Developing New Models for Bilingual Teacher Preparation

Texas teacher education programs have been unable to supply the demand for qualified teachers to serve the growing numbers of Spanish speaking students. Normalista teachers (so called because their preparation took place in Mexican teacher training schools) can become future bilingual teachers. Typically normalistas have served as teachers in Mexico and are currently recent immigrants employed in jobs that are often unrelated to education. This monograph provides a description of the experiences shared by normalistas who are seeking certification to practice their chosen career in the state of Texas. The special needs of individuals who arrive with a wealth of knowledge in pedagogical understandings, cultural experiences in the classroom, teaching methodologies and strategies for educating a large under- served population. Moreover, the monograph outlines the salient ethical and procedural themes that emerge from the interactions with preparing adult English learners. Special attention must be paid to the practice of ethical codes, perceptions of adult English language learners, and interpersonal interactions that are exclusive to this context.