YMCA Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Services Issue # 16 November 2013 www.ymcaimmigrantservices.ca Tel: 519-579-9622 Kitchener Hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:30am 4:30pm Tuesday: 8:30am 8:30pm Friday: 8:30am 12:00pm Cambridge Hours Monday: 8:30am 4:30pm Thursday: 12:30pm 8:30pm The months of September and October are busy ones at the Assessment Centre. Many clients come and see us seeking to start a new semester of English language classes, such as those offered by ESL and LINC programs. In the middle of October, one of our assessors had the pleasure of meeting a woman who was in the CLARS Centre accompanying her new, young daughter-in-law to her English assessment. The assessment is used to determine which Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) our clients have achieved in the areas of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. Benchmarks range from Literacy (pre-1) to 10. The daughter-in-law wanted an assessment and referral to language training options in the community that were best suited to her proficiency level. Hajar Soltani, the woman who accompanied her daughter-in-law, shared her own impressive story with the assessor. Hajar continues to be a student in a Level 7 ESL class. She and her children came to Canada 10 years ago as refugees from Afghanistan. She started an English language program as a LINC Literacy student. She has now completed her Grade 12 math credit and she wants to continue on to college training. This remarkable, positive woman is now a Canadian citizen, as are her five children. One of her sons is successfully self-employed in Calgary. A second son is employed locally with an IT company. A son and daughter are attending Conestoga College. Her youngest daughter is finishing high school this year. Hajar was only too happy to share her successes and enthusiastically start her daughter-in-law on her own path to English language acquisition. She is proud to be a Canadian and she inspires those around her to feel the same. We are so pleased to help people as they begin this journey. For more information about language assessment, please visit ymcaimmigrantservices.ca or call us at (519) 579-9622.
Conestoga College LINC Program Enhanced Language Training (ELT) for Internationally Trained Engineering Professionals The Conestoga College LINC program offers English classes for adult newcomers who wish to improve their language skills for life, work and further learning. Morning and afternoon classes are open for all levels from Literacy to CLB Level 8. Conestoga LINC classes are skills-based to provide learners with the opportunity to improve overall communication skills in a focused way. Locations: Cambridge: 150 Main Street, 1 st Floor Kitchener: 800 King Street West, 3 rd Floor Waterloo: 145 Lincoln Road, 2 nd Floor Child Care: Cambridge Campus Age Accepted: 24 months 5 years Waterloo Campus Age Accepted: 6 months 6 ½ years Eligibility: Must be landed immigrant, permanent resident or a convention refugee to Canada. Cost: Free to eligible clients For more information, please contact: Kitchener: 519-886-3300 Waterloo: 519-886-6749 Cambridge: 519-740-8797 or visit www.conestogac.on.ca To book an assessment, please contact: Kitchener: 519-579-9622 ext. 256 Cambridge: 519-621-1621 ext. 254 Read on to learn about another language training option offered through Conestoga College. Recently Simone Ren, Outreach Worker for Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Services had an opportunity to sit down with Mary Chivers-Harkins (pictured above), the Advisor for Internationally Trained Immigrants (ITI) at Conestoga College to learn more about the ELT program. Here is what Simone discovered. Why should students choose this program? This program has many excellent features, including: no cost to participate (Sponsored by Citizenship and Immigration Canada) 16 weeks of Enhanced Language Training Project Management Course two evenings per week mentoring by an Engineering/IT professional opportunity for job shadowing/work experience placement. What are the Program Eligibility Requirements? must be a Permanent Resident or Protected Persons Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) scores of at least 6 in all four skill areas must have proof of a university degree or a college diploma obtained internationally in Engineering or IT people who meet the eligibility are invited to register for an information session, and then come for an interview to determine if they are a good fit for the program Who should be contacted for more information or to register? Mary Chivers-Harkins, Advisor for ITI Conestoga Career Centre, Unit 5, 285 Weber Street North, Waterloo Phone: 519-748-5220 ext. 2438 Email: mchivers-harkins@conestogac.on.ca
