International Education Department Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program Policies APPROVAL: 1. Program Revision: January 2006 2. Admissions & Standards Committee: March 2006 3. Effective: September 2006 TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL) PROGRAM The one-semester TESOL Advanced Diploma Program provides Canadian and international students with an intensive overview of the fundamental elements of teaching English to speakers of other languages. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES 1. To facilitate student knowledge and understanding of second language teaching theory and methodology. 2. To prepare students to make the successful transition to teaching in the English Language classroom. 3. To provide students with the opportunity to develop materials related to specific language skills. 4. To encourage students to discover and challenge their own cultural assumptions and values, and to apply their understanding to teaching principles and strategies. Students in the TESOL Program are subject to the overall policies affecting all students at Selkirk College, with the following additions listed below. College policies may be viewed on-line at the College website (www.selkirk.ca). PART I: ADMISSIONS POLICIES A. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 1. Academic a) Applicants must have successfully graduated with a degree or diploma from a recognized institution, or have completed at least two years of post-secondary education with an average grade of C+ or higher. b) Applicants who are speakers of other languages must provide evidence of a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (paper) or 213 (computer), or an International English Language Test Score (IELTS) score of 6.5. Completion of Level 5 in the English Language Program and English 051 may increase the English proficiency scores of candidates.
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL) Program Policies Page 2 2. General a) Prior work or volunteer educational experience, preferably with second language learners, and/or coursework in education is desirable. b) Applicants are required to attend an interview and submit a current resume. Where circumstances make a personal interview impractical, a telephone interview will be conducted. Interview results are not used as criteria for admissions. 3. Mature Students B. SELECTION a) A mature student is at least 19 years and has been out of the school system for at least one year on or before the first day of classes of the program. b) A mature student, with reasonable potential for success on the basis of work experience or other criteria may be admitted, notwithstanding some deficiency in prior formal education. c) A mature student shall normally meet the specific program or course prerequisites. Applicants will be separated into two levels as identified in Selkirk College Policy B3002.1 (Admissions and Standards), namely, fully qualified and partially qualified. 1. Fully Qualified The applicant meets all of the requirements stated in Part I, A. above. 2. Partially Qualified The applicant is deficient in meeting some or all of the admission requirements stated in Part I, A, above. 3. Order of Selection Selection and acceptance of applicants will proceed in the following order: a) Within the fully-qualified level, preference shall be given to those with earlier completed applications. b) Within the partially-qualified level, preference shall be given to those considered best qualified. C. APPLICATION PROCEDURES 1. Before an applicant s file is completed, the following must be received: a) All post-secondary transcripts b) English proficiency test scores (Refer to Part 1, A.1, b, above) c) Current resumé 2. Initial applications to Registration/Admissions should be submitted by June 30 th. Late applicants will be accepted subject to space availability.
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL) Program Policies Page 3 3. The deadline for receiving required documentation is normally July 31 st. 4. Interviews will normally be arranged by a program designate when the applicant=s file is complete. Interview results are not used as criteria for admission. D. RE-ENTRY 1. Students in good standing, who must interrupt their program, may apply to re-enter within one year of departure. 2. Normally, students who re-enter in one year or less will maintain full credit for all courses previously completed. After more than one year s absence, students may be required to update or repeat courses already completed. 3. Re-admission is dependent upon sufficient places being available in the semester for which re-entry is being sought. 4. Exceptional cases will be considered individually, at the discretion of the Department Head of International Education. PART II: PROMOTION POLICIES A. EVALUATION 1. Grading a) Grading will be based on the categories defined in Selkirk College Policy B3002.1 (Admissions and Standards), Part II, Section 4.0 and 8.0. 2. Frequency of Evaluation a) Students will complete assignments (as indicated in Part II, A.3) according to the frequency stated in each course outline. 3. Types of Evaluations a) Students are evaluated and graded in each subject or course topic as indicated in the respective course outline. Evaluative events will include exams, assignments, group projects, and presentations. b) Exams, labs, projects, assignments and other evaluative activities are weighted and averaged as indicated in the respective course outline. 4. Examination Policy a) Assignments and exams must be written and submitted at the scheduled time. Exceptions will only be considered when the instructor has been supplied with satisfactory evidence of personal illness, disability, extenuating circumstances or prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL) Program Policies Page 4 5. Plagiarism and Cheating (Excerpts below taken from Selkirk College Admissions and Standards Policy (B3002.1) B. PROBATION 15.1 Honesty is expected and required of all students. The purpose of this section of the policy is to deal with honesty in the conduct of all examinations, essays, reports and other assignments prepared or completed by students pursuant to the requirements of a Selkirk College program or course. 15.2 Cheating is defined as dishonest or deceptive conduct or attempted conduct by which individuals or groups of individuals use or attempt to use unauthorized aids, assistance, materials and methods to represent their academic work, training and standards as their own. 15.3 Plagiarism is defined as the presentation or submission of work or data (published or unpublished in any form), done in whole or in part by other persons, without citation or credit, as the student s own work i.e., a group project, book journal, electronic media, etc. 15.4 The submission of one s own work for credit in more than one course without the express knowledge of the instructors involved is forbidden. 15.5 Selkirk College will not condone nor will it accept work submitted to obtain credit which was produced through cheating or plagiarism. 1. Purpose a) For a first offence the assignment, test, exam, paper project or other work involved will be awarded a grade of zero to be incorporated into the calculation of the final grade. b) For a second offence, the student will be required to withdraw from the course. c) For any further offence, the student will be required to withdraw from the college. d) A record of the foregoing will be kept in the student s official record. e) Depending on the nature of the offence, steps (a) and/or (b) above may be by-passed, following consultation or instructor, School Chair, and/or Registrar. a) Probation is intended to provide a formal mechanism to assist students with unsatisfactory or marginal performance or to improve their performance. 2. Criteria for placement on academic probation a) Student may be placed on academic probation only during the first two-thirds of a program term or semester, under the following circumstances: (i) Failure to meet course requirements at a satisfactory level in formative (interim) appraisals. 3. Criteria for placement on behavioural probation a) A student may be placed on behavioural probation at any time during the term or semester under the following circumstances: (i) A level of absenteeism from learning experiences which results in the student being unprepared for learning or compromising the learning of others.
