TRANSITION TO LINC IN MANITOBA LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS TO CANADA

mea slo ! On September 16, 2014 Manitoba SPOs received a letter from Nita Jolly explaining the transition process to LINC MEALO can help SPOs to comply with the new requirements

QUICK LINC FACTS Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada The French language version is called CLIC (Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada) LINC and CLIC are offered in all Canadian provinces LINC is a brand name that describes settlement focused ESL classes Provides free basic French and English language courses to adult permanent residents

QUICK LINC FACTS LINC was created in Its mandate is to provide basic language instruction to adult newcomers in both official languages and to facilitate the settlement and integration of immigrants into Canadian society The LINC program originally included levels 1-3. In 1997 it expanded to include levels In August 2001, CIC contracted the Toronto Catholic District School Board to combine the the two existing curriculum guidelines and make them consistent with the new CLBs (Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000)

IS IT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE DO NOW? Probably not much different – settlement topics, “survival” English Central assessment and referral Uses the CLBs Uses the Portfolio Based Language Assessment (PBLA) Need to issue a certificate with CLB levels

EXAMPLE OF LINC CURRICULUM

WHERE TO FIND LINC RESOURCES

LINC PROGRAMS MUST...  Be preceded by a placement assessment based on the CLBs  Follow the NLPPG  Be based on the CLB Framework  Be guided by the LINC, or provincial CLB curriculum guidelines for newcomers  Be led by a qualified teacher ***  Be concluded with a CLB assessment

MINIMUM STANDARD FOR LINC TEACHERS *** CICs minimum standard for LINC Teachers is that “individuals delivering the training must be qualified, i.e. trained in Canada, to teach English as a second language.” Many Manitoba SPOs hire Teachers who have qualifications from a TESL Canada recognized institution. In Manitoba, TESL Canada recognizes the following TESL training institutions:  Assiniboine Community College  Providence University College & Seminary  University of Manitoba  University of Winnipeg

FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF TESL CANADA RECOGNIZED TESL TRAINING PROGRAMS –

OTHER Change from EAL to ESL Shift in interpretation of CLB based assessment results from use of “Beginning, Developing, Completing” to “Completed” Literacy Placement to only be done by WELARC not by individual SPOs

NLPPG Do Manitoba SPOs need to use the National Language Placement and Progression Guidelines under the LINC program? Yes. CIC developed the NLPPG for assessors, instructors and coordinators working in the context of CIC-funded language training programs to ensure a nationally consistent interpretation of CLB/NCLC results from placement tests, in-class assessments, and high- stakes tests. The NLPPG were established based on a consensus reached among language experts, practitioners and government representatives from across Canada on how CLB/NCLC-based language assessment results should be articulated and interpreted. The NLPPG apply in all jurisdictions where federally-funded settlement services are delivered. By November 1, 2014, all Manitoba SPOs are expected to use these guidelines. The NLPPG are available on Tutela at (English) or at (French).

NLPPG continued When transitioning to the NLPPG, how should Manitoba SPOs/teachers place or assess students who were previously placed or assessed based on the “working within” (beginning, developing and completed) interpretation? First, CLB/NCLC results assigned through a placement test or through an in-class assessment that was based on the ‘working within’ interpretation should not be modified retroactively. However, as Manitoba programs transition to the NLPPG, a teacher teaching a class focusing on CLB 3 competencies, for example, may have in her/his class: 1.Students with placement assessment results of L3 S3 R3 W3 who were placed (based on the ‘working within’ interpretation) in a class focusing on CLB 3 based on the NLPPG, this student is actually now ready to start working on CLB 4 competencies; 2.Students assessed by their last teacher at L3 S3 R3 W3 and who are placed (based on the ‘working within’ interpretation) in a class focusing on CLB 3; based on the NLPPG, these students need to complete CLB 3; 3.Students placed based on the NLPPG’s ‘completed’ interpretation of their L2 S2 R2 W2 placement assessment results, i.e. students ready to start working on CLB 3 competencies. In all these cases, the teacher’s aim will remain the same – to help students increase their language proficiency levels, whatever these are. At the end of the term, the teacher will assess the student’s language proficiency and assign, for each skill, the benchmarks for which the student will have achieved and demonstrated most or all (70-100%) of the competencies.

NEW LINC CERTIFICATE Why do CIC funded SPOs in Manitoba need to issue LINC certificates in addition to progress reports? LINC certificate is the only official certificate of achievement for LINC Needed as proof of language requirement for citizenship As of November 1, 2014, LINC certificates must be issued by Manitoba SPOs Progress reports are a good communication tool between teachers and students

NEW LINC CERTIFICATE

PBLA When will Portfolio-Based Language Assessment be implemented in Manitoba? January/February 2015 Training for Lead Teachers (1 LT per 10 classroom teachers, minimum of 1 LT per SPO) CCLB will co-ordinate the training More info?

HOW CAN MEALO HELP? Match administrators to share information Gather your questions and ask for answers from CIC, post and share information with all members Find out the answers to some things that are still unclear: What about ESP programs? Do we still have to issue a standardized progress report? Will our current foreign trained teachers be “grandfathered”?