St. Louis LINC Program The St. Louis LINC program is one of the largest free English language class providers for permanent residents 18 years of age and older in Waterloo Region. Our excellent reputation for English language training, quality child care and convenient locations in Kitchener makes the St. Louis LINC program a popular choice among newcomers. Classes that are offered range from Literacy level to CLB 8. Classes focus on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing and the Nationwide LINC curriculum guidelines. Transportation assistance is provided to eligible clients. Fall Registration began on Tuesday, August 27 June 26, 2014 (ongoing). Locations: Kitchener, St. Louis Main Campus: 80 Young Street Kitchener, St. Francis Campus: 154 Gatewood Road (corner of Blueridge Road West and Queen s Blvd.) Child Care: St. Louis Main Campus Age Accepted: 6 months 5 years St. Francis Campus Age Accepted: 19 months 5 years Eligibility: Must be landed immigrant, permanent resident or a convention refugee to Canada. Cost: Free to eligible clients For more information please contact: St. Louis Main Campus: 519-745-1201 ext. 224 St Francis Campus: 519-745-1201 ext. 400 or visit http://stlouis.wcdsb.ca To book an assessment, please contact: Kitchener: 519-579-9622 ext. 256 Cambridge: 519-621-1621 ext. 254 Eleonora (right) with her English teacher (left). Life is such an unpredictable thing that nobody knows where he/she can be tomorrow. This is what happened to me. My name is Eleonora Rud. I am from Ukraine. I could never imagine that one day life s circumstances would bring me to Canada. This big and amazing country with varieties of cultures causes a lot of confusion for me. I will never forget my first day when I came to St. Louis. It was a rainy day on February 14, 2011. Everything was so new that I got lost and went to the wrong campus. It was scary to speak with anyone, so I just escaped to my apartment. Also, I thought I would never go back out ever again. I knew English a little bit because I listened to a lot of English music and memorized words and grammar from it. However, I had no idea that it was not proper language. In LINC class I learned many really interesting things about Canada. My first teacher was Karen, and her class helped me to survive in Canada, as well as to find my place here. She covers topics that are an essential part in starting a new life in this country. Moreover, I became better in English grammar that caused me a lot of misunderstanding before. LINC class was a strong foundation in order to get high school credits that I have recently finished with a high score. In addition, I was able to apply for college by myself and be accepted to the program that I want. I feel more comfortable in everything that I am doing now than I did two years ago. LINC made my life fulfilled. I became an independent person with high self-esteem, which is important for successful life in Canada. Finally, I realized that this country is my home now. Newcomers are very lucky to have a LINC program with the best teachers in it. I am very grateful that my Canadian journey began in St. Louis. *Please see the following for St Louis s very own LINC Success Story.
English at First LINC Program We are a school, which offers English Language Instruction to Newcomers to Canada (LINC). Our school started at this site in September of 1990. This is a program offered free of charge to our students, which provides high quality child care free to those who need it. Transportation assistance is also available for those who qualify. The school is an incorporated registered charity formed for the purpose of assisting newcomers to Canada and is run by a community Board of Directors. The Board is contracted and funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to provide Literacy to Level 4 English instruction using the LINC program. In our program we work very hard to identify the needs of our students and to help them integrate into Canadian society. We provide a nonthreatening atmosphere where learners feel free to come to us with sensitive issues. Referrals are made to appropriate community supporting organizations or professionals as required. We offer continuous enrollment from the beginning of September to the end of the school year in June, with a break in December and March. Locations: Waterloo, First United Church (basement): 16 William Street West (on main bus route #7, as well as route #5) Child Care: English at First Age Accepted: 6 months 6 years (changes September 2014) Contact: Maria Milne - 519-571-0360 English at First Student Profiles Recently YMCA Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Services touched base with three students from English at First. It was a pleasure to get to know them better and find out why they chose to come to Kitchener-Waterloo. Learning Goal: Improving speaking and reading. Why K-W: Because KW provides a great education system for my children; it is also a safe choice for my family. Student: Winalai Saechoy Country: Thailand Native Language: Thai Student: Rose Diko Mango Country: South Sudan Native Language: KuKu Learning Goal: Employment and also reach up to CLB 6! Why K-W: For me Kitchener and Waterloo is a very clean city. I love walking in the parks, they all are very clean. Eligibility: Must be landed immigrant, permanent resident or a convention refugee to Canada. All clients must be assessed by the Language Assessment Centre before registering. Student: Merajuddin Ghulam Country: Afghanistan Native Language: Dari Cost: Free to Eligible Clients For more information please contact: English at First: 519-571-0360 or visit www.englishatfirst.com Learning Goal: Be able to speak and read more fluently. Why K-W: It is a quiet and clean city; very easy life style and the people are very friendly.
