about the project

Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) is a unique project created by the Teacher Professional Development Program at WestEd under the direction of Aida Walqui. It is devoted to improving the capacity of teachers to support the linguistic, conceptual, and academic development of adolescent English language learners, both immigrant and U.S.-born.

Funded through the Western Regional Educational Laboratory Teacher Quality Initiative, as well as other sources, QTEL is grounded in a body of research that challenges the traditional thinking that teaching and learning for English learners must be simplified. Instead it provides an academic framework that offers intellectual challenges and supports that strengthen teacher knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge in classes, and, in turn, raise student achievement.

Today's educators are expected to help the most diverse student population in United States history meet the highest education standards ever set. QTEL helps classroom practitioners meet that challenge. Our vision is to improve the education of adolescent English learners by creating and spreading the use of learning models, tools, and processes that enhance the professional growth of secondary teachers who work with English learners, from pre-service education, through induction, life-long learning, accomplished teaching, and teacher leadership. We do this using:

• A four-phase Sustained Professional Development/Apprenticeship Model for professional developers that includes Building the Base, Participation/Observation, Mentoring/Coaching, and Appropriation.
  
• A learning model in which our work with educators mirrors the same kinds of learning opportunities they need to offer their students.
  
• Multimedia modules that incorporate reflection, exemplars, elaborations, and roadmaps.
  
• New tools and processes developed through research conducted in secondary schools and classrooms.
  

• Quality Teaching for English Learners Institutes: Beginning ESL, English Language Arts (Advanced), Instructional Leadership, Literacy, Math, Science, Social Science
• Quality Teaching for English Learners Institutes: Literacy, Math

Download the QTEL brochure