An “Implementation Guide for Instructors” is included, as a PDF, with this curriculum. LINC 5 is designed to respond to the increasing numbers of immigrants who are entering Canada with higher levels of education and are testing at a CLB 5 level or higher. Despite their higher levels, these immigrants may still have skill gaps or language barriers that prevent them from entering a training program or post-secondary institution, or landing a job in their chosen field.
Bow Valley College (Alberta) has developed a series of graded audiobooks for Literacy learners, with seven levels to meet the different stages of reading development. Level A books present a single sentence per page and large images; Level G books contain images and paragraphs with more complex language and concepts. You will find two versions of each reader along with information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary. The Audio Book has a preview of the contents. The printable PDF has print settings beside each reader. There are a total of 40 audio books to choose from, with five to seven readers at each level.
Free access:
https://globalaccess.bowvalleycollege.ca/esl-literacy-readers#section-1264
Health and Wellbeing
ELLLO - English Listening Lesson Library Online. ELLLO has over 3,000 free listening lessons for all levels! Most lessons have audio or video, a transcript, vocab support and interactive quizzes.
The English Listening Lessons and Library Online (elllo) site offers audio and video lessons with some printable worksheets. There is a wide variety of topics, including job search, job offer, job ads, dream job. Non-CLB. Many Canadian references.
Free access:
This resource contains 4 modules on issues of workplace safety for newcomers, designed for blended learning and has an accompanying moodle class. It is not aligned with CLBs, but would be suitable for Stage 2 learners. An Alberta-based resource by AWES developed in 2017, the document has Alberta-specific references and may need adaptation. It is a well-developed resource that covers federal and local laws, protective equipment, hazards and hazardous materials information (WHMIS). It also covers intercultural competence, and power dynamics in the workplace, including how to refuse unsafe work. The language is clear and the text is easy to navigate. Lessons include video, case studies, pre-reading and vocabulary building activities.
An easy to navigate website is good for independent practice and can be used with children. Contains grammar, listening and reading activities from very easy to intermediate levels.
Listening Lab for students
This is a series of five videos produced by the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Four of the videos focus on the rights and responsibilities related to rental housing, the Human Rights Code and discrimination. The videos are at an intermediate language level; text and transcripts are provided. The fifth video is a review in quiz format.
The Learning English with CBC website is a project between CBC Edmonton and the Alberta government. The website contains interactive tools - a podcast, video news stories and interactive quizzes at CBL levels 4 and 6, which may be adapted for other levels. New content is posted weekly. The focus is on soft skills to support real world interactions, using local stories from Alberta with broad appeal. Learners can use the site with mobile devices or in school settings.
This listening activity playlist compiled by the University of Oregon's Centre for Applied Second Language Studies is ideal for independent learning for students both outside and inside the classroom. The YouTube videos consist of the following nine topics:
- Summarize What You Heard with A Friend;
- Research a Topic Before Listening ;
- During Listening: Document What You Understand ;
- After Listening: Listen Again and Again ;
- Familiarize Yourself with Sounds - Listen While Reading a Transcript ;
- Pay Attention to What you Know and Need to Know ;
- Slowing Down Online Videos ; Listening Strategy: Predict What You Will Hear ; and
- Connecting Sounds to Written Language .
While geared toward the language learner, the content of these videos is also a helpful refresher for teachers planning listening activity lessons.
The NFB website provides a large variety of Canadian films, documentaries, animation, plus an educational site with prepared lessons (suitable for higher level students). You'll find material covering Canadian culture, history, music, personal stories, famous musicians, etc.
Free access:
The Online Learner CLB Assessment is a tool that provides learners with a means to gauge their language proficiency by assessing reading and listening skills and assigning an unofficial CLB level. The tool creates an approximate benchmark range following the assessment. (The page also contains a breakdown of each CLB). The results are intended for personal information only. Teachers may find this tool useful as a classroom activity or an individual activity for a learner who is anxious to determine her/his progress in reading and listening. There is no cost for the assessment.
First launched in 2000, StoryPlace has been newly redesigned to present favourite stories and activities in a format compatible with desktop and mobile devices. The site also now includes early literacy information for parents and caregivers.
There is a large collection on Tutela relating to literacy. While the full collection has not been reviewed, it is an excellent starting point for developing literacy curriculum and assessment.
Topics:
- Literacy Tools and Templates
- Listening Assessments
- Speaking Assessments
- Reading Assessments
- Writing Assessments
- Literacy Goal Setting
- Module and Lesson Planning
- Literacy Webinars
Free to join. Free access nationally. Must register before accessing information. Search Tutela Collections.
Register at:
https://tutela.ca/
