Participants will receive instruction on current methodologies, strategies, and techniques associated with teaching English language learners (ELLs) of different ages in various learning contexts. While exploring best practices for teaching English, participants learn how to create an effective and communicative language classroom. This course is based partially on “Shaping the Way We Teach English” teacher training materials. Full Course Description (PDF 244 KB)

Special requirements: None; appropriate for teachers of all audiences.

Participants will deepen their understanding of “Computers and Language Learning” theories, principles, and practices in the EFL classroom. The course will model innovative online teaching practices, enable participants to understand and use appropriate technology to enhance learning outcomes for their students, and offer opportunities to share real-world applications of technology tools and practices. The course will provide educators with support and problem-solving mechanisms as they implement technology in their local contexts. This course uses a “train-the-trainer” model in which participants develop plans to locally disseminate knowledge they have gained. Full Course Description (PDF 256 KB)

Special requirements: None; appropriate for teachers of all audiences.

This course has two purposes: to develop participants’ own English oral/listening skills, and to develop participants’ ability to teach these two language skills. This course will enhance:

• Speaking skills of participants in small group sessions and with a weekly audio journal.
• Listening skills of participants in small group sessions and with self-study activities.
• Participants’ abilities to teach listening, speaking, and pronunciation through readings and online discussion, self-study activities, and their participation in model lessons.
• Teaching networks by encouraging collaboration among participants on weekly discussions, in small group sessions, and with ongoing interaction through the course social networking site. Full Course Description (PDF 272 KB)

Special requirements:  Offered in the Winter 2014 term ONLY. This course has real-time, scheduled components and access to Skype or a similar video conferencing tool is required. Not for participants with advanced English speaking/listening skills.

This course will develop participants’ skills in designing, implementing, and evaluating ESP courses. New and experienced ESP practitioners are welcome from all areas of the field. Course participants may address the needs of learners studying university-level English for Academic Purposes (EAP), Vocational English for Specific Purposes (VESP) learners in vocational/technical schools, English for Occupational Purposes (EOP) learners already in the workplace, or other ESP contexts. Full Course Description (PDF263 KB)

Special requirements:  This course is intended for EFL educators of teens and adults only.

This course focuses on inclusive teaching models that support learners with special needs in the EFL classroom. Participants will read articles, analyze web-based resources, and discuss practices that provide teaching strategies for diverse learners with a wide variety of skills and varying levels of performance. Participants will engage in ongoing dialogue, sharing their experiences, successes, and concerns in their teaching of special needs learners. Participants will create a resource or set of resources to share within their local communities (e.g., classroom, school, parents’ network, district). Full Course Description (PDF 242 KB)

Special requirements: None; appropriate for all EFL educators interested in supporting special needs students.

Educators in this course who work with pre-teens (ages 10-12) and teens (ages 13-18) will learn how to motivate these age groups by designing collaborative projects that involve several topics critical to 21st century learners. Student-centered practices and opportunities to introduce student choice in the EFL classroom will be modeled and applied in this course. Participants will learn how to identify, evaluate, and apply a wide variety of age-appropriate materials and how to develop students’ language and critical thinking skills through project-based learning and collaborative problem-solving experiences. Full Course Description (PDF 257 KB)

Special requirements: This course is for educators who work with pre-teens and teens.

Students ages 5-10 are cognitively primed to acquire English through an integrated skills and content-based, experiential approach. Educators who understand the cognitive and social processes of language acquisition of young learners are better equipped to help learners while also creating a fun, positive environment. TEYL educators in EFL settings often have limited time to reach their teaching goals and meet local requirements on the use of specific texts, tests, or other materials. Low-resource environments can also pose challenges. Participants will explore solutions to such challenges through an overview of current research and best practices for TEYL, and will experiment with a wide array of freely available online resources. Full Course Description (PDF 236 KB)

Special requirements: This course is for educators who work with young learners.

This course deepens participants’ understanding of Critical Thinking theories, principles, and practices.  Participants will learn how to identify, analyze, and develop teaching techniques and materials to incorporate critical thinking in the EFL classroom. Participants will also adapt existing materials so that they are culturally and age-appropriate for their local curriculum. Full Course Description (PDF 235 KB)

Special requirements:Appropriate for teachers of all audiences. This is an advanced course with a demanding reading and writing load. Participants should be prepared to apply new knowledge to local curricula, units, and lessons.

This course focuses on the theory and practice of the major components of assessment in EFL classrooms and will address all four skill areas. Topics covered include needs assessment, diagnostics, proficiency, achievement, formative, alternative, summative, standardized, strength-based, and differentiated modalities. Participants will also explore aligning assessment to objectives and course goals, giving learners effective feedback, developing rubrics and tests, evaluating assessments with item analysis, and reliability and validity topics.Full Course Description (PDF 233 KB)

Special requirements: Appropriate for teachers of all audiences. This is an advanced course with a demanding reading and writing load. Participants should be prepared to apply new knowledge to local curricula, units, and lessons.