EXCEL

Did you know that the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) will add a Foreign Language Assessment in 2025, starting with English?

International Professional Development Program For Secondary School English Language Teachers

Contemporary English language pedagogy integrated with English for English teaching proficiency.

Boosting students’ English language proficiency requires teachers who are competent in classroom English, have contemporary pedagogical knowledge and skills, and are aware of global sociolinguistic perspectives on for example, world Englishes.

Recognizing this heightening demand on working teachers, UBC Faculty of Education has developed a hybrid, internationally-minded, professional development program. It is aimed at in-service, non-native English speaking teachers of English as a foreign language at secondary schools around the world. Participants experience three-weeks’ learning at UBC campus, followed by 12 weeks of online learning after returning home.

The program is offered collaboratively through the Faculty’s Department of Language and Literacy Education (LLED) and English Language Institute (ELI). Upon completion of the program you will receive a certificate.

Program Components

English for English Teachers

Focus: developing English language proficiency for teaching.

Objectives: developing competence to use English for classroom instruction; enhancing skills and confidence in oral/aural English communication in English; and engaging in professional development. Participants will develop their ability to provide effective instructions, corrective feedback, classroom management and classroom interactions in English, as well as their general and critical language awareness and intercultural competence.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Focus: developing pedagogical competence.

Objectives: expanding knowledge of pedagogy and assessment; conducting self-reflective action research (choose a topic of interest – e.g., the effectiveness of various types of classroom group work, self-reflect on teaching practice, and analyze the self-reflection for improving teaching); preparing for educational leadership; and raising awareness of social justice in language education (e.g., issues of equality, diversity and inclusion such as the diversity of English and English speakers).

Dates & Fees

See Program Dates & Fees.

How to Apply

You must be at least 18 years old and have, at a minimum, a current English proficiency of CEFR B2 or higher. You must also have an English language teaching assignment in the school year of the program.

Please review our How to Apply page and ELI Policies before applying.

Other Resource

EXCEL Program Funding Request

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