Future Directions in Language Training

37th TESL Ontario Conference Panel Discussion

December 11, 2009

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Outline

1. Immigrants in the recession

2. Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) goals and priorities

3. Current language training system in Ontario

4. Redesigning MCI’s language training program

• Goal

• Implementation

• Objectives

5. Future vision of adult language training

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Immigrants in the recession

• Pre-recession immigrants experiencing labour market challenges.

• At the peak of the recession impact, the unemployment rate for recent immigrants had doubled and was twice that of Canadian-born.

• Labour market recovery seems to have begun, yet immigrants are still experiencing disproportionately high unemployment rates.

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Ministry of Citizenship and Immigrationgoals and priority areas

• Priority areas:

1. Attraction Initiatives and Pre-arrival Services

2. Coordinated Settlement Services

3. A Comprehensive Language Training System

4. Labour Market Integration

5. Community and Employer Engagement

• Goals:

Support the economic success of immigrants and the economic growth of the province

Contribute to the development of a multicultural, diverse society of fully participating citizens

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Current language training system in Ontario

Provincial Programs

• Adult Non-Credit ESL/FSL/CL (MCI)

• Specialized Language Training (MCI)

• Bridge Training (MCI)

• Adult Credit ESL (MEDU)

• English Language Learners – K to 12 (MEDU)

• Literacy and Basic Skills (MTCU)

Federal Programs

• Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada

• Enhanced Language Training

• Occupation-specific Language Training

Delivering Agencies

• School boards (K-12 and Continuing Education)

• Community Organizations

• Colleges and Universities

• Private Institutions

• Independent Learning Centre (TVO)

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Navigating adult language training in Ontario

Where do I go?Where do I go?

How do I register?How do I register?

What is the right What is the right class for me?class for me?

LINC, ELT, OSLTLINC, ELT, OSLT

18 LINC18 LINCAssessmentAssessment

CentresCentres

I AM… I AM… Permanent Resident/Permanent Resident/Convention Refugee/ Convention Refugee/ Protected PersonProtected Person

I AM… I AM… Citizen/ Citizen/ Permanent Resident/Permanent Resident/Refugee Claimant/ Refugee Claimant/ Convention Refugee/ Convention Refugee/ Protected PersonProtected Person

Adult Non-CreditAdult Non-CreditAdult CreditAdult Credit

SLTSLTBridge TrainingBridge Training

In-class, In-class, Informal Informal

and Formal and Formal AssessmentAssessment

Language

Training

Classes

Post-secondary &Post-secondary &Private InstitutionsPrivate Institutions

Range of tests: Range of tests: TOEFL and TOEFL and

IELTSIELTS

I AM… I AM… Paying Paying StudentStudent

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Redesigning MCI’s language training program

Goal:

To ensure the provincial Adult Non-Credit English/French as a Second Language Training Program:

• is learner-focused and results-based;

• addresses the full spectrum of adult language training needs;

• aligns with provincial objectives for adult education; and

• is coordinated with federal language training programs.

Objectives:

1. Access to training

2. Program accountability and standards

3. Labour market language training

4. Coordination with the federal government

5. Funding and program design flexibility

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Implementation

• Will be phased in over 3 school years:

2009/10 School Year

Introduce program changes

2010/11 School Year

Continue implementation of program changes

2011/12 School Year

Complete implementation of program changes

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Objective 1:Access to training

Key initiatives / activities:

• Promoting language training

• Clarifying and expanding the eligibility criteria

• Facilitating learner transitions

• Ensuring there are no service gaps

www.ontarioimmigration.ca/adultlanguagetraining

Find a Language Class

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Objective 2: Program accountability and standards

Key initiatives / activities:

• Supporting professional development opportunities for instructors

• Aligning courses to the Canadian Language Benchmarks

• Introducing standardized curriculum guidelines

• Introducing a minimum instructor certification standard (considering TESL Ontario)

• Adopting the Average Enrolment Method as the single standard method to calculate Average Daily Enrolment and developing a reporting framework

• Establishing performance measures and an evaluation framework

• Introducing a Learner Feedback System

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A demographic profile of MCI learners

Characteristics of learners (mainly ESL) in the

provincial language training program as of Fall 2008:

• Female

• Post-secondary school graduate

• Between 30 and 44 years of age

• First language either Spanish or Chinese

• Born in China or Colombia

• Lived in Canada for 3 years or less

• Either a permanent resident or Canadian citizen

• Worked in a “white collar” job in their country of origin

• Not currently working

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Objective 3: Labour market language training

Key initiatives / activities:

• Continuing to support the Specialized Language Training Pilot Projects initiative

• Facilitating access to curriculum resources

• Supporting partnerships between school boards and employers

• Encouraging innovation

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Objective 4: Coordination with the federal government

Key initiatives / activities:

• Improving coordination with federal programs

• Coordinated language assessment and referral system

• Guidelines for the coordination of federal and provincial classes

• Developing provincial standards for learner promotion and transition

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Objective 5: Funding and program design flexibility

Key initiatives / activities:

• Increasing funding level in 2009/10

• Providing one-time funding grants to support Redesign activities

• Entering into multi-year agreements

• Exploring the development of specialized program criteria

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Future vision for adult language training system in Ontario

I am an adult who wants to learn English or French as a Second Language.

Where am I

going next?

• Post-secondary• Accreditation• Work• Other

LanguageTrainingClasses

• Adult Non-Credit • Specialized

Language Training• Bridge Training• LINC• ELT• OSLT

CoordinatedLanguage Training

System

Coordinated LanguageAssessment and Referral System