Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks
UPDATE on CCLB Activities - October 2008
The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) has been working on a number of activities to support the use of the national standard, the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB), in Alberta.
Project Updates
National Consultation:
The CCLB has embarked on a national consultation on the CLB/NCLC. It will take two years to complete and aims to be a comprehensive scan of organizations, programs, groups and individuals who use the CLB/NCLC. Stakeholder groups in Alberta will be asked to express needs, gaps and desired next steps in terms of content, materials, tools and uses of the CLB/NCLC. They may also provide additional supports such as advice, consultation venues and partnerships. The overarching purpose of the consultation is to review the CLB 2000 and the NCLC 2006. In addition, the consultation will determine appropriate planning and action for the CCLB. This will enable the organization to pursue its leadership role in responding to the information and directions gleaned from this process. Regular communications will be circulated and posted on the CCLB website (www.language.ca) to inform stakeholders about information and consultation sessions, different means of participating (web surveys and discussion forums) and results. CCLB wants to hear from Albertans!
Training on CLB 5-10 Exit Assessment Tasks:
The CCLB has recently developed a training workshop for teachers on using the CLB 5-10 Exit Tasks. Pilots of the training session will be held in Edmonton and Calgary through mid October. The workshop will introduce ESL instructors to the new CCLB resource - Canadian Language Benchmarks 5-10 Exit Assessment Tasks. Participants will get an overview of Developing Learner Autonomy in the ESL Classroom Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks the materials along with practice in using the scoring tools to get accurate CLB reports of adult learners' speaking and writing proficiency. The resource covers all four skills and is suited to use in both general and specialized language training programs. Training workshops will take place throughout Alberta beginning in November for teachers currently teaching in CLB 5 – 10 in ESL, LINC and ELT programs. The workshops are being funded by Alberta Employment and Immigration. For more information on training opportunities, please contact jmckay@language.ca.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada funded the distribution of copies of the tool to all LINC and ELT programs across Canada. Provincially-funded ESL programs in Alberta have been sent copies as well, with funding from Alberta Employment and Immigration.
Essential Skills Initiative:
A project is underway that is funded by the Essential Skills Initiative, OLES, HRSDC. The project will support the development of three resources and tools that will provide various professionals with a better understanding of working with Essential Skills and CLB with adult newcomers. The first resource is a guidebook and a workshop for job analysts who create and work with national standards like Essential Skills Profiles and National Occupational Standards. The second resource is a guidebook and workshop for trainers who work with newcomers but who do not necessarily have ESL or ESL literacy training. The third resource is a guidebook, workshop and set of lesson plans for ESL practitioners. It is a starting point for building a foundation for Essential Skills, especially for lower CLB learners, with an additional focus on transferability of skills for learners with a number of occupational goals.
This will include a classroom diagnostic for teachers and twenty-five new sample lesson plans. For more information on this project and to find out where workshops will be held, contact cpepin@language.ca or mkayed@language.ca.
For further information about these projects and other available resources, please visit the CCLB website at www.language.ca or contact the CCLB at (613) 230-7729 or info@language.ca.