 Information for Adult EAL and settlement practitioners assisting newcomers in their settlement and integration in ManitobaWelcome to the second issue of Immigration NewsThis newsletter from the Manitoba government's Immigration Division follows on the positive feedback you gave after our first issue last spring. Immigration News keeps you up to date with the latest available immigration, Adult English as an Additional Language (EAL) and settlement information. The newsletter also provides an overview of employment and qualification recognition initiatives, learning opportunities and resources.What's going on in the Immigration DivisionPremier's mission to China and The PhilippinesPremier Greg Selinger, along with Manitoba community and business representatives, participated in an 11-day trade mission in September which included stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manila. The goals of the mission were to promote the province as a prime location for immigration and investment.As part of the mission, Premier Selinger announced a new initiative that will provide provincial nominees destined for Manitoba with pre-arrival settlement services. More information on the initiative can be found below in the Settlement Now section. The premier also announced changes to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) which will make it faster and easier for international students to apply to the MPNP and live and work in Manitoba as permanent residents. More information can be found in the Global Skills at Work section. Finally, the premier also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Philippines to continue a partnership that connects Filipino workers with potential employers, streamlines the immigration process and helps them prepare for a new life in Manitoba. As part of a nurses recruitment initiative under the initial MOU, 122 nurses came to Manitoba and are currently living and working in their new communities. To date, a total of 97 nurses have applied through the provincial nominee program to become permanent Manitoba residents and all of those processed under the program have been accepted. 2009 Manitoba Immigration Facts report releasedLabour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard released the annual statistical report on immigration, Oct. 6. The report illustrates our province's continued success in attracting and integrating newcomers to Manitoba. 2009 Manitoba Immigration Facts (PDF)Diversity Train the Trainers program to begin at the U of MA new intercultural and diversity training program will be offered at University of Manitoba - Continuing Education beginning this winter. The Train the Trainers program will provide learners with 130 hours of diversity and intercultural training. Those who complete the program may be eligible to be placed in a pool of diversity and intercultural trainers who will help businesses and organizations attract and retain talent, provide employees with tools to resolve difficult interactions that can stem from cultural misunderstandings and create an environment where all employees can contribute fully.The program is a partnership between Manitoba Labour and Immigration, which developed the curriculum and piloted the initial delivery of the program, and U of M Continuing Education, which will deliver the program. The program will prepare students to develop and deliver intercultural workshops for business and community organizations and will include topics such as the impact of culture on assumptions, values and conflict. Continuing Education also plans to offer the training program as part of its Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education program. To find out more about the program please contact Continuing Education. Immigration FactsDid you know?
New publication details Manitoba's demographic diversityManitoba Labour and Immigration and Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism are pleased to launch a new publication, The Ethnicity Series. This three-part series provides readers with essential, Manitoba-specific, demographic information.Based on Statistics Canada information, the series helps to capture the essence of Manitoba's diversity by outlining current trends in Manitoba's regions as well as Winnipeg's community areas. By having more detailed information about the makeup of Manitoba's communities, service providers and agencies we will be in a better position to plan and target their activities. Volume 1 presents the population by country of birth. It focuses on the foreign-born population and its recent, regional distribution across Manitoba and Winnipeg. Volume 2, to be released later this year, will present the mother tongues of Manitobans. Volume 3, will provide details about visible minority groups in Manitoba and will show the census responses about ethnic origins of Manitobans. In the NewsVisit the News page of immigratemanitoba.com for recent headlines that include an in-depth evaluation of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, expanded immigrant services in Winkler, and new efforts to assist Manitoba regulatory bodies in accrediting international professionals.Watch