Course Description
This is one of a group of five courses that together lead to a Douglas College Certificate in Teaching and Tutoring English to Adult Speakers of Other Languages. Students learn how to help individual English as an additional language (EAL) learners improve their language skills and increase their academic success through learning strategies development, language development, and cultural awareness. Topics include learning about how to assess an EAL learner’s needs, structure tutoring sessions, choose approaches and techniques, maintain ethical standards, and keep records. A five-hour tutoring practicum is included in the course. The course is delivered in the hybrid format, with 2 hours/week in the classroom and 2 hours online.
Course Content
- principles of tutoring
- needs assessment strategies
- individual learning plan development
- structuring the tutoring session
- tutoring challenges
- appropriate resource selection for tutoring
- record keeping
- ethics of tutoring
- academic language support for EAL learners
- development of tutoring skills through reflective practice
Learning Activities
This course is offered in the hybrid format. Some or all of the following methods will be used:
- lecture/demonstration, both in person and online
- large- and small-group discussion
- pair work
- tutoring practice
Means of Assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. It will be based on learning outcomes and course content, and it will include, but need not be limited to, the following tasks:
- at least two written assignments
- at least one in-class quiz
- practicum reflection tasks
- tutoring practice analysis
Sample grade breakdown:
- Needs assessment assignment worth up to 10%
- Individual learning plan worth up to 20%
- Reflective assignments (tutoring record-keeping logs) worth up to 20% (total)
- Tutoring communication data analysis worth up to 15%
- In-class quiz(zes) worth up to 25% (total)
- Participation worth up to 10%
- Total: 100%
Students in the program Teaching English as a Second Language are required to attain a minimum of 60% (C letter grade) in all courses.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- assess an EAL learner’s needs for tutoring support.
- create an individual learning plan for an EAL learner needing tutoring support.
- support an EAL learner in improving English fluency and accuracy in specific language skills by selecting and applying appropriate tutoring strategies.
- develop strategies for dealing with tutoring challenges.
- apply reflective practice strategies for improving tutoring practice.
Textbook Materials
A list of required and optional textbooks and materials will be provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Students may be required to purchase one or more of the following materials:
- coursepacks
- textbooks such as MacMillan’s Learning Teaching by Scrivener, TESOL Press’s Pace Yourself: A Handbook for ESL Tutors by Dalle & Young, or Cengage Learning’s Handbook for Training Peer Tutors and Mentors by Agee & Hodges
- Longman's Dictionary of Contemporary English