CONT539: Teaching English Language Learners Part 1

Course Schedule

Course Description

English language learners (ELLs) entering Ontario classrooms will arrive with diverse and unique needs. Every ELL will bring unique cultural, social, academic, and linguistic backgrounds to your classroom. This course will enable you to cultivate a classroom environment that embraces diversity and celebrates the identity of every student while supporting ELLs through the difficult transition to their new home. English Language Learners (ELL) Part 1 is designed to provide you an engaging opportunity to explore many of the facets of teaching and learning an additional language. You will have the opportunity to explore the stages of language acquisition and ways to meet the needs of ELLs at the different stages. You will also gain a better understanding of the principles underlying the approaches to teaching the four broad language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You will examine some of the language demands that exist in curriculum-based lessons and learn how to scaffold appropriately and set realistic and manageable goals for ELLs. Your heightened awareness and deeper understanding will help you approach situations with greater confidence, competence, and preparation. You will have many opportunities to engage with colleagues in thoughtful discussions and challenge some of your own and others' preconceived notions about language learning and teaching. Prepare to be challenged, reflective and willing to keep an open mind as you explore the many fascinating areas of teaching English language Learners (ELL) and working with ELLs.

In this course you will:

• critically reflect on theoretical concepts about language learning and teaching
• collaborate and share expertise with colleagues to support student learning and improve practice
• familiarize yourself with the policies and support documents of the Ministry of Education and Training with respect to the Ontario curriculum for English language learners
• reflect on some of your pre-existing beliefs and assumptions about language learning and teaching
• explore practical ways to empower ELLs and affirm their identity
• understand assessment and evaluation of language proficiency and student progress, student approaches to learning, and the achievement of curriculum expectations
• analyze the effectiveness of instructional and learner strategies in different contexts
• gain insights about the affective variables that may impact language learning and academic achievement
• research current theory about teaching and learning an additional language
• develop an enhanced understanding of effective techniques for teaching reading, writing, listening, and speaking
• learn to scaffold effectively by considering current functioning and language and content demands in the lesson
• design lessons that integrate the skills and scaffold appropriately to increase the comprehensibility of your lessons
• build your own cultural competence in order to better understand the impact of culture on learning and experiences in the classroom
• explore alternative forms of assessment to accommodate an ELL's current ability

Application Requirements

We will use the OCT number you provide during online registration to confirm that you are an OCT member.

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.

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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.