In this episode, Susan Lambert is joined by Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities presented when teaching multilingual learners how to read. Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan is a bilingual speech language pathologist and a certified academic language therapist. She is also the director of Valley Speech Language and Learning Center in Brownsville, Texas. She discusses how teachers can make connections between students’ home languages and English in order to celebrate their language and give them new tools to better understand English. She stresses the importance of teachers educating themselves on their students’ home languages so they can spot orthographic and phonological similarities and differences. Lastly, she highlights the importance of educators collaborating for the success of the students.

Quotes: 

“The more we’re able to read, the more we’re able to learn.“—Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan 

“Sometimes as teachers, we feel so overwhelmed with, “Oh, I don't know that language. How in the world am I going to introduce a whole new thing?” Instead we should be starting to understand connections.”—Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan 

Show Notes:

Literacy Foundations for English Learners: A Comprehensive Guide to Evidence-Based Instruction by Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan

Presentation: Making Connections for Structured Literacy Instruction Among English Learners

Reading SOS Special Video Series: Expert Answers to Family Questions About Reading

Online book study of Literacy Foundations for English Learners By Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan

Mylanguages.org

Episode Content Timestamps*

3:00: Who is Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan?
10:00: Different models of programs for English language learners and how to use them
16:00: There's not one right and one wrong model
19:00: Scarborough's Rope in the context of English language learners
25:00: Making connections between English and other languages: Resources and encouragement
32:00: The importance of structured literacy to English language learners
40:00: Book: Literacy Foundation for English Learners by Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan
51:00: Advice for teachers who only speak English
59:00: Reading disability prevention and support

*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute