Learning Specialist

**Learning Specialist - English as an Additional Language (EAL)**:
As one of Canada’s leading research libraries, the University Library serves as the intellectual hub of USask, providing resources, services, and spaces that facilitate inquiry, discovery, and knowledge creation. The University Library is committed to developing welcoming, responsive, and accessible services and resources to support our diverse clientele, with a strategic focus on Indigenous peoples.

**Primary Purpose**: The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Learning Specialist works independently and collaboratively to provide learning and study skills support for undergraduate and graduate students for whom English is a second or an additional language.

**Nature of Work**: Situated within a student-centred, team-based work environment, this position reports to the University Library’s Assistant Dean, Learning and Curriculum Support, and plays a key role in supporting English language learners as they navigate their academic studies. This involves execution of programming that recognizes the needs of students’, including Indigenous, international, and domestic students for whom English is a second or an additional language. The position organizes timely and targeted English language academic support through the delivery of programs and instruction, and one-to-one help to enhance language proficiency so that English language learners can succeed and thrive in the English-medium academic environment.

The position works closely with the Writing Help Coordinator, Graduate Writing Specialist, and Study Skills Coordinator, ensuring English language and related academic writing and study supports are aligned. The position also collaborates with the Academic Manager in the USask Language Centre (USLC) to offer aligned and complimentary programming, and engages with other units on campus, including the International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC), Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre (GORB), Access and Equity Services (AES), the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS), and the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning (GMCTL), as appropriate. The Learning Specialist position will work primarily with EAL/ELL students but will also provide learning and study skills support for other students as needed and assist with related unit operations and programming.

Work is self-directed and independent, involving frequent interaction with colleagues, staff, students, and faculty. The work is detail oriented and requires responsiveness and consistency of performance. This position incurs heavier workloads at times of high student activity, occasionally requiring work outside normal office hours. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, along with continual learning and knowledge-sharing are important components of the position.

**Typical Duties or Accountabilities**:

- Designs and delivers tailored programming and instruction sessions to engage students in academic discourse and develop English language skills, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking with a particular focus on vocabulary, grammar, and other academic writing conventions that are necessary at the undergraduate and graduate level.
- Creates supplemental material and digital learning resources that are engaging and culturally relevant to the diverse needs of EAL/ELL students.
- Collaborates with the USask Language Centre to offer shared and aligned programming that provides opportunities for EAL/ELL students to connect informally as learners and scholars in the academic community.
- Determines students’ academic language needs and identifies learning strategies and study skills to help them become more effective in the English language academic environment.
- Provides support to help students navigate the academic environment and local educational culture, including understanding course structures and dynamics, communicating with instructors and peers, preparing for collaborative and group discussion, and delivering presentations.
- Collaborates with instructors, academic advisors, and other support services to align and coordinate efforts in supporting English language learners’ academic success.
- Provides mentorship and basic level training for writing tutors to assist them when they are tutoring EAL/ELL students at the Writing Centre.
- Ensures strategic and unit-level planning is followed and understood through regular review of plans and goals.
- Engages in professional development opportunities, staying abreast of best practices in English language pedagogy, language acquisition, and EAL/ELL support.
- Collaborates with library staff and faculty, contributing to the overall mission, vision, and values of the library.

**Education**: A minimum of a master's degree in Languages, Applied Linguistics, English Language Teaching, or a closely related field, with a specialization in TESOL.

**Experience**