M.Ed. in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) - Abbotsford Cohort

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Wednesday, November 19
4:00 - 5:00pm
Colleen & Gordie Howe Middle School
3174 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford

 

The Program

The Department of Language and Literacy at UBC offers an MEd program in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). The program offers professional development to school teachers by developing an awareness of current thought and practice in literacy and TESL education. Students gain experience and understanding in such areas as:

• current issues in TESL theory and practice
• second language acquisition
• second language reading and writing
• literacy and multimodality
• language and identity
• second language assessment, and
• research methods.

The program requires a minimum of 30 credits of approved graduate work, at least 24 of which must be numbered 500 or above. The program can be completed within 7-8 terms (2.5 years), with courses scheduled to accommodate practicing teachers and administrators (see schedule).

Program Schedule

year 1
Sep '09	LLED 478A (f2f - Abbotsford)	Introduction to Teaching English as a Second Language - INTRO TO ESL
Jan '10	LLED 572 (f2f - Abbotsford)	Theory and Research in Teaching English as a Second Language - RESEARCH IN ESL
May '10	LLED 479 (online)	The Education of Immigrant Students
July '10	LLED 558 and LLED 510 (UBC Campus)	Literacy and Multimodality (3-cr) and Language & Identity (3-cr) Two-week Summer Intensive
year 2
Sep '10	LLED 573 (f2f - Abbotsford)	Theories of Second Language Acquisition - SEC LANG ACQ
Jan ' 11	LLED 526 (f2f - Abbotsford)	Second Language Assessment: Conceptual and Empirical Approaches
May '11	EDUC 500 (online)	Research Methodology in Education
July '11	LLED 565 (f2f - Abbotsford)	Special Course in Subject Matter Field
year 3
Sep '11 - Apr '12	LLED 590	Graduating Paper

Communication

Participants must have computer and e-mail/internet access. One way UBC students can get Internet and e-mail access is through Netinfo, http://www.netinfo.ubc.ca/, a service provided by the UBC Library and ITServices.

Admission

All students must meet UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements which include:

• An approved Bachelor's degree and, for K-12 teachers, one year of teacher education, OR
• A 5-year Bachelor's degree in Education; OR
• A 4-year Bachelor's degree in Education or other appropriate area provided the applicant has completed all the necessary prerequisites listed below.
• A minimum grade point average (76%) based on 3 rd and 4 th year coursework.
• A minimum of two years of teaching experience.

pre-requisites

There are no specific pre-requisites for this program.

 

Tuition

Program fees will be paid over a minimum of eight (8) installments of $1,522.17 plus applicable student fees, payable in September, January and May of each of the three years. The program total is $12,177.36 plus applicable student fees.

Tuition fees are in Canadian dollars, are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors, and are subject to change.

 

Application Process

Application Deadline: February 1, 2009
Online application is now available.

In addition to your on-line application, please forward:

• Two official (sealed) transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (except from UBC)
• Three (sealed) letters of reference (forms available here), with one preferably but not strictly limited to being an academic assessment by a university instructor. This would be for those who meet FoGS' minimum GPA requirements. However, if you do not meet the minimum GPA, it is required that you include one academic assessment letter, OR at  least one letter, and preferably more, that speak to your academic potential. If you are unsure on how this applies to you or of your GPA standing please contact me at tracey.degner@ubc.ca. I can do a preliminary assessment of your transcripts and let you know how you should proceed.
• A Resumé
• A one page statement of intent indicating how you think this program will contribute to your work in this field (if you did not complete that in the online application)

You must apply for this program on-line; please print out these instructions and refer to them when actually making your on-line application:

• Go to http://www.grad.ubc.ca/apply/online/
• Before beginning your application, read all of the instructions
• When you are ready to apply, click on "Apply Online"
• Read the instructions, and click on "Create Your Account" (unless you have already begun your application, in which case you should "Login")
• Once you have created your account, choose "New Application" and then click on "Start a Completely New Application"
• Under "Degree Selection," choose "Master of Education" in the pulldown menu
• Under "Programs," you must choose "EPLT Abbotsford Language and Literacy Education - LL09 "
• Proceed with your application as instructed
• When finished entering your information, you must click "Submit" for the application to work
• You will automatically receive an email acknowledgement, with instructions on documentation and deadlines

Some application reminders

• We need sealed transcripts from EVERY post-secondary institution you attended, whether or not they issued you a degree, except UBC. If you are a UBC alumnus, please provide your student number and we will print your transcript.
• If you have transcripts, please enclose or fax us photocopies (604-822-2015). We can make a quick adjudication of your eligibility even before all of your "official" documents arrive. Please note that this adjudication is not official until we have received your sealed transcripts.
• Send everything - EVERYTHING - to EPLT (1304-2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4). The most common delay in admissions is caused by the search for documents that are at other locations on this huge campus.
• References can now be submitted electronically in the following manner:  when you submit your application, include the reference's email address.  This will generate an automatic email which contains a link to a site where your reference can enter his/her reference, and then submit it.  They can type as much as they want, despite the apparent size of the text box. This link will only be available when your application is submitted.  If you plan on having your reference(s) submit their reference by mail, please leave the email address blank on the application.
• If you prefer to submit any or all of your references by hard copy you can download the reference form for this program here. A letter can take the place of the reference form but it must answer the questions posed in the reference form. The reference form is designed for professors to fill out. If your referee is not a professor, please ask him or her to write about your ability to successfully complete a graduate degree. The letter should identify key committees that you may have chaired, presentations or conferences or professional development programs you have done or taken, how you are able to understand new curriculum theory and apply it to your classroom program, if you have been a teacher supervisor for a student teacher, your ability to process data, or undertake major projects, your leadership capabilities. Detailed examples are more useful than general statements of support. Please note:  the reference letters must be received here in sealed envelopes with the referee's signature written across the sealed envelope flap.

For More Information

For academic advising, please contact:

Dr. Sandra Zappa, Cohort Advisor
UBC, Faculty of Education
Language and Literacy Education Department
Tel: 604-222-1012
sandra.zappa@ubc.ca

Abbotsford School District Contact:

Marcy Criner, District Principal - International Student Program and ESL
Tel: 604-859-4891
marcy_criner@sd34.bc.ca

For information about the program, district contacts, information sessions, or submitting an application, please contact:

Tracey Degner, Senior Program Assistant
UBC, Faculty of Education
External Programs and Learning Technologies
Tel: 604-827-5592 or Toll Free 1-888-492-1122
tracey.degner@ubc.ca