on YoutubeWatch videos about immigration, settlement, and teaching and learning English in Manitoba at the Youtube channel youtube.com/user/SettleManitoba.EAL SpotlightAccess English Centre at the Immigrant CentreLast summer, the new Access English Centre (AEC) at the Immigrant Centre saw a dramatic rise in enrolment. At the beginning of 2010, 10 conversation circles were running each week at the Immigrant Centre. During the month of August, the program grew to 45 conversation groups weekly.Each 1.5-hour session was facilitated by one of 39 energetic volunteers recruited by the program co-ordinator. The volunteers were so dedicated that some even agreed to facilitate more than one group. The program staff for the summer program stayed very busy co-ordinating student registration, maintaining student records, placing new students into the appropriate groups and visiting with volunteer facilitators to provide them with support. Program staff received excellent feedback from both volunteers and English language learners. One volunteer commented: "I cannot find the right words to express the amazing experience I've had throughout this summer volunteering at the AEC. From the facilities to the kindness and professionalism of its staff, I can see the passion you put into this program. A big thank you for all and for giving me the opportunity to help newcomers in a professional way." One student in a beginning level group commented: "I want to give thanks from my inner heart because you do a great job for us. We love you." The Access English Centre is now registering learners for the fall session. The AEC is open from Tuesday through Saturday, and conversation groups are offered 1 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Adult EAL learners may call 943-9969, extension 222, or visit the AEC in person to register. Learners participate in new iEnglish programLast summer, 48 participants from CLB 5 and higher participated in the new iEnglish program. The program, which was created and funded by the Immigration Division on a pilot basis, took place at the Millennium Library over seven weeks in July and August.The program empowers learners to learn English on their own by equipping them with a wide variety of learning strategies and orienting them to the many "real world" language tasks and activities they could do on their own outside the classroom. iEnglish involves the following three-part learning process:
By all accounts, the iEnglish program was very successful in motivating learners to take control of their own progress and to take their learning outside the classroom. Learners took advantage of new learning strategies, developed supportive social networks through classroom friendships and contacts, and learned from each others' experiences. Overall, the iEnglish learners became better prepared as self-directed, self-motivated learners who take the initiative, have a clear idea of what they want to learn, and plan for pursuing and achieving their goals. The Adult Language Training Branch is now in the process of adapting this independent online study model for wider application and as a supplemental resource to students in classroom programs. Look for further details on immigratemanitoba.com early next year. Manitoba: a model for portfolio assessmentOver the last few years, Manitoba's Collaborative Language Portfolio Assessment (CLPA) has garnered a lot of attention across Canada. British Columbia has indicated an interest in portfolio assessment based on Manitoba's model, as have Ontario and Saskatchewan.Several pan-Canadian studies carried out in 2008 and 2009 have also recommended that the federal government introduce language portfolio assessment for the federal LINC system based on Manitoba's CLPA. Last year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada began undertaking the development of what they are calling Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA) as a key aspect of their modernized approach to language assessment. It includes a standardized milestone achievement test at CLB 4 and at levels throughout Stage 2. Because of Manitoba's success and leadership on the file, Joanne Pettis of the Adult Language Training Branch was seconded by CIC to assist in the design of a portfolio approach to CLB-referenced language assessment. Key to Joanne's work in Ottawa was getting to know the teachers and the programs in which they work. She established an advisory group of seven Ottawa LINC teachers who helped her understand their teaching contexts, reviewed drafts of the PBLA Best Practices Guide and tried out PBLA with their students. Their insights were fundamental to the development of the PBLA Implementation Plan, which will be field-tested in Ottawa from September 2010 - the end of January 2012. In addition to the Best Practices Guide and other resources, the PBLA implementation plan includes a suite of professional development sessions, a cadre of lead teachers to support classroom teachers, and meeting time each term for teachers to discuss and compare assessments. Recently, Ontario, which also funds Adult EAL in the Ottawa area, has indicated they want to join in the field-test with their