Launched by CTE and the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies in Fall 2013, the Certificate in University Language Teaching (CULT) is designed to meet the needs of graduate students who teach courses in Modern Languages and Classics.
What it is
The Certificate in University Language Teaching is tailored to language instruction and is open to all currently enrolled Waterloo graduate students in languages, traditionally French and German.
The program is of no cost to participants, and CULT courses are included on participants' official transcripts.
How it works
The CULT program is completed in three consecutive terms, and must be completed by the end of graduate studies. In the case participants are enrolled in the Joint-MA in Intercultural German Studies program, they are enrolled in the Fall term of their first year and the Winter and Spring term of their second year.
The CULT program is comprised of three Graduate Studies (GS) courses.
| Course | Course Requirements |
|---|---|
| GS 901: Preparing for University Teaching | Completion of a series of workshops in language teaching and learning |
| GS 902: Preparing for an Academic Career | Completion of a Research Paper, a Research Paper Presentation, and a Teaching Dossier |
| GS 903: Teaching Practicum | Completion of one microteaching session and two classroom teaching observations |
Please note: GS 901 and GS 903 are completed concurrently in the Fall and Winter term, and GS 902 is completed in the Winter and Spring term.
Upon completion of the program, participants:
- receive a Graduate Certificate in University Language Teaching issued by the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
- receive a citation in the "degrees" section of their university transcripts
Program goals
The overall goal of the CULT program is to provide participants with the necessary background knowledge in language instruction and pedagogy, combined with a broad range of ideas for practical application in the classroom.
By the end of the program, participants will:
- develop specific language teaching skills
- discuss and share experiences with language teaching methods and practices
- reflect on decisions and actions as teachers
- locate, summarize and use research on teaching and learning as it applies to language instruction
- prepare a teaching dossier that articulates their approach to language teaching
Key contacts
For more information on the CULT program, please contact:
Dr. Barbara Schmenk, Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies
Dr. Svitlana Taraban-Gordon, Centre for Teaching Excellence
