Teaching

This course focuses on the inclusion of English Language Learners (ELLs) across the school curriculum. It is intended to support teacher candidates’ development of a pedagogical approach and a repertoire of instructional and assessment strategies to engage ELLs in developing language and content knowledge simultaneously. Using an asset-based perspective to language diversity, the course is structured around the broad domains of (1) theories of language learning and teaching, (2) language awareness, analysis, and assessment, (3) ESL strategies in the content areas, and (4) family, school, community, and policy contexts. Upon successful completion of this course, candidates should be able to identify and use ELLs’ individual strengths and interests to promote their learning and development, to work with families and other professionals to support ELLs, and to understand their roles and responsibilities as teachers with respect to ELLs and their academic, social, and personal success. This course focuses on the range of research under way or recently done by professors in or affiliated with the LLE program as well as some recent graduates or visiting scholars. Topics, research projects, and presenters vary each year. Participants analyze examples of diverse research methods and topics, critique theses previously completed in the program, and undertake a systematic synthesis of prior research related to their prospective thesis on language and/or literacies learning, teaching, curriculum, or policy. The course is required of students in the MA and PhD and may also be taken by students in the MEd. This colloquium provides opportunities to become familiar with ongoing research, research methodologies, and curriculum activities in second-language learning and teaching.

This course offers a historical survey of second language teaching methodologies and provides students with theoretical knowledge of innovative current practices, including the movement to a post-method era, new ways of teaching traditional second language skills, and other key issues current in the field. All learner groups are considered in minority and majority settings in Canada and internationally, though English and French are emphasized. 

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This course is designed primarily for graduate students whose first language or dominant language is not Standard English. In this course students will learn about the research, theories, and practices which inform our understanding of academic language skills necessary for success in graduate studies, and how they are acquired by learners of English as a Second Language. This will be achieved through a combination of critically reviewing scholarly articles/lectures on the acquisition of academic English proficiency and the subskills this comprises; and an action research approach to analyzing your own progress in actively acquiring such proficiency.

In this course we will work together to explore diverse aspects of culture and academic culture(s). Through assignments, readings, and in-class activities, we investigate the complex and dynamic relationship between language, culture, and context. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their core academic communication and critical thinking skills as they connect their previous learning and experience with course ideas, working together to generate new knowledge and multiple perspectives.