ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING SPECIALIST

The English Language Learning Specialist works in collaboration with teachers and school resource teams at the school to support planning and delivery of services for English Language Learners.

The role includes case management of students meeting BC Ministry of Education criteria for English Language Learners, ensuring appropriate documentation and learning supports are in place, consultation with parents, school and district staff to provide a high level of services to students in inclusive settings.

The person in this position will have a comprehensive knowledge and experience of implementing excellent practices as they relate to students who have English as a second dialect or language, of evidence based classroom and inclusive education practices and be familiar with current BC Ministry of Education Legislation and Policies.

Responsibilities

• Plan for social and academic language competence

• Assist to create a school culture where an individual’s first language and cultural heritage is valued

• Work with teachers in identifying resources that reflect students’ own history, literature and culture.

• Facilitate strong working partnerships with parents and encourage active participation in their child’s learning process

• Collaborate to implement practices that reflect current research with regard to effective practices in both ESL and ESD

• Appropriate assessment of students in speaking, listening, reading and writing both in terms of language performance and classroom functioning of the learner

• Planning for the development of basic language and content skills in academic subject areas

• Identifying other possible needs for services in addition to ELL (e.g. support services for special needs, counselling, services of a community worker, etc.)

• Collaborating with other professionals to monitor student progress

• Ensure reporting and services are in compliance with Ministry of Education eligibility criteria.

Qualifications

• Successful classroom teaching experience in the regular classroom including ELL students.

• Course-work or a diploma in ELL teaching covering a combination of the following areas:

o Methodology and appropriate approaches for teaching ELL

o Applied linguistics

o First and second/additional language acquisition/learning

o Cross cultural assessment/testing theory and practice

o Cross cultural understanding, sensitization and strategy training or coursework

o Multicultural studies

o Adapting instruction to meet the diverse language needs of students