Introducing the English Pronunciation Course on Avenue.ca
Kevin Simpson, Sepideh Alavi and Ron Thomson delivered this webinar introducing Avenue’s new English Pronunciation Training course. This course was developed with the aim of helping learners of English overcome problems in their perception and production of English speech sounds. The potential users of the course are learners with different CLB levels, first languages, education, and a range of experiences using English as a second or foreign language. In addition to the Pronunciation Training course, a training module has been developed for instructors who wish to use the Pronunciation course in their class. This short training introduces instructors to the theoretical background used for the development of the course, and take a hands-on guided tour of the typical activities included in each module.
Professional Development in Integrating Technology for Settlement Language Training
Doctors Phil Hubbard and Greg Kessler have been leading international lights in the world of Technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) for many years. From their academic positions at Stanford University and Ohio University respectively, they have each contributed as teacher trainers and authors to the theory and practice of online and blended language training. New Language Solutions, Inc. was very pleased to offer this opportunity for Canadian settlement language training professionals to gain Phil and Greg’s insights into better practices. In this one-hour webinar, Greg discussed innovative uses of technology for student engagement. Phil took ‘a deeper dive’ into listening in the digital age, drawing from research and practice along with examples from his Stanford listening and vocabulary course. Teachers were introduced to tools and strategies to help their students work effectively with online listening experiences outside of class, and they were provided with a link to the Stanford course notes for further exploration.
Introducing MANSO’s Childcare Assistant EAL Curriculum (CLB 3-5)
This webinar explored the newly launched Childcare Assistant EAL Curriculum developed by the Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO). The curriculum was designed for newcomers at CLB 3, 4, and 5 who have different levels of interest in, and experience with, early childhood education as a career. The writers and developers of the materials, Stella Wang, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Eman Ghanem, Solomon College, and Linda Manimtim, Red River College Polytech walked us through a brief overview of the development of this EAL curriculum. Following this, they shared content from the curriculum, delving into the four topic areas, Getting a Job as a CCA, Performing Daily Tasks at a Childcare Centre, Workplace Communication, and Workplace Culture, allowing time for discussion and questions. The webinar concluded with a question and answer session.
H5P Writing Tools
This webinar introduces some new H5P activities and provides a step-by-step guide to using these tools and links to working examples. The tools include:
– Documentation tool which is used to create guided writing tasks with an export to Word feature.
Handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XbvZ5PqaDcG6lgalVomi5Knd2KI1IYQL/view
– Sort the Paragraphs is a simple visual tool used to set up drag the paragraphs into the correct order activities.
Handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yQY05BQE_mBUHwn1pHOhZ4CXTfeeYE_G/view
– Dictation tool which enables learners to listen and type words or sentences with scoring that you define.
Handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S_19UNTAYmPrqFj7t1idUsEWubiHxL_M/view
To use H5P on Avenue, it is recommended that teachers register for the LearnIT2teach Stage 3 training to have access to H5P help files and support from their mentors.
PBLA eUnits/Modules on Avenue
The following PBLA-compatible modules are available on Avenue. Teachers can request any of these modules through their mentor and preview them in the PBLA Sample Modules course (available on their Dashboard). Grocery Shopping (CLB 1L-2L)Dealing with Emergencies (CLB 1L-2L)Finding a Place to Live (CLB 1L-2L)Numbers (CLB 1L-2)Canadian Money (CLB 1L-2)A Calendar (CLB 1L-2)A Child’s Education […]
Avenue Solutions for Remote LINC Delivery Part 3
Siân Tudela is the PBLA Lead/LINC Coordinator at Vancouver Formosa Academy. In conversation with Avenue/LearnIT2teach team member Paul Carter, Siân talks about her contributions to the eLearning module and the teachers’ experience with online learning pre-pandemic and how things have changed today. Siân shares stories that will reverberate with many teachers in terms of the […]
Avenue Solutions for Remote LINC Delivery Part 2
Vesna Radivojevic is an Avenue/LearnIT2teach team member and the Coordinator/Assistant Department Head for the Vancouver Community College LINC program. In conversation with Avenue/LearnIT2teach team member Paul Carter, Vesna talks about the many contributions she made to the eLearning module and some of the challenges teachers faced with the pandemic and the rapid shift to online […]
Avenue Solutions for Remote LINC Delivery Part 1
MingJi Wang works with AMSSA’s Language Program Manager to provide supports for language programs funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in British Columbia, including online events, online training opportunities and info sheets. In conversation with Avenue/LearnIT2teach team member Paul Carter, MingJi talks about her own immigration experience, working with AMSSA, what AMSSA is […]
TESL Basics for Language Volunteers (TBLV)
What is TESL Basics for Language Volunteers (TBLV)? How do front line service providers put this seven unit online course to work locally or regionally? How does the partnership with the Avenue – LearnIT2teach Project work, and what does Avenue expect from partners? In this podcast Genevieve Spicer interviews Shabana Shahzad from the Centre for […]
The Effects of Blended Learning in LINC
What are the effects of LINC Blended Learning on learners, teachers and programs? Are there benefits or drawbacks? In September 2017 LearnIT2teach evaluators Jill Cummings, Matthias Sturm and Augusta Avram set out to gather evidence from field research at the LINC program of the Burnaby District School Board in the Lower Mainland of B.C. Three teachers, 45 learners, the program manager and a learning technology support instructor were followed over a ten-month period. Entrance and exit tests using the CELPIP tools were used to assess language gains. Interviews and surveys of participants provided additional qualitative and quantitative data.
2016-2017 LINC Program Impact Evaluation Report
Based on research and evaluation since project inception in 2010, this report summarizes results from two surveys of the implementation of learning technologies in LINC programs in Ontario and across Canada. There are plentiful examples across Canada of successful uptake by individual teachers and in some cases, entire programs. Surveys completed by training participants indicate 90%+ satisfaction with the training offered by the project.
Learning Technology Innovation Leadership
In addition to our four-stage blended learning teacher training, since 2015 the project has been developing, piloting and hosting online training for LINC managers or lead teachers. Our aim has been to encourage emerging learning technology leadership and build knowledge and awareness of blended learning opportunities and challenges facing local leaders.
