CONT541: Teaching English Language Learners Specialist

Course Schedule

Course Description

This course will provide you with opportunities to develop the skills needed to be a culturally responsive leader focused on achieving meaningful and sustainable change in your school. You will reflect on your personal leadership abilities and explore ways to engage in courageous conversations as you advocate for your English language learners. You will investigate strategies to engage learners, families, and the community as you set goals for change. You will participate in critical discussions about your role as an anti-racist and anti-oppression educator and  explore ways to lead successful collaborative inquiries and professional development workshops designed to encourage critical self-reflection. The course culminates with a school action plan focused on equity and inclusion for English language learners.

What You Will Learn and Do 

In this course you’ll have the opportunity to 

• develop an understanding of Culturally Responsive Leadership  
• reflect on personal leadership skills and develop effective collaboration strategies  
• explore how to lead collaborative inquiries to build a professional learning community and effect positive change  
• create a vision statement and develop an action plan to address inequities and systemic racism in education 
• collaborate with learners and home-school partners to inform school-wide decisions and policy development 
• develop effective policies for supporting English Language Learners and their mental health and well-being 
• understand the principles of trauma informed counselling 
• explore best practices for building collaborative relationships with school partners 
• critically examine initial assessment procedures and policies  
• develop effective practices for conducing ongoing assessment of literacy skills  
• design a three-year action plan focused on equity, inclusion, and advocacy  

Application Requirements

1. OCT Membership showing completion of Part 2.
2. CONFIRMATION OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE FORM Signed by a Supervisory Official* from your School Board confirming that you have two years (388 days) of teaching experience since becoming a certified teacher, one year (194 days) of which is in the subject area of this course.

*The Ontario College of Teachers defines "Supervisory Official" as the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent of the school board for a teacher employed by a Board of Education. A principal or headmaster is not recognized in this capacity. For a teacher employed by a private school, the "supervisory official" is the Ministry of Education official (Education Officer) appointed to your school. For overseas experience the appropriate Supervisory Official is the person your Principal reports to.

**Please note that a new form is always required for a Part 3 (Specialist) course as experience is course/subject specific.

Course Materials

N/A

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.