Department of English

Marju Toomsalu
B.A. Tartu University, Estonia
M.A. OISE/University of Toronto
EAL/ESL  Programs Director

Office: JOR 1014
Phone: 416-979-5000 ext 4196
E-mail: mtoomsal@ryerson.ca

Having grown up in a minority language setting and  learning other languages early on was definitely a factor in Marju's specialization in second language teaching and testing and sociology of language. Before coming to Ryerson in 1997, Marju taught in undergraduate and graduate programs in Estonia, the USA and Canada. Marju works closely with the School of Continuing Education in the development, implementation, and expansion of programming for Internationally Educated Professionals. She also oversees the administration and development of the ESL Certificate Program in the R. Chang School of Continuing Education and is responsible for the academic aspect of the Ryerson Test of English Proficiency. Her responsibilities in the Faculty of Arts include developing and administering diagnostic tests for the purposes of placement of students in EAL/ESL courses and programs. Working together with other EAL professional at the university, Marju strives to ensure that our second and additional-language students are appropriately assessed for their levels of proficiency and that our programs provide them with the academic support they require to succeed. Her research interests include language testing, second language teaching and learning and sociology of language.