English Learner Institute

Remote Training for Educators: Master Strategies to Support English Language Learners

The English Learner Institute (ELI) is a one of a kind online program where K-12 teachers examine TESOL strategies, explore the SIOP framework, and experience real, interactive lessons in a dynamic online environment.

Master Trainer Dr. John Kongsvik

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What is ELI?

Fully-Remote SIOP Training for K-12 Educators

The English Learner Institute (ELI) is a fully remote professional development program tailored for K-12 educators. Its mission is to equip teachers with the skills, strategies, and tools they need to effectively support English Language Learners (ELLs) across all content areas. Through dynamic, interactive sessions, ELI helps educators create inclusive, engaging classrooms where all students—particularly multilingual learners—can succeed.

Focus on SIOP and TESOL Techniques

At the core of ELI is the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) framework, a research-based model designed to make content more accessible to ELLs. Combined with proven TESOL strategies, ELI provides educators with practical methods to scaffold instruction, integrate language development into every lesson, and foster a deeper understanding of academic content. These tools are essential for improving outcomes for English learners in diverse educational settings.

A Hands-On, Interactive Learning Experience

What sets ELI apart is its experiential approach. Participants engage in hands-on, collaborative learning with peers, explore real-world scenarios, and practice strategies they can apply immediately in their classrooms. This practical, real-time learning ensures teachers leave the program with the confidence and competence to make an immediate, meaningful impact on their students’ success.

Fully Online Gets Teachers Back in Class Faster

The English Learner Institute offers a fully online format, perfect for educators looking for flexible, impactful professional development.

With ELI, you’ll enjoy:

Convenience: Join from anywhere, no travel required.
Engagement: Dynamic, interactive virtual workshops.
Practicality: Walk away with strategies you can use immediately.

ELI makes it easy to fit professional growth into your busy schedule while empowering you to support English learners effectively.

Mastering the Principles and Practices of Sheltered Instruction with TESOL Trainer’s English Learner Institute

Our English Learner Institute equips educators with the tools and techniques needed to master the principles of Sheltered Instruction. This fully remote professional development program offers a deep dive into practical strategies that help K-12 teachers make content accessible for English learners.
Through engaging model lessons and interactive workshops, participants will:

  • Determine the principles of Sheltered Instruction and how they can be used to support learning.
  • Increase the variety & volume of student interactions with language and content.
  • Gain 10 strategies for making content comprehensible to all learners.
  • Gain skills at planning, teaching, and reflecting on lessons: online and face to face.
  • Promote effective academic listening and viewing skills.
  • Create SMART language and content objectives.
  • Hone ability to ignite metacognition skills in learners.
  • Develop skills at creating think time for students.
  • Identify the 8 components of SIOP and how they support teaching and learning.
  • Develop 8 strategies for teaching academic language in all contexts.
  • Acquire the ability to use the Gradual Release of Responsibility to scaffold students.
  • Use cooperative grouping and pair sharing to promote oral language development.
  • Gain strategies to integrate the 4 domains of language in every lesson.
  • Develop the ability to engage students 90-100% of the time in meaningful ways.
  • Provide meaningful review of language and content using 4 recycling strategies.
  • Use the Conscious Competence Matrix to promote teacher development.

See Why Teachers Love Our Online English Learner Institute

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5.0
5 Star Rating
5 Star Rating
"Excellent job presenting strategies to work with EL and all students. I have many take away that I can implement in the classroom right away, my favorite was the compare and contrast using sticky notes."
Ana Anaya
5 Star Rating
"Our instructor, John, was extremely knowledgeable and made it easy to understand the SIOP model! There was a lot of information but he was able to deliver it to us with ease."
Kay Lopez
5 Star Rating
"This training reinvigorated me on how to incorporate more listening and speaking in the lessons. Dr. Kongsvik did a great job engaging students in how easy it is to learn!"
Jill Pro
5 Star Rating
"The immediate application of the lessons are fantastic. I was very grateful for the time invested by John Kongsvik. I believe I'm walking out of this training a better teacher than when I walked in. Great training!"
Joey L Morales
5 Star Rating
"John Kongsvik is the best trainer. in my 12+ years of teaching and having PD this is by far the best i have ever had. His passion and energy is unmatched. His knowledge is great, useful and relevant. Great Job John."
Keith Gantman Gant
5 Star Rating
"I recently switched from teaching electives to core subjects and have been struggling to connect with some of my kids. This workshop was fabulous!!! Lots of strategies I can use for historical themes, vocabulary, grammar etc."
Jerelyn Saiz
English Learners
English Learners

Teachers, Administrators, and Coaches Benefit from Attending Our English Learner Institute

This PD is perfect for any K-12 teacher, administrator, or instructional coach who wants a solid understanding of how best to support English learners in the classroom. During this highly experiential workshop, participants will:

  • Experience Real Model Lessons: Learn how to implement engaging, scaffolded lessons that support all students, especially multilingual learners.
  • Master Proven SIOP Strategies: Discover research-based techniques that enhance lesson design, improve scaffolding, and integrate academic language development seamlessly.
  • Boost Student Engagement: Gain tools to captivate students and foster meaningful interactions in any classroom setting.
  • Explore Low-Prep, High-Impact Techniques: Uncover methods to connect students to the language, the content, and one another with ease and efficiency.
  • Close Achievement Gaps: Apply actionable strategies to promote ELL inclusion and equity, helping all learners reach their full potential.
  • Foster Long-Term Success: Walk away with small, intentional changes that make a big impact on both teaching practices and student outcomes.

This program is a powerful step toward transforming how teaching and learning occur, ensuring every educator feels confident and equipped to support their students. Take your teaching—and your students’ learning—to the next level with ELI.

Class Formats

The Principles & Practices of Sheltered Instruction Part I

This introductory course lays the foundation for understanding the principles of SIOP and how they are used to set all students up for success, especially the English learners. In an interactive manner, we examine global and discrete aspects of sheltered instruction and experience how they are used to design and deliver effective lessons in any content. Particular attention is paid to the following aspects of teaching and learning:

  • Determine the principles of Sheltered Instruction and how they support learning.
  • Identify how the components & features of SIOP set English Learners up for success.
  • Create language objectives that develop language and content mastery.
  • Boost student engagement by creating active listeners.
  • Scaffold any lesson using the 4 stages of the Gradual Release of Responsibility.
  • Make content comprehensible to all learners with 4 strategies.
  • Integrate the four domains of language (speaking, listening, reading, writing) in all lessons.
  • Use the Conscious Competence Matrix to promote teacher development. 
  • Articulate concrete ways of integrating the PD content in specific teaching contexts.

The Principles & Practices of Sheltered Instruction Part II

The second course in this series continues to explore how SIOP is used to connect students to the language, the content, and one another. During this participant-centered session, we dive deep into the role that language plays in all content areas, and we experience a plethora of practical ways to promote language and content ownership across the curriculum. Specifically, we examine these critical qualities of sheltered instruction:

  • Note how the SIOP framework supports all learners, especially English Learners.
  • Develop 8 strategies for development ownership of academic vocabulary.
  • Ensure that students understand the content and language with 4 additional strategies.
  • Use cooperative grouping and pair sharing to promote oral language development.
  • Increase the variety & volume of student interactions with language and content.
  • Acquire the ability to recycle language and content with the principles of VAKT.
  • Develop the ability to engage students 90-100% of the time in meaningful ways.
  • Promote learner autonomy by stimulating conscious competence throughout a lesson.
  • Articulate concrete ways of integrating the PD content in specific teaching contexts.

The Principles & Practices of Sheltered Instruction Part III

The third course is our program series focuses participants’ attention on small, atomic changes in their teaching that have an explosive impact on learning. In an experiential way, we uncover the critical components of learning: awareness and ability and unveil specific strategies that stimulate each in all students, especially English Learners. Of particular interest is metacognition and its mastery. Explicitly, we examine the ensuing features of SIOP:

  • Use the SIOP framework to make teaching and learning more effective and efficient.
  • Build background effectively and efficiently with 6 practical strategies.
  • Develop an understanding of the value of think time and skills at creating it in all lessons.
  • Hone ability to catalyze metacognitive skills in all learners with 8 practical techniques.
  • Maximize opportunities for students to interact with the language, content, and one another.
  • Encourage oral language development with 4 easy-to-own techniques.
  • Gauge and adapt the pacing of any lesson with 3 powerfully practical strategies.
  • Increase student confidence and competence with the Conscious Competence Matrix.
  • Articulate concrete ways of integrating the PD content in specific teaching contexts.

The Principles & Practices of Sheltered Instruction Part IV

The final segment of this course encourages participants to consciously develop skills in more discrete details of sheltered instruction. In a hands-on manner, we unpack the four domains of language and the most effective and efficient manners to teach each. Participants complete the fourth part of this series with a solid ability to set students up for success in any context. Specific attention is given to the objectives listed below:

  • Identify the role that language plays in the SIOP framework at the macro and micro levels.
  • Articulate how awareness impacts learning and mastery in every learning situation.
  • Improve all students listening and viewing skills with a 3-step formula.
  • Enhance student writing skills with 4 TESOL techniques.
  • Provide meaningful review of language and content using 6 simple strategies.
  • Give crystal clear instructions that boost engagement and achievement in any activity.
  • Utilize self-assessments to boost learner responsibility and autonomy.
  • Boost student engagement with cooperative learning with 4 practical techniques.
  • Articulate concrete ways of integrating the PD content in specific teaching contexts.
Course Info

Each course must be taken in order with Part 1 being the first course and Part 4 being the last. Parts 1 & 2 and Parts 3 & 4 can be taken in a 2-day course format.

The cost of the 1-day program is $250/participant; the 2-day course is $450.

Course Dates

The Principles & Practices of Sheltered Instruction Parts I-IV

All courses run from 9:00am - 3:30pm

01

ELI Course Part I

What: an experiential examination of the SIOP framework and how K-12 teachers can use it to set English Language Learners up for success in any context.
When
December 16 EST
December 18 MST
January 6 EST
January 9 EST
January 27 EST
February 12 EST
March 12 EST
March 14 MST
April 9 EST
April 11 MST
May 14 EST
May 16 MST
May 30 EST
How?
02

ELI Course Part II

What: an engaging exploration of SIOP and its emphasis on language development across all content areas. We’ll show you how to support 90-100% student engagement.
When
December 17 EST
January 10 EST
February 13 EST
March 13 EST
April 10 EST
May 15 EST
June 10 EST
July 1 EST
How?
03

ELI Course Part I & II

What: These days give participants a solid foundation in using SIOP strategies and TESOL techniques to connect students to the language, the content, and one another.
When
December 16-17 EST
January 9-10 EST
February 12-13 EST
March 12-13 EST
April 9-10 EST
May 14-15 EST
June 9-10 EST
June 30- July 1 EST
How?
04

ELI Course Part III

What: an enlightening encounter with using the SIOP Framework to become more efficient and effective at designing and delivering lessons.
When
December 12 EST
June 11 EST
How?
05

ELI Course Part IV

What: an empowering exposition of the SIOP Framework on how the four domains of language support or stifle English Language Learners.
When
December 13 EST
June 12 EST
How?

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