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. During the course, students spend 10 hours observing English as an additional language (EAL) classes and 10 hours teaching a class of EAL learners guided by an experienced EAL instructor. The sponsor teacher and practicum instructor observe, mentor, and evaluate the student teacher in the EAL classroom. Classroom support for the practicum (2 hours/week) includes learning about lesson planning and classroom management as well as receiving feedback and reflecting on the teaching practicum. Students will also learn job-finding skills and employment expectations in the EAL teaching field in various contexts.
Course Content
- lesson plans for receptive and productive language skills
- frameworks for teaching units of the language system (PPP, TTT, text-based)
- adult EAL in different contexts and at various levels
- instructional delivery skills (whiteboard use, using visuals and realia, time management)
- use of technology in the EAL classroom
- classroom management skills (teacher roles, addressing needs of different learners, dealing with disruptions and unexpected challenges)
- professional conduct in the TESL work environment
- analysis of elements of lessons through completion of observation tasks
- development of teaching practice and lesson planning through reflective practice and attention to sponsor teacher, peer, and instructor feedback
- EAL industry job-finding strategies
Learning Activities
Some or all of the following methods will be used:
- lecture/demonstration
- large- and small-group discussion
- pair work
- observation of teaching
- teaching practice
- practicum instructor and sponsor teacher feedback sessions
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:
- lesson planning for 10 hours of teaching practice
- completion of 10 observation tasks
- regular reflections of own lessons and teaching practice
- sponsor teacher evaluation
- observed classroom teaching
- job-finding skills and employment expectations assignment
Sample grade breakdown:
- Lesson plans portfolio worth up to 20% (total)
- Observation tasks portfolio worth up to 15% (total)
- Teaching practice reflections worth up to 10% (total)
- Sponsor teacher evaluation worth up to 15% (total)
- Observed classroom teaching worth up to 20% (total)
- Job-finding skills assignment worth up to 10%
- Participation and professionalism 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:
- integrate knowledge and skills introduced in other TESL courses in the program into teaching.
- apply principles of adult education to a specific group of EAL students.
- create lesson plans to address specific learning objectives for a group of EAL learners.
- identify and analyze elements of effective lessons.
- communicate effectively in the professional teaching environment.
- apply reflective practice strategies to improving both lessons and teaching skills.
- gain an understanding of job-seeking strategies and employment expectations in various EAL contexts.
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, MacMillan’s Teaching Practice: A Handbook for Teachers in Training by Gower et al., or Cambridge’s Teacher Training Essentials by Thaine.