teachers beginning in January. Now back in Manitoba with the ALT Branch, Joanne is still carrying out some responsibilities for CIC, in particular professional development. She returned to Ottawa for several weeks in September to get LINC teachers in the field-test started on PBLA. Mary Jean Davis, from the Winnipeg School Division Adult EAL program is co-presenting a day-long session on PBLA. The prospect that an assessment model developed in Manitoba may transform the language training and assessment across Canada is a testament to the expertise of Manitoba's teachers and quality of adult EAL teaching Manitoba has attained throughout the province. Living English program wraps up for another yearThe Living English program recently completed its third successful year of summer Adult EAL programming. This year, the intensive, seven-week program offered classes in eight different levels. About 150 learners took part in the program and feedback from both teachers and learners was very positive.TEAL conferenceThis year's TEAL (Teachers of English as an Additional Language) Manitoba Conference is Friday, Oct. 22, 8:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute, 720 Alverstone St., Winnipeg. The theme of the conference is Celebrating the Right to Learn: Empowering Change and Taking Action in EAL Education. The keynote address will be presented by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.Please consult TEAL Manitoba for conference updates and registration information. EAL resourcesEnglish at Work Instructor HandbookThe handbook has been updated. It's not just for new instructors but for everyone teaching an English at Work class. The handbook includes information on EAW procedures, expectations, wage guidelines, form templates, and a large resource section containing instructor contributions. Employment and Hiring Information: A career resource for Adult EAL teachers in Manitoba This guide has been updated. It has complete information on Adult EAL workplaces funded by the Manitoba Immigrant Integration Program (MIIP) as well as notes about other Adult EAL-related work opportunities. The guide is for new EAL teachers as well as those looking for new or additional work. Teacher Handbook The 2010-11 edition will be available online in October. It contains information relevant to all Adult EAL teachers/instructors in Manitoba including news about programming changes, upcoming PD, a look at how MIIP supports newcomers to Manitoba and the role instructors play [logic model(s)]. Health and Safety 101 Flash Website and Downloadable Resources Safe Manitoba: Health and Safety 101 is an online resource with Flash videos and activities related to safety in the workplace. Resources created specifically for Adult EAL learners are also available for download and from the ALT Resource Collection. Water Safety Resource This resource has been created to aid integrating water safety information with additional language skill development into Adult EAL classrooms. Topics include swimming pools, beaches, winter rivers, and kitchen and bathrooms and includes plenty of ready-to-use activities. Resource Collection The ALT Branch has expanded its selection of resource publications available for Adult EAL teachers to sign out and borrow for free. New additions include:
Settlement NowNew pre-arrival settlement services to be available to Manitoba nomineesAs announced during Premier Greg Selinger's mission to China and The Philippines, Manitoba is partnering with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) on a pre-arrival initiative for provincial nominees destined for Manitoba.Manitoba has been working to increase labour market success for immigrants during their first year after arrival in the province. The pre-arrival initiative is an important step in this plan. The belief is that more informed and prepared immigrants are before they arrive, the more likely they are to succeed in Manitoba's labour market. To start, Manitoba nominees in The Philippines and China will be provided with pre-arrival orientation and labour market preparation services. The services will include the development of an integration and career plan, more Manitoba-specific information on the local labour market and guidance on qualifications recognition procedures. To this end, the Immigration Division's web team is co-operating with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to include Manitoba-specific information in the Working in Manitoba, Canada Tool. "WIC" is the national online platform for labour market information for both Canadians and people overseas who are interested in living and working in Canada. The web team is also working with CIC's Foreign Credentials Referral Office to improve the online delivery of Manitoba-specific pre-arrival information. These approaches will be available to all, and integrated into the ACCC delivery model. The pilot program will then be adapted for provincial nominees destined to other provincial jurisdictions as well as for Manitoba nominees in other parts of the world. Prior to arriving in Canada, nominees will also have access to Manitoba's successful English Online language school, which