CONT938: Language Fundamentals

Course Schedule

Course Description

What does it mean to be a language-sensitive teacher? Language is fundamental in academic learning and literacy development in K-12 classrooms. How might educators’ knowledge of the English language system contribute to effective instruction for diverse learners? 

In this course, you’ll explore the essential components of language and linguistics that are most relevant for teaching reading, writing, and oral communication and supporting learning within and across academic disciplines. You will also learn instructional strategies to enhance students’ linguistic competence and academic success. 

By the end of the course, you’ll be confident in your knowledge of how English works to plan learning experiences that effectively support students in their language and literacy development. In addition, you will know ways to enhance students’ abilities to process and communicate academic language at the word, sentence, and discourse levels within and across disciplinary contexts.

What You Will Learn and Do

In this course you’ll have the opportunity to

• understand how language-sensitive teachers adapt disciplinary-specific teaching to enhance its effectiveness
• discover how language is a social and cultural tool that reflects one’s identity
• learn key concepts in phonetics, phonology, morphology, grammar, syntax, semantics, orthography, discourse, and sociolinguistics
• explore ways in which components of the language system influence language and literacy development
• learn how language works in the subjects you teach
• identify ways to address the components of language through intentional and explicit instruction in oral language and literacy development
• incorporate a language lens into disciplinary teaching and learning
• plan for language and literacy development with attention to linguistic form and function
• design and maximize opportunities for students to engage in productive and effective classroom discussions that empower learning and improve the quality of student discourse
• explain how English works confidently and competently to students

Application Requirements

Courses and Post-Graduate Certificates are approved by TQS for Category Upgrade. If you would like these courses to be used towards Category Upgrading, you must have a valid BC Teacher Certificate.

ECEs, EAs, and other education professionals are welcome to take the courses without Certification.

Course Materials

Accommodations

Applicants who require accommodations for a specific learning need (e.g., learning disability) within their AQ/ABQ course, should click here for further information and support.

Have a question? Contact us!

Refund Schedule

If you drop a course:

1. by the midpoint of the course, you will receive 100% of your course fee.
2. after the midpoint, before the end of the course, you will receive 50% of your course fee.

For more about our refund policies, visit our Fees & Refunds page.