Advanced Multisensory Language Foundations: Take Flight

Course Description : Structured Multisensory Language Foundations (SMLF) is a two-year program designed for persons who aspire to become Certified Academic Language Therapists. Through this intensive Structured Literacy program, participants gain the knowledge, resources and experience necessary to teach students with dyslexia how to read, write and spell. This Advanced year begins with ten additional lecture/written assignment/practica sessions over a two-week period. During the school year, participants complete an additional 350 self-arranged practicum hours, attend four additional lecture/written assignment/practica sessions on Saturdays, and present five additional demonstration lessons. The 350 practicum hours are to involve three individuals or groups with whom work began in the Introductory year plus at least one additional individual or group with whom work begins at the beginning of the current school year. At the end of a 2-year period participants who have met all course requirements—28 lecture sessions, all written assignments, 10 demonstration lessons and 700 practicum hours—may sit for the Alliance National Registration Exam at Payne Education Center to earn the credential of Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT).

Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the foundational concepts involved in oral and written learning.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of the structure of language, including phonology, orthography, morphology, semantics, syntax, and discourse organization.

3. Demonstrate the ability to teach phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, fluent reading of text, vocabulary, text comprehension, handwriting, spelling and written expression.

4. Interpret and administer assessments for planning of instruction.

5. Identify characteristics of dyslexia in relation to other reading problems and learning difficulties.

6. Explain and demonstrate through practice ethical standards for therapists.

Delivery: Face to Face with formal observations

Hours: 350+ Practicum Hours