provides facilitated English language training using Manitoba specific scenarios. From their computers at home, learners can interact with Adult EAL teachers in Manitoba, who provide one-on-one guidance throughout the student's training. The ACCC initiative is to begin in November with approximately 40 Manitoba nominees. Welcome Place has movedWelcome Place has moved. Its new location is 521 Bannatyne Ave., Winnipeg. Phone: 977-1000.Workshops for francophonesAmicale de la Francophonie is hosting three workshops for French-speaking immigrants and refugees, service providers and community members. Sessions include intercultural communication, the path of refugees, and culture from around the world. The workshops take place Nov. 6, and Jan. 15 and Feb. 15, 2011. For more information on the workshops please contact Mamadou Ka at 233-0210.Interpreter trainingThe Integration Services Branch, settlement service providers and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority are developing guidelines to define interpreter scope of practice and associated training. The Community Interpreter Training Program, developed in conjunction with the WRHA, is being used as a foundation for interpreter training in Manitoba and will assist to build interpreter capacity. Training has also been offered in Brandon assisting to establish the Brandon Community Language Centre at Westman Immigrant Services. We look forward to ongoing collaboration on this important initiative.Occupational health community trainersThe Manitoba Federation of Labour Occupational Health Centre helps workers, employers and joint health and safety committees to improve workplace health and safety conditions and eliminate hazards. Over the last few years Manitoba Labour and Immigration has supported the development of a pool of community trainers from more than 10 cultural communities in Manitoba to increase their knowledge around workplace health and safety. Community trainers provide workshops and individual assistance in first language for workers. MFL has recruited 14 new participants for the fall Train the Trainer Program. MFL plans to work closely with the neighbourhood immigrant settlement workers to also offer workshops in neighbourhoods. The pool includes trainers from the Afghan, Punjabi, Burmese, Salvadoran, Chinese, Somali, Eritrean, Mexico, Colombian, Ethiopian, Sudanese, Filipino and Vietnamese, Karen and francophone communities.New curriculum for citizenship classesThe Immigration Division has supported Immigrant Centre to refresh the citizenship classes curriculum (for Canadian Language Benchmark 3 and higher) based on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's new Discover Canada booklet. The resource, which includes an instructional binder and CD, will be available to other settlement service providers across the province later this month.Settlement resourcesNeighbourhood Immigrant Settlement Worker (NISW) cards have been developed by the Immigration Division. The card shows the location of the neighbourhood workers throughout the city along with a summary of the services they provide.Career Destinations Manitoba cards are now available. They direct newcomers to immigrantsandcareers.mb.ca for advice from other immigrants who are working successfully in Manitoba. The second edition of the Resource Guide for Immigrant Women was recently printed. The guide, a joint initiative of the Immigration Division and Manitoba Status of Women, covers topics of interest to immigrant women, such as children, family life, health issues, education, laws in Manitoba and seniors. There are now cards available to let people know about the Manitoba Nominee Application Centre (NAC), which is located in the Immigrant Centre on Adelaide Street. NAC offers assistance to those who are completing MB Provincial Nominee Program (PN) application forms. The services are free. For more information or copies of these resources, contact Cynthia Stewart at 945 -0574 or Cynthia.Stewart@gov.mb.ca. Global Skills at WorkManitoba improving MPNP for international studentsManitoba is making changes to the provincial nominee program to make it easier for international students to live and work in the province after graduation. Starting next year, international graduates from a post-secondary educational program of at least two academic years at a Manitoba institution can apply to the provincial nominee program in advance of receiving an offer of employment. Previously, international graduates had to have been working for a Manitoba employer for at least six months before they could apply to the MPNP.International students applying to the MPNP will also enrol in an employment-readiness program upon completion of their studies. This will include job-readiness, career-coaching and job-matching services. Last year, 203 international students were accepted to the Provincial Nominee Program, three times more than in 2005. Manitoba had 5,384 international students studying at Manitoba institutions in 2009. Need more information?If you have any questions or comments, or would like to be added or removed from the newsletter distribution list, please e-mail Colin.Lemoine@gov.mb.ca. |
