English as a Second Language

ESL Policy Guidelines 1999 - Suggested Minimum Qualifications for ESL Specialists

Suggested minimum qualifications for ESL specialists can be identified in relation to three distinct categories:

A Professional Teaching Certificate and basic classroom experience: Experience in the regular classroom as well as with students in ESL is necessary in order to enable ESL specialist teachers to provide their students with appropriate learning experiences. These learning experiences should assist the students to learn the English language, Canadian culture, and the academic background necessary to integrate as smoothly as possible.

Specialized Skills: In addition to fluency in English, training in ESL methodology is essential. Unless a teacher understands the differences between learning one's first language and learning an additional language, he or she will have difficulty assisting students through the various stages in their growth toward bilingualism. Specialized education for English as a Second Language teachers should consist of academic training in the following areas:
- methodology and methods for teaching ESL
- cross-cultural sensitization and strategy training
- multicultural studies
- first and second language learning
- applied linguistics
ESL training for teachers who wish to teach in the British Columbia school system is available at Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Victoria.
Relevant Practical Experience: The experience of living in another culture for a period of time, participating in cross-cultural communication, learning another language (long-term study), and bridging cultural gaps can be beneficial to understanding and helping students from other language and cultural backgrounds.