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Bérubé, B. (2000)
Alexandria, Virginia: TESOL.
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In this book, Bérubé has developed an excellent resource for administrators developing their district's ESL program. It is especially applicable to schools in Missouri who are just beginning to identify their first ESL students or who already have a low-incidence ESL population. It is also applicable for those districts with no ESL students developing an ESL policy to meet MSIP requirements.
The first few chapters of the book provide a look at the background and current state of ESL in the United States. Although the demographics cited may be slightly dated, the trends outlined are still clear and highlight the necessity of even the smallest, most rural schools being prepared for incoming ESL students. Bérubé not only gives the history of ESL in terms of important court cases and federal mandates, but it explains what each of those landmarks means to the structure of an ESL program.
Once the stage is set, Bérubé goes on to explain the components of necessary in an ESL policy (Lau plan). Included in this discussion are various programming options commonly used with low-incidence ESL populations. Bérubé also discusses in some detail many issues that ESL administrators find problematic. These include staffing, working with parents, student assessment and program evaluation. To complement these, Bérubé includes a variety of resources and internet links.
Because of his experience as an ESL teacher and program administrator in the K-12 environment, Bérubé addresses not only the basic essentials of designing a district's ESL policy, but the many practical concerns that are often overlooked. The book is straightforward, easy to read, and one of the best resources around for administrators with small ESL programs.
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