• Corpus ID: 55374111

Academic Language, English Language Learners, and Systemic Functional Linguistics: Connecting Theory and Practice in Teacher Education.

@article{Schulze2015AcademicLE,
  title={Academic Language, English Language Learners, and Systemic Functional Linguistics: Connecting Theory and Practice in Teacher Education.},
  author={Joshua M. Schulze},
  journal={The CATESOL Journal},
  year={2015},
  volume={27},
  pages={109-130}
}

• Joshua M. Schulze
• Published 2015
• Education
• The CATESOL Journal

Teacher educators need linguistic tools to help preservice teachers develop a deeper understanding of the academic language demands of the literacy practices required by the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Systemic functional linguistics (SFL) serves as a tool for developing teachers’ knowledge of content-area language. Teachers’ increased knowledge of language facilitates the construction of language-focused instruction to support the academic literacy development of English language learners. I introduce SFL theory and illustrate how I put the theory into practice to support the literacy development of beginning-level English language learners in a middle school classroom. I include recommendations for teachers and teacher educators regarding how to embed the theory in classroom practice and teacher preparation.