One of the fundamentals of bilingual education is that knowledge and skills learned in the native language may be transferred to English. This holds true for content knowledge and concepts as well as language skills, such as orthography and reading strategies. The transfer of skills shortens the developmental progression of these skills in the second language. Language skills that are not used in the first language may need to be explicitly taught in the course of second language development, but content area knowledge does not need to be explicitly retaught as long as the relevant English vocabulary is made available (Hakuta, 1990).

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)

TBE is an instructional program in which subjects are taught through two languages--English and the native language of the English language learners -- and English is taught as a second language. English language skills, grade promotion and graduation requirements are emphasized and L1 is used as a tool to learn content. The primary purpose of these programs is to facilitate the LEP student's transition to an all-English instructional environment while receiving academic subject instruction in the native language to the extent necessary. As proficiency in English increases, instruction through L1 decreases. Transitional bilingual education programs vary in the amount of native language instruction provided and the duration of the program (U.S. General Accounting Office, 1994). TBE programs may be early-exit or late-exit, depending on the amount of time a child may spend in the program.

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Program

This program, also known as early-exit bilingual education, utilizes a student's primary language in instruction. The program maintains and develops skills in the primary language and culture while introducing, maintaining, and developing skills in English. The primary purpose of a TBE program is to facilitate the ELL student's transition to an all English instructional program while receiving academic subject instruction in the native language to the extent necessary.

Truancy

Absence from school, class, study hall, or other assignments
without permission of parents or school officials. ^[5]