In this segment of Teacher Real Talk, Farnaz and Sharmaine (EdD) discuss the misconceptions surrounding English language teaching, the importance of pedagogical qualifications when it comes to curriculum design, and the impact of institutional decisions on ESL and EAP programs today. They also talk about what the future of language education might look like in light of AI and changing educational landscapes, emphasizing the need for qualified language educators and the relational aspect of teaching.

The discussion also highlights the challenges faced by language programs in Canada and the hope for a more integrated and valued approach to language instruction in the future.

ESL= English as a Second Language

EAP= English for Academic Purposes

COMM= Communications (College-level communications courses)

Dr. Sharmaine Itwaru has 20 years of experience teaching and rethinking curriculum across ESL, EAP, TESOL, and teacher education. She is currently an EAP and Communications professor and Faculty Developer at George Brown College, where she supports instructors with assessment, instructional design, and navigating change in higher education. Her work is grounded in close collaboration with both instructors and students and shaped by a strong background in adult education and curriculum design.

⁠⁠⁠www.learningoffthesyllabus.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @learningoffthesyllabus

Email: ⁠learningoffthesyllabus@gmail.com

Theme music 

Periscope by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/