Institutionally-Available Supports
“I moved to Canada on my own … so if I was having a bad day, [my parents] could not help me immediately due to the long distance and different time zone. Moreover, I experienced homesickness like many students experienced. I didn’t have any friends with whom I could share my feelings at that time.”
– Seina Yamada, current undergraduate student
MODEL
MODEL (McMaster Office for the Development of English Language Learners) is a free English language support service for all McMaster students (undergraduate and graduate) whose first language is not English.
All of MODEL’s services are listed on their webpage.
ELL Teaching Tip: Given that some ELLs do not actively seek out language help and language support can be a difficult and sensitive topic to bring up with a student, it is good practice to share information about supports on campus such as MODEL at the beginning of the semester with all students.
Every year MODEL supports hundreds of ELL learners on campus through the following supports:
Students can meet one-on-one with MODEL’s English language experts for 45 minutes at a time to discuss their various needs. MODEL’s language experts can help students with their current academic work and can also help guide the student by providing them with appropriate resources and exercises that meet their specific needs. Students can book a consultation at a time that is convenient for them by emailing model@mcmaster.ca or by visiting the MODEL website.
MODEL offers a wide variety of workshops at various times throughout the week where students meet in a small group setting with a language expert to explore certain topics. Topics include cultural workshops, conversation hangouts, book clubs, and other academic language skill workshops. Students can register for MODEL workshops on Oscarplus.
MODEL provides students with a free English Language test called LinguaSkill. Provided by Cambridge Assessment English, Linguaskill tests all four language skills (speaking, reading, listening, and writing), and test results are aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). After the assessment, students meet with a MODEL consultant to discuss their results, and together they decide on a plan so that MODEL can continue to help their language development.
Students can meet one-on-one with a counsellor in MODEL who has a background in both counselling and ELL teaching.
Digital Tools
There are several institutionally supported digital tools that can assist ELLs. Below are a few tools and descriptions of how they can be leveraged to support ELLs.
Making full use of Avenue to Learn brings significant benefits for ELLs. Avenue to Learn has several features that can support ELLs in the classroom including:
- Glossary – The glossary tool is a great option for courses that have many terms and definitions to learn and can help ELLs study these terms.
- Calendar – The calendar tool is a useful tool to share information around class schedules, deadlines, and special events.
- Checklists – The checklist tools is useful to help keep learners organized. For example, a checklist can be created to ensure that learners have completed all the required tasks for the week or to ensure that all steps of an assignment have been completed before submitting work.
- Surveys – The survey tool can be used throughout a course to check the ‘pulse’ of the course and to see how learners are feeling. Creating a short 3-4 question survey that students complete every few weeks can assist in getting a sense of how students are feeling, how well they are engaging with content, and if there are any topics that require further teaching.
MacVideo and Echo360 are video recording and hosting tools that have unique features. While the tools have different features and can be used for different purposes, a shared and important feature of the tools is the ability to share videos and lectures with captions and transcripts. This can significantly support ELLs who may find listening for extended periods of time during lectures challenging. It is also useful if learners want to go back and watch lectures again to review.
Videos on MacVideo and Echo360 can also be made interactive by incorporating quiz questions and activities.
Mental Health Supports
Mental health can be a difficult topic in the context of international students and ELLs. Understandings of and discussions around mental health vary significantly across cultures. Accordingly, some students may feel uncomfortable talking about it or reluctant to seek help. Facilitating open and educational conversations with ELLs about what mental health is, the importance of it, and ways to maintain good mental health are imperative and should be handled sensitively. Educators who wish to learn more about mental health are encouraged to take Hippo-On-Campus, an eight-module course offered by the MacPherson Institute about mental health and mental health support.
The McMaster University Student Wellness Centre has a range of services, resources, and programs available to students to help learn about all aspects of health.
Activity
Test your knowledge by trying the True or False quiz below.