SlA - CTLA02 Exploring Inter-Cultural Pespectives in Academic Contexts

Date Posted: 04/14/2025
Req ID: 42533
Faculty/Division: UofT Scarborough
Department: UTSC:Ctr-Teaching & Learning
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

CTLA02H3 Exploring Inter-Cultural Perspectives in Academic Contexts

CTLA02H3 is designed for first year, incoming, international students enrolled in UTSC’s Green Path program, where English is an additional language. For Summer 2025, CTLA02 will be delivered in-person and online with both lecture and practicum components. The course supports Academic English, critical thinking, and writing skills development through assignments, group work, and weekly readings, media, quizzes, and journal writing. Practicum sessions complement course content, offering academic skills development while fostering communication, engagement and social presence. The course emphasizes intercultural perspectives in academic contexts, encouraging students to explore and learn from diverse cultural viewpoints.

For a full course description see:

https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/greenpath-china/academic-course-ctla02h3

Note: In the Summer session, there is no enrolment limit.

Estimated Enrolment: 230

Size of Appointment: up to 75 hours per practicum

Salary: $52.26 per hour + vacation pay

Minimum Qualifications:

A minimum Master’s degree in a relevant field; a minimum of 3 years of experience teaching at a university; demonstrated experience and success understanding and supporting international student experience; demonstrated, relevant experience teaching academic writing, introductory courses, transitional courses or workshops; demonstrated experience teaching/supporting the development of critical thinking and academic communication skills for first-year students who have significant English for Academic Purposes needs; excellent practicum planning, pedagogical and facilitation skills; demonstrated ability to produce quality pedagogical materials and activities that adhere to best practices for anti-racist and decolonizing pedagogies for in-person and/or online teaching contexts and related practicum activities for in-person environments; excellent communication and motivational skills, and ability to engage students; a high level of organizational and time management skills in order to manage discussions, practicum activities, and provide timely, formative feedback on a high volume of writing and assignments; demonstrated superior skills in providing quality formative feedback on writing and research assignments in a timely manner; a demonstrated ability and experience using Canvas (Quercus).

Preferred Qualifications:

Relevant experience teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP) , providing one-on-one writing support, and teaching university courses with significant writing instruction component. Experience in developing and facilitating activities that enhance academic writing, critical thinking, and intercultural communication would be highly valued. Familiarity with supporting students in diverse cultural contexts is an asset. Additionally, proficiency in using web conferencing tools such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom to facilitate both in-person and online learning environments as well as experience with learning management systems (LMS) like Quercus, is preferred.

Relevant Criterion:

Previous experience is the more relevant criterion than the need to acquire experience in respect of this posted position.

Description of Duties:

Responsible for up to a maximum of three (3) separate practicum sections, of approximately 20 students per practicum. Prepare for eight (8) weekly practicums by contributing to material development and/or by reviewing materials provided.  Weekly practicums to be held.

Sessional Instruction Assistants will be expected to teach both online and in-person sections. SIAs are required to attend in-person paid training prior to the start of classes and attend weekly one-hour team meetings via Zoom; grade projects, assignments, tests, midterms and exams as needed; respond to weekly student writing, monitor discussion boards, participate in benchmarking sessions as required; assist students with assignment development, including supporting students in using online applications as needed; conduct assessments in accordance with criteria specified; provide supportive, formative written and oral feedback and guidance that fosters students critical and reflective thinking skills, cultural and linguistic awareness, and academic communication skills development. One weekly in-person Office Hour to be arranged. SIAs will be expected to assist with invigilation of midterm and final exam on the dates specified below.

Appointment Dates: June 2, 2025 - August 22, 2025 Mandatory Paid Training: To be arranged
Practicum Dates: June 12 – July 31, 2025
Weekly Practicum Times (In-person): Thursdays, 1:00 - 2:00pm, 2:00 - 3:00pm, and 3:00 and 4:00pm (up to 11 sections in-person).
Weekly Practicum Times (Online): Fridays, 8:00am - 9:00am EST (one section online)

Office Hours (In-person): To be arranged.
Midterm (In-person): Thursday, July 10, 2025, 5:00-7:00pm

Final Exam (In-person): August 7, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00pm

Application instructions: (DO NOT APPLY ON THIS CUPE 3902 UNIT 3, POSTING SITE. WE HAVE NO ACCESS TO APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON THIS POSTING BOARD.  PLEASE FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS BELOW)

Apply on UTSC's CUPE HIRING Application Site  https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/webapps/cupehiring/dept/ctl/app/sia (For first time users, you must create an account).

Application Requirements:
1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae or Resume
3. CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Application Form (available online at https://uoft.me/CUPE-3902-Unit-3-Application-Form)
4. One sample Teaching Materials for an activity related to the development of academic writing or critical thinking

5. An example of feedback provided on a student's reflective writing
6. Names and contact information of three references
 

CAUTION: This ad is “posted only” to the U of T CUPE 3902 Unit 3 job board. Please see the information directly above for the application instructions; applications submitted via the "Apply Now" button on this page will NOT be considered for this position.

Closing Date: 04/16/2025, 11:59PM EDT
**

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement. 

It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.  

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.

*All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.