ESL Support for Smaller Providers
A Presentation Summary from Enriching Our Environment – ATESL Conference 2007
Dawn Seabrook de Vargas
Over the past six years NorQuest College has provided ESL guidance, support and professional development to communities outside of Edmonton and Calgary through an on-going project called Rural Routes. Rural Routes provides as needed (in-time), appropriate, readily accessible support to smaller communities in serving their English as a Second Language clients. Funding for this work has come from Alberta Advanced Education and Technology as well as from Alberta Employment and Immigration .
The purpose of this innovative project has been to increase ESL delivery capacity and effectiveness in rural Alberta communities. Some of the activities this project has provided include:
- Mentoring
- Workshops
- Newsletters
- Resource development
- Supported pilot projects
The work of the Rural Routes initiative is carried out by two ESL consultants who work with smaller communities to help them identify their needs and develop suitable responses to the need. They often act as a sounding board for a new idea, a guide for developing a plan and support for the implementation. The consultants are responsive and able to research and provide tailor made solutions.
Through this project several resources have been developed to enhance ESL programming in Alberta communities.
ESL Resource Package for Alberta Communities (ERPAC) - This resource provides background information for newcomers to ESL instruction. It includes a curriculum based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks, informal assessment tools and strategies and techniques and resources for delivery.
Access this resource at http://www.norquest.ca/corporate/edresources/index.htm.
A Needs Assessment Tool for ESL Programming – This resource provides a guide for conducting a community needs assessment to identify ESL needs as well as sample tools to use in the process.
Access this resource at http://www.norquest.ca/corporate/edresources/index.htm.
Online Professional Development Workshops
- One-On-One Instruction
- Teaching Pronunciation
- Teaching Strategies
These three workshops, available in an online format, offer a professional development solution to communities which cannot always access training.
Access this resource at http://webct.edu.norquest.ca/public/eslworkshop.
ESL Rural Routes Newsletters – To date, three newsletters have been developed. They offer pertinent ESL information that includes teaching techniques, announcements about upcoming events, resources that support effective instruction and news about what's happening across the province.
Access this resource at http://www.norquest.ca/corporate/edresources/index.htm.
ESL Lessons – A Mini-Curriculum Based on ERPAC – This is a set of 10 lesson plans, at both CLB 2 and 4, which follow the themes and grammar provided in ERPAC. When the pilot delivery is complete, they will be available on the NorQuest website.
Published Workshops
- ESL Literacy
- Introduction to ESL Resource Package (ERPAC)
Two workshops include a facilitator’s guide, power point slides and handouts that coordinators can use to introduce their instructors and tutors to teaching ESL. This resource is still being piloted.
That the Rural Routes initiative is a welcome service is evidenced by how it has expanded over the years. Access to the mentoring service alone has increased from 8 pilot communities in the first year to 40 communities last year. Coordinators of ESL programs have expressed appreciation for the support they have been able to access. This service was “not valuable – (it was) priceless!” and coordinators “use this service again and again! It was very valuable!”
Communities’ needs are constantly evolving. This project has been very responsive to supporting and anticipating change. Some communities are just beginning to initiate ESL programming because of increased numbers of immigrants moving into the community. Others who have traditionally offered ESL instruction one-on-one are seeing a need, not only to recruit and train new volunteers, but to also set up classes. Other communities now have well established on-going ESL programs and an established group of instructors. They are now looking at more targeted support in needs such as customizing curriculum.
Up to now the project has largely focused on providing support to the 83 Community Adult Learning Councils and 72 Volunteer Tutor Adult Learning Programs throughout Alberta. However, it has become evident that there is need in other ESL training organizations as well. These organizations are located both in rural communities and the larger urban centres of Edmonton and Calgary. Many of them have similar needs for professional development and support for providing ESL instruction. Consequently the service is now expanding to include smaller urban ESL providers.
For additional information on the project contact Dawn Seabrook de Vargas by e-mail: or phone: 780 479-2521