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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release Jan. 18, 2010 |
Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
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SUCCESSFUL ESL TRAINING EXPANDED
VICTORIA – More immigrants and refugees in communities across British Columbia will have access to free English language training programs with this year’s $2-million investment in the English as a Second Language Settlement Assistance Program, announced Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.
“Developing strong English language skills is the best way for new British Columbians to fully participate in all the social and economic opportunities that our province has to offer”, said Stilwell. “We will continue working with our public post-secondary institutions and our community partners to ensure ESL training is available in communities across the province.”
The English as a Second Language Settlement Assistance Program (ESLSAP) is an innovative way to provide access to language training to recent immigrants and refugees in regional and more remote communities. Funding allows for a co-ordinator to recruit and provide standardized training to volunteer tutors and match those tutors with immigrants who want to improve their English language skills. Tutoring is focused on the learner’s goals and functional language skills that can vary from reading a menu to functioning successfully in a workplace.
The ESLSAP is delivered through WelcomeBC with federal settlement funding. The $2-million investment will enable 39 service providers to deliver tutoring services in 58 regional and remote communities and their surrounding areas.
“The ability to speak English or French is key to finding meaningful employment and successfully integrating into Canadian society,” said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. “The Government of Canada funds free and accessible language training for newcomers to help them succeed and contribute to building a prosperous Canada.”
This year, there are four new service providers in Saltspring Island, Chetwynd, Trail and Mission. Each will each receive $50,000 to deliver the program. The existing 35 service providers will each receive $40,000. Last year, 541 volunteer tutors across B.C. provided English language tutoring to 894 immigrant and refugee learners in regional and remote communities.
“This approach to ESL training has proven to be very effective for the learners, very rewarding for the volunteers and has a positive impact on communities”, said Stilwell. “I applaud the volunteer tutors who make a wonderful difference in the lives of newcomers in their communities and I applaud the learners who are taking on the daunting task of learning a new language.”
The ESLSAP is one
of the programs offered through WelcomeBC, the
Province’s strategic framework for immigrant settlement and integration
services and welcoming communities initiatives.
Since 2007, a total of $127.6 million in federal and provincial funding has been invested in ESL services for immigrants under WelcomeBC.
Information on
becoming an ESLSAP volunteer tutor can be found at:
www.mytrainingbc.ca/eslsap/recruitment/.
Information on WelcomeBC can be found at www.welcomebc.ca.
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A backgrounder follows.
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Media Contact:
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Craig MacBride Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 356-7882 250 213-1649 (cell)
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
BACKGROUNDER
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Jan. 18, 2010 |
Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
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ESL SETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – 2009-10
Community Adult Literacy Program
Community adult literacy funding supports programs all around the province delivered by community groups working with B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions. They offer one-on-one tutoring by trained volunteers, small group classes and other types of learning tailored to adults.
The program also provides adult ESL tutoring by trained volunteers, supported by federal settlement funding through WelcomeBC.
These programs are helping adult newcomers adapt to their lives in communities where there are too few immigrants to make regular classes practical. As a result, new immigrants and refugees will be able to participate fully in Canadian society more quickly.
Programs for 2009-10 are being funded in the following communities:
· 100 Mile House: Thompson Rivers University /Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy
· Abbotsford: University of the Fraser Valley / Abbotsford Community Services
· Agassiz/Harrison: Agassiz-Harrison Community Services
· Chilliwack: University of the Fraser Valley / Chilliwack Community Services
· Comox Valley: North Island College / Community Adult Literacy and Learning Society
· Fort St. James: College of New Caledonia / CNC – Ft. St. James Campus
· Hope: University of the Fraser Valley / New Page Human Services
· Kamloops: Thompson Rivers University /Kamloops Immigrant Services
· Keremeos: Okanagan College / Okanagan Similkameen Learning Centre
· Osoyoos: Okanagan College
· Parksville - Oceanside: Vancouver Island University
· Revelstoke: Okanagan College
· Salmon Arm: Okanagan College
· Saltspring Island: Camosun College / Saltspring Literacy Society
· Sechelt – Sunshine Coast: Capilano University
· Squamish: Capilano University
· Whistler: Capilano University
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Media Contact:
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Craig MacBride Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 356-7882 250 213-1649 (cell)
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