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL) Program Policies Page 5 (ii) Performance which compromises the safety of others (as cited in College Policy 3002.1, article 10.3). (iii) Other behaviour as referred to in the Student Code of Conduct Policy B3002. 4. While on probation, a student will consult a Department advisor to determine areas of difficulty and plan a program of remedial action. At the end of the probationary period, student progress will be reassessed. 5. Criteria for removal from probation a) Conditions for removal from probation will be specified in the written notification of probation. 6. Failure to meet conditions of probation a) Students who fail to meet the specified conditions or stipulated standards, as outlined in their probation letter, will be required to withdraw from the course and/or the program. 7. Number of probationary periods allowed a) One probationary period is allowed. C. EXCLUSION OR DISMISSAL (See Selkirk College Policy B3002.1, Part II, Section 16.0.) 1. An instructor may exclude a student from participating in a class, if the student would not receive sufficient educational benefit from the experience due to lateness, prior absence, inadequate preparation, or if he/she disrupts the learning of others. 2. An instructor may recommend to the Department Head that a student be completely excluded from a course if that student has missed instructional times or failed to complete the assigned work to such a degree that he/she could not compensate sufficiently to pass the course in the time available, or if the student has compromised the safety of others, has been destructive to property, or if the student has disrupted the learning opportunities of others. 3. A student recommended for exclusion from a course/program will receive notification from and will be excluded by the Registrar on the recommendation of the Department Head. D. APPEAL (See College Policy B3007.) 1. A student dissatisfied with a final grade or program decision (e.g., probation, exclusion, dismissal) may appeal the College's action by following this sequence: a) Contact the course instructor in writing. b) Contact the Department Head in writing. c) Contact the Dean in writing. NOTE: A student ombudsperson may be available to assist the student in this process. If the issue has not been resolved, the student may then choose to: d) Appeal to the Student Appeals Committee by contacting the College Registrar. e) Students have five working days from the time they are notified of their final grades to appeal a grade.
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL) Program Policies Page 6 E. ATTENDANCE f) From the time of official notification students have five working days to appeal probationary status, exclusion or dismissal. 1. Students are expected to attend all classes and to demonstrate punctuality. Poor performance in these areas may result in the student being put on probation. Note: Attendance and punctuality are considered important elements of professionalism. Student teachers are expected to demonstrate professionalism as they make the transition into the workplace. 2. Students absent from any learning activity for any reason are responsible for making up the work they have missed. The program cannot undertake to provide substitute learning experiences in courses when students have been absent. 3. Absence from learning activities could prevent the student from being able to meet the required objectives of the course. 4. Students absent for illness or compassionate reasons must contact the instructor prior to the class, in person, by phone or in writing. Students may be required to provide a letter from a doctor to verify claims of illness longer than two days. F. ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS 1. Assignments must be handed in on the due date or the assignment mark may be penalised as stated on the course outline. Exceptions to due dates must be negotiated with the instructor involved 48 hours in advance of the due date. 2. Plagiarism refer to Part II A, 5. 3. Examinations will be scheduled as described in course outlines. 4. Students who must be absent from an examination due to special circumstances such as illness, accident or family emergency may apply for permission to rescheduled the examination. Students who do not apply for such permission and who fail to write a scheduled examination will receive a mark of zero on the examination in question. 5. Students guilty of dishonest practices during an examination shall be immediately dismissed from the examination and will receive a grade of zero. Further action may be recommended by the Department of International Education if deemed appropriate. 6. Examination protocol includes but is not limited to the following: a) Eating will not be allowed in the examination room. b) Students are expected to conduct themselves as quietly as possible in consideration of others. c) Students are expected to be punctual.
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL) Program Policies Page 7 G. CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT 1. The classroom is a learning environment. It should be comfortable and safe. Teachers and students should seek to create an atmosphere that stimulates and promotes learning. To this end the following policies apply: H. GRADUATION a) The use of tobacco products is not permitted within college buildings. b) Food consumption is not allowed during classroom sessions. c) All classrooms are to be kept in a clean and well-ordered state. 1. A TESOL Advanced Diploma will be awarded to the graduate at the end of the academic term. 2. The requirements for graduation include the successful completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of C in each course. TSOL 102 TSOL 104 TSOL 106 TSOL 108 TSOL 110 TSOL 112 TSOL 114 TSOL 116 Second Language Acquisition and Theory Classroom Practice and Organisation English Language Curriculum and materials Development Language and Culture Practicum Experience and Seminar Grammar and Phonology Testing and Evaluation Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL)