72 Interested in Learning More? Instructor Profile Context In Bo’s Own Words Application of Technology Standards The Approach The three-day Digital Skills Bridging Program begins seven days before the start of a new language learning term. To accommodate specific learner needs, each program is offered to approximately 15 students at a particular language learning level – for instance, 1L (literacy level 1) or Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) 3-4. Day 1 is about understanding the basic terminology of digital devices, websites, web conferencing tools, and LMS navigation. On Day 2, students practice using the software that will be used in their LINC classroom. Day 3 is about program expectations, online and classroom etiquette, communicating with the instructor, viewing feedback from peers and instructors, and tracking personal progress. Instruction is the same at each language level, regardless of how “tech-savvy” some learners may be. For students with little online experience, the instructor and more experienced classmates give them the support they need. Today, the program is delivered in one of three modes: eight hours of in-class instruction for literacy, CLB 1-2 and CLB 3-4 learners; hybrid for some more advanced CLB 3-4 learners; and entirely online as a five-module self-paced course for CLB levels 5 and up. In-person support is provided for students at any level who encounter problems. Instructor Profile: Bo Ning’s journey as a language instructor began at Hunan University of Arts and Science (HUAS) in the south-central Chinese city of Changde. After graduating from HUAS with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Teaching in 2013, Bo’s interest in language instruction led him to Buffalo, New York, where he enrolled in a Masters program in Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at the University at Buffalo. In 2016, degree in hand, he returned to China to teach English to adult learners while polishing his skills in the online learning technologies introduced to him during his Master’s studies. Eager to return to North America, Bo moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 2018, where he applied successfully to teach in the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) LINC evening program. “English is my second language after Mandarin, so I see English language instruction from a different perspective from a native speaker,” Bo says. “I think that has been helpful in my TESOL career because my own experience helps me to understand the issues that people learning a new language face. When COVID forced instruction online, I was well placed to serve as a “digital navigator,” combining my technology skills and experience as an English language teacher and learner to help newcomers move online with confidence.” In recent years, Bo, who now lives in Mississauga, Ontario, has moved from the classroom into a new mentorship role with New Language Solutions. As Bo explains, “I now mentor instructors, giving them insights and practical advice on how to use technology to support language instruction.” One of Bo’s emerging areas of expertise is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to help students learn more autonomously while reducing administrative burden on instructors. CC-BY-NC-SA 2025 New Language Solutions Avenue Instructor Standards for Technology-Enhanced Language Learning, version 1.2
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