ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute OBJECTIVES You will understand: 1. The different government-funded programs for the delivery of English language instruction in Canada. 2. The government approach to English language instruction in the US, Australia, and the UK. You will be able to: 1. Compare and contrast the approaches to ESL programs within Canada and abroad.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE English as a Second Language (ESL) is the term used to refer to English language instruction that takes place within an English environment. ESL thus takes place in Canada, the US, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand for example. Within an ESL context, English language programs can be government-funded or they can be tuition-based, in which students pay fees for their instruction. Tuition-based instruction takes place at private language schools, colleges and universities. Private language schools are privately- owned, for-profit schools that provide language courses ranging in length from two weeks to one year. The students at private language schools are international students who want to learn English for academic or career purposes, or as part of an education-travel experience. These schools are generally located in large cities, although they are beginning to appear in smaller centres as demand increases. Colleges and universities offer English language programs that provide students with the skills they will need to succeed in post- secondary study. These programs are usually offered on a term basis, to follow the academic terms of the higher education system.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute Government-funded language instruction targets immigrants and refugees who have come to the English-speaking country to live on a permanent basis. The government-funded programs are an investment in the immigrants and refugees in order to prepare them to become productive members of society. As such, the programs focus on daily life survival skills, understanding how the country works, workplace language and occupation- specific language.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PROGRAMS IN CANADA The variety of government-funded English language programs available in Canada is considerable, and growing to meet the diverse needs of both immigrants and refugees. Just a decade ago, English language training options in Canada were much more limited and generally targeted learners with lower levels of English ability. This has changed as immigration trends have shifted and the needs of newcomers have become more sophisticated. Canada’s ‘point system’ for immigration means that well-educated immigrants, often with professional credentials from their home countries, need to attain high levels of English to work in their fields. In addition, immigrants may be required to obtain additional training and certification in order to meet Canadian standards and find employment. Refugees, although not subject to the point system, are also arriving in Canada with considerable experience in skilled trades and professions in some cases. Other refugees arrive here with very little education or language training and have simply come to escape persecution and the threat of death. English language programs funded by both the federal and provincial governments use the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) framework both to assess learners’ levels and measure progress. The CLB is a national system that measures learners’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing ability on a 12-point scale.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS TO CANADA (LINC) This program is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Successful refugee claimants (called Convention Refugees) and Permanent Residents are eligible for LINC. LINC began in 1992, offering classes at Levels 1-3. Over the years, LINC has expanded to include classes up to Level 7, as well as Literacy classes for newcomers who struggle with first language literacy. LINC classes follow a national curriculum based on settlement-related themes such as health, employment, and housing. LINC classes are offered through school boards, non-profit community agencies, and colleges.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute ESL This is a general term in the field of language teaching, but it is used to refer to provincially-funded language training in Canada. In Ontario, the provincial Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration funds these classes. Manitoba funds language training through the Ministry of Labour and Immigration. There are similar programs in the other provinces. ESL classes are generally free for refugee claimants, convention refugees, Permanent Residents, and Canadians (newcomers). An institution can generally set its own ESL curriculum. International students can attend ESL classes, but they must pay tuition.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute ENHANCED LANGUAGE TRAINING (ELT) This refers to a wide range of programs which offer advanced language training to facilitate entry into the labour market. Like LINC, ELT is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Often, ELT is job-specific and targeted to internationally- education professionals. ELT programs deal not only with language training, but also with key issues for newcomers including soft skills development, Canadian workplace culture, and credential assessment. Most ELT programs feature mentoring, internships, or bridge-to- work components. These programs are offered by community agencies, school boards, colleges, and other institutions.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute OCCUPATION SPECIFIC LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION (OSLT) OSLT is very similar to ELT. It offers advanced language training for specific professions and occupations. OSLT is usually funded at the provincial level, however. Like ELT, OSLT doesn’t just focus on language but also on soft skills development, workplace culture, and credentials assessment.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute BRIDGING PROGRAMS Bridging programs are lengthier and more focused than both ELT and OSLT. They contain a language instruction component but also have an academic upgrading component. Bridging programs are offered for high-demand professions and occupations such as engineering and nursing. Most bridging programs are offered through colleges and universities, because the programs will have access to the professors that offer regular programming in the professions that the programs target. Participants in bridging programs sometimes have to pay a small tuition fee, but the majority of the delivery costs are funded by the government. The challenge with government-funded ESL programs is the constant uncertainty of funding. With each new government, either federal or provincial, the attitude towards services for incoming immigrants shifts. The priorities assigned to attracting immigrants to the country also influence the funding allocated for language instruction. Funding cut-backs or the reallocation of funding for language instruction are regularly discussed and debated at all levels of government. Service providers either expand or retract their programs depending upon the outcomes of these discussions.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute GOVERNMENT FUNDED ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING IN OTHER COUNTRIES AUSTRALIA The Australian government, through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, provides ESL instruction to new arrivals through a program called the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). This program is for migrants (immigrants in Canada) and refugees who have been granted permanent status. It is only for those who speak little or no English, and immigrants can remain in the course until they achieve “functional English” or reach 510 hours of instruction, whichever comes first. Immigrants must register within three months of arriving in Australia or receiving Permanent Residence. Additional hours of instruction are available for immigrants with special needs, such as victims of torture, or those with limited educational experience. In Australia, refugees on Temporary Protection Visas (called Refugee Claimants in Canada), are not eligible for government-funded settlement or ESL programs. AMEP is offered throughout Australia in rural and urban areas. The majority of AMEP classes in Australia are offered through the TAFE system (Technical and Further Education) which is similar to the community college system in Canada. More information about the AMEP program can be found at australia/help-with-english/amep/.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute UNITED KINGDOM Government-funded English language instruction is called ESOL in the United Kingdom, or English for Speakers of Other Languages. The fully or partially subsidized instruction is offered through colleges of further education or FE. ESOL programs are currently the focus of political maneuvering; the funding for the courses is being trimmed in the UK, due to budget tightening initiatives as well as the perception on the part of the government that the subsidized language classes are being abused.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute UNITED STATES The federal government, through the U.S. Department of Education, provides funding for states to deliver adult ESL. The Department of Education also funds the Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA). CAELA helps states to develop their capacity to deliver language training by developing a library of resources including language acquisition research and curricula. CAELA also works to professionalize the field of ESL, including working towards credentialing and certification of ESL instructors. ESL funding also comes from state, and in some cases local, governments. Adult ESL courses are classified according to their purpose. Types of courses include survival English, citizenship ESL, vocational ESL, family literacy, and academic ESL. ESL is provided by community colleges, community-based organizations, and private educational institutions. Curricula and teacher qualifications are not standardized. ESL classes are offered at levels from Beginning ESL Literacy to High Advanced. Many ESL programs are divided into three areas:  Listening/Speaking  Reading/Writing  Functional/Workplace Skills

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute Complete task journal question 2 and submit via to (preferred), or print and hand in.