Welcome to ATESL

The Alberta Teachers of English as a Second Language (ATESL) is a professional organization that promotes the highest standards of teaching and English language program provision for all learners in Alberta whose first language is other than English.

ATESL 2025 Conference - Teaching Forward: Reimagine, Connect, Empower

The 2025 ATESL Conference Managers, Desiree Pomerleau and Reyhaneh Ghadir Zadeh, are thrilled to announce the ATESL 2025 Conference theme, logo, and Call for Proposals!

ATESL 2025 Online - Teaching Forward: Reimagine, Connect, Empower is taking place on Friday October 17 & Saturday October 18.

Registration is now open!

The Call for Proposals is open until Friday, July 11.

Share your knowledge and your expertise with your colleagues and friends.

Watch the website, your emails, and ATESL's social media for many more exciting conference announcments.

ATESL Symposium 2025 - Infinite Paths: EAL for a Transformed World

Thank you to all attendees of the 2025 Symposium! - Infinite Paths: EAL for a Transformed World!

Thanks to your participation and excitement, it was a great event!

We would also like to extend a big thank you to the Symposium Managers, Janet Kwong and Elina Stop, their organizing committee, and the University of Alberta English Language School for their support and facility donation!

Please email us if you have any questions at symposium@atesl.ca

ATESL Information Regarding Program Closures and Cuts

ATESL wants to ensure that we are providing information for our colleagues and learners.

Full program closures have so far occurred at several institutions, and program cuts are greatly reducing staff and classes - affecting a large number of learners across the province. These cuts are imminent and will be ongoing.

We would like to share a message of action and hope with our members during this challenging time.

While it is true that ESL and settlement programs across Canada are facing unprecedented cuts with full closures already reported at Bow Valley College and Lethbridge Polytechnic, we must not let this moment lead to despair.

It is difficult to speak out when institutions are still negotiating funding and grants with IRCC, but silence cannot be our strategy.

The proposed elimination of Stage 2 programming within the next 18 months would further limit access to higher-level language instruction and workforce preparation, impacting thousands of newcomers and educators. We are actively gathering data to support advocacy efforts and encourage our members to stay engaged, informed, and united.

Together, we can continue to raise awareness, advocate for essential services, and support one another in protecting the future of English language instruction in Canada. We have compiled a list of news items regarding Alberta program closures below.

We would also like to share this initiative created by an ATESL member to address immediate concerns regarding the Bow Valley College closure. It includes links to a petition, and MLA letter/email template.

Stand up for ESL:

Website which includes links to petition, form letter etc:

https://standupforesl.ca/

Petition

https://www.change.org/p/reverse-the-closure-of-esl-programming-at-bow-valley-college?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=e7ec1510-0604-11f0-8015-f13725c37b1e

ATESL has compiled a document of news and information items from Alberta and across Canada. They can all be found in the PDF document attached.

Below are all news items regarding closures in Alberta:

Bow Valley College:

https://globalnews.ca/news/11033071/bow-valley-college-eliminating-language-instruction-for-newcomers-to-canada/

https://www.bowvalleycollege.ca/news/bow-valley-college-linc-program-update

Bow Valley College Closure/ Lethbridge Polytechnic- CTV news March 27:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/i-feel-so-sad-english-language-programs-cancelled-in-alberta-following-federal-funding-cuts/

CTV news video on YouTube

Language programming impacted by funding cuts

https://calgary.citynews.ca/video/2025/04/01/calgary-newcomers-speak-out-against-cuts-to-english-classes/

Lethbridge Polytechnic:

https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2025/01/24/lethbridge-polytechnic-closing-english-language-centre-unclear-if-other-programs-impacted/

https://calgaryherald.com/news/lethbridge-polytechnic-to-close-english-language-centre-at-end-of-june

The Lethbridge Herald

English Language Centre cut at Lethbridge Polytechnic

https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2025/01/24/english-language-centre-cut-at-lethbridge-polytechnic/

CBC Calgary

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6664314

ATESL Member Letter Regarding Funding Cuts

As many are likely aware, recent unexpected program closures, and Stage 2 funding cuts are having significant implications across the country. In early February, ATESL expressed its concerns to IRCC through an official letter. However, individuals may also choose to express their views personally by submitting their own letter.

To assist with this, TESL Ontario has kindly shared a template for their members, which has been adjusted by the ATESL Advocacy Committee, and approved by the Board to better align with our association's perspective.

Given that each of us is impacted in different ways, the urgency or importance of this matter may vary. We encourage members to be mindful of ongoing funding negotiations when considering the timing of their letters. Please note that this letter template is optional for members to personalize and use based on their individual preferences.

The following link provides assistance in finding Members of Parliament to whom letters can be addressed in every riding: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en

Please see a link to the template letter HERE

ATESL remains committed to offering continuous support to its members during these challenging times.

Please email the May Yeung or Irene Wood with any questions or concerns.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism: A CLB 3/4 Module

ATESL is thrilled to announce our newest resource - "Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism” module was created for use in the CLB 3/4 classroom to complete real-world tasks around the three key areas of Indigenization, Anti-Racism, and 2SLGBTQIA+.

Please utilize this valuable resource and share it with your colleagues.

The ATESL EDI/Anti-Racism development team gratefully acknowledges the support of the Alberta Government through the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant (MARG).

ATESL Member Benefits

Watch our ATESL Member Benefits video to find out more about what an ATESL membership can do for you.

ATESL Best Practices for Adult EAL and LINC Programming in Alberta is now available on the ATESL website!

We are excited to announce that ATESL Best Practices for Adult EAL and LINC Programming in Alberta is now available on the ATESL website!

https://www.atesl.ca/resources/best-practices-adult-eal-and-linc-programming-alberta/

Explore the website to check out the new inclusion sections (2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion, Anti-racism, Indigenization). As well, check out the new sections on Skills and Language for Work, Technology and Online Learning, and Supporting Learners with Diverse Learning Needs. In those sections, as well as in the Instruction, CLB & PBLA, and EAL Literacy sections, you can link to a curated list of resources for the classroom and PD resources.

We encourage you to use the online web version with descriptions of and links to resources, glosses, interactivity, and downloadable PDF, EPUB, Checklist, or read the document on Pressbooks

We also have a limited number of print copies available. Program coordinators can contact Irene Wood to request a print copy.

Please be sure to share this resource with your colleagues in the TESL/TEAL profession!

Peace & Joy in this holiday season, and a Happy New Year!

Sara Gnida - Best Practices Project Manager
and Herly Cervera - Best Practices Project Consultant

TESL Canada Certification

Just a reminder that all ATESL members are automatically TESL Canada members and that a portion of your ATESL fees go to pay your TESL Canada dues.

In addition to that, please note that the only national certification that ATESL currently endorses for our members is TESL Canada certification. You can find out more about TESL Canada certification here: https://www.tesl.ca/certification/tesl-canada-professional-certification.html
If you have any questions about certification please email ask@atesl.ca

ATESL Member Discounts

The ATESL Board has been working hard over the past year to secure discounts for our members at Alberta retailers and service providers.

Be sure to have your ATESL Membership card on hand at the following locations and keep checking back for more discounts.
https://www.atesl.ca/membership/member-discounts/

Online Learning Resources

A Google Drive folder was created during the early days of the pandemic in 2020 as a repository of valuable teaching resources, and a Google Doc which contains links to online learning tools and sessions.

This folder will remain available to our members for the forseeable future.

This is a strong and giving community, and together we can help one another and our learners.