MacPherson Institute and MELD/MODEL have partnered to offer a series of 3 workshops intended to increase understanding of who English language learners (ELLs) are on campus, ensure instructors are meeting the learning needs of ELLs, and assist instructors in designing assessments for student success.
In the first workshop, Who are ELLs?, we identify the wide range of students on campus who are ELLs. The facilitators outline general required proficiency levels for acceptance to McMaster programs as a way to help participants understand and, therefore, meet the language needs of ELLs in classes. Additionally, the facilitators explore some of the unique challenges that ELLs experience on campus and examine the cultural needs and opportunities of ELLs. The voices and experiences of McMaster ELLs are represented in the workshop as a way to ground the ideas explored in the workshop in real world experiences.