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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.
The English Learner Institute is designed as part of a broader approach to effective K–12 staff development, supporting teachers over time with language-focused, classroom-ready professional learning.
We offer group rates, customized scheduling, and multi-year implementation plans. Most of our longest-running clients have been with us 5+ years. Let’s discuss what’s right for your teachers.
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The English Learner Institute (ELI) is a fully remote, live professional development program tailored for K-12 educators. Its mission is to equip teachers with the skills, strategies, and tools 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.
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. 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.
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.
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 is required.
Engagement: Dynamic, interactive virtual workshops.
Practicality: Gain 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.
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. Discover why we say, "if it comes out of the mouth, it will come out of the pen. If it doesn't come out of the mouth, it will never come out of the pen."
Through engaging model lessons and interactive workshops, participants will:
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. During this highly experiential workshop, participants will:
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
This three-hour interactive session equips school and district leaders with a practical understanding of the SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) framework and how it can enhance instruction for English Learners (ELs). During this session administrators will:
All courses run 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (time zone varies by session)
Certificates of completion provided • Group discounts available
The Principles & Practices of Sheltered Instruction Parts I-IV
All courses run from 9:00am - 3:30pm
Q: What is the English Learner Institute (ELI)?
A: The English Learner Institute is a fully remote, live professional development program for K-12 educators. Led by Master Trainer Dr. John Kongsvik, ELI teaches research-based SIOP and TESOL strategies through interactive model lessons, hands-on activities, and collaborative learning. Teachers leave with practical, classroom-ready strategies they can implement immediately to support English Learners and all students.
Q: Who should take the English Learner Institute?
A: ELI is designed for any K-12 educator who works with English Learners, including content-area teachers, ELL/ESL specialists, instructional coaches, and administrators. Whether you teach math, science, social studies, ELA, or electives, the strategies you learn in ELI apply to every subject area and every grade level. Many districts register their entire teaching staff because the strategies benefit all students, not just English Learners.
Q: What are the four levels of ELI, and do I need to take them in order?
A: ELI has four parts. ELI Part I introduces the SIOP framework and gives teachers 10 practical strategies through an immersive model lesson. ELI Part II focuses on language ownership and strategies to help students move from “renting” language to “owning” it. ELI Part III goes deeper into building background, metacognition, and academic vocabulary. ELI Part IV covers advanced strategies for engagement, assessment, and peer coaching. Parts I and II can be taken together, and Parts III and IV build on the earlier levels, so sequential order is recommended.
Q: Is ELI live or pre-recorded?
A: ELI is 100% live and interactive. Every session is conducted in real time on Zoom with Dr. John Kongsvik. This is not a pre-recorded webinar or a self-paced module. Participants engage in model lessons, partner discussions, group activities, and real-time Q&A throughout the entire session. It is professional development that feels like it is being delivered face to face.
Q: How long is each ELI session, and what are the course hours?
A: Each ELI level is a one-day session running from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Eastern Time, with a 45-minute lunch break at noon. The full four-level program (ELI Parts I–IV) takes four consecutive days. Individual levels can also be taken separately on different dates throughout the year.
Q: How much does ELI cost?
A: Individual one-day sessions are $250 per participant. A two-day course is $450 per participant. The full four-day program is $850 per participant, which saves $150 compared to taking all four days individually. Group discounts and invoicing are available for schools and districts registering multiple teachers. Contact us for group pricing details.
Q: Can my school or district register a group of teachers?
A: Yes. Many of our districts register 20 or more teachers at a time so their entire team builds a shared instructional framework. Group discounts are available, and we can invoice your school or district directly. We also accept purchase orders. Contact Dr. John Kongsvik at info@tesoltrainers.com to discuss group registration options.
Q: Do participants receive a certificate?
A: Yes. All participants who successfully complete an ELI session receive a certificate of completion that includes the type of training attended and the total contact hours. These certificates can be used toward professional development requirements in most states and districts.
Q: What makes ELI different from other SIOP or ELL professional development?
A: Three things set ELI apart. First, it is 100% experiential — Dr. Kongsvik teaches the training the way he wants teachers to teach, so participants experience every strategy firsthand as learners before applying it as educators. Second, it is live and interactive, not a sit-and-get webinar. Participants are engaged from start to finish. Third, every strategy is practical and low-prep, meaning teachers can implement what they learn the very next day without extensive preparation.
Q: What is SIOP, and why does ELI use it?
A: SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) is a research-based instructional framework with 8 components and 30 features designed to make academic content accessible for English Learners while supporting all students. ELI uses SIOP because it is the most widely recognized and research-validated approach to sheltered instruction in K-12 education. The framework gives teachers a clear, practical system for planning, delivering, and reflecting on lessons that integrate content and language development.
Q: Can ELI be customized for our school or district?
A: Yes. While the open-enrollment ELI sessions follow a set curriculum, TESOL Trainers also offers customized, private ELI sessions for individual schools and districts. We can tailor the content to focus on specific grade levels, subject areas, or instructional priorities. We also offer onsite delivery in addition to the remote format. Contact us to discuss a customized program for your team.
Q: What technology do I need to participate?
A: You need a computer or tablet with a reliable internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone. All sessions are conducted on Zoom. We recommend using a laptop or desktop rather than a phone for the best experience, as sessions include screen sharing, breakout rooms, and collaborative activities that benefit from a larger screen.
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