T

he Government of Saskatchewan will use Briercrest College and Seminary’s TESOL program as a reference point for their new qualifications standards for teachers of adult English as a Second Language in the province.

The Department of Advanced Education, Employment, and Immigation’s standard imposes clearly defined minimum requirements for the qualifications of teachers teaching in Ministry-funded adult ESL programs in Saskatchewan.

As part of the standard, the government has selected five key TESOL courses from the 14 which form part of Briercrest’s BA in Applied Linguistics: TESOL. These five courses form the basis of the government’s new minimum standard, meaning that someone who completes these five courses and obtains membership in TESL Saskatchewan will be eligible for employment in the province’s burgeoning adult ESL sector.

“While the Briercrest TESOL program is accredited at a higher level, TESL Canada Professional Standard Two, it is satisfying to see the government making use of key TESOL courses as a reference point for their provincial qualifications standard,” said David Catterick, Briercrest’s TESOL program coordinator.