St. Louis ESL Program St Louis provides ESL classes for newcomers to Canada, as well as Canadian citizens. All courses are based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Child-minding is available in Kitchener and Cambridge locations. Registration is ongoing. Summer School registration starts May 26, 2014. Locations: Kitchener, St. Louis Main Campus: 80 Young Street Kitchener, St. Mary s Campus: 77 Young Street Kitchener, St. Francis Campus: 154 Gatewood Road Kitchener, Resurrection CSS: 455 University Avenue West Waterloo, Emmanuel United Church: 22 Bridgeport Road West Cambridge, St. Louis Campus: 82 Beverly Street Cambridge, David Durward Centre: 62 Dickson Street Child Care: Cambridge Campus Age Accepted: 18 months 5 years Contact: Lisa Ceccomancini, 519-749-4869 ext. 516 St Mary s Campus Age Accepted: 24 months 5 years Contact: Lisa Erikson, 519-749-4870 ext. 281 *Fees apply Eligibility: Open to all immigrants. Visitors to Canada, please bring passport or VISA. St. Mary s Heritage Day On the 1 st of May this year, the students from St. Mary s ESL program gathered together for the Heritage Day celebration at the Parish Hall in Kitchener. Students marked this special celebration with traditional outfits, unique decorations, delicious home cooking and traditional music. It was a great opportunity for the students to share their culture with their teachers, visitors and each other. Cost: $10 from September June $5 for Summer School Visitors extra fees apply For more information, please contact: St. Louis at 519-745-1201 ext. 245 or visit http://stlouis.wcdsb.ca
LINC Class Schedule Conestoga College Kitchener, Waterloo & Cambridge Campus Mornings Afternoons Monday Friday Monday Friday 8:45am 11:45am 12:30pm 2:30pm *Literacy to CLB 8 *CLB 1-8 (Kitchener and Waterloo) *CLB 1-5 (Cambridge) St. Louis Main Campus & St. Francis Campus Mornings Monday Thursday 8:45am 11:45am Friday 9:45am 11:45am English at First First United Church Mornings Monday Friday 9:00am 12:00pm Afternoon Monday Thursday 12:30pm 3:00pm Friday 12:30pm 2:00pm Afternoons Monday Thursday 12:45pm 2:45pm Late Afternoons (Kitchener Campus) Monday Friday 3:00pm 5:00pm *CLB 3-6 *Kitchener Main Campus offers classes from CLB levels Literacy to Level 8. *St Francis Campus offers classes from CLB levels Literacy to Level 6. *English at First offers classes from CLB levels Literacy to level 4. *English at First DOES NOT offer any classes on Friday afternoons. For more information, please contact: Conestoga College St. Louis English at First Kitchener: 519-886-3300 Main: 519-745-1201 First United Church: Waterloo: 519-886-6749 St. Francis: 519-745-1201 519-571-0360 Cambridge: 519-740-8797
ESL Class Schedule St. Louis ESL St. Mary s Campus St. Francis Campus Emmanuel United Church Monday Friday Mornings: 8:45am 11:45am Afternoons: 12:30pm 3:00pm Cambridge Campus David Durward Centre Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:00pm 4:00pm Kitchener Main Campus Monday Thursday (ESL Computers) 4:00pm 6:00pm St. Mary s Campus Cambridge Campus St. Mary s Campus Resurrection CSS Monday & Wednesday 6:30pm 9:30pm Saturday 9:00am 12:00pm Saturday 9:30am 12:00pm For more information on ESL, please contact: St. Louis ESL Program 519-745-1201 YMCA Language Assessment and Referral Service Kitchener: 519-579-9622 ext. 256 Cambridge: 519-621-1621 ext.254
Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Services Assessments are done for a variety reasons, including connecting people with the best language training options available to them in the community. We use a holistic and client-centered approach. Yes, we assess English language proficiency, but we also take into consideration other factors, such as each client s learning goals, citizenship requirements, transportation and daycare needs. We use this information to refer clients to different programs, such as LINC, ESL, Home Study, Citizenship Classes and Conversation Circles. See the chart to find out more about where clients are going after they are assessed. Frequently Asked Questions: How much does an assessment cost? Assessments are free to Permanent Residents, Protected Persons and Canadian Citizens born outside of Canada. Others may also qualify. Please contact us at (519) 579-9622 to have your eligibility verified. How long does an assessment take? Assessments vary in length, but can take up to 3 hours to complete. Clients with young children should find alternate child care arrangements or book on our weekly child-friendly day. Where are assessments done? We offer assessments at 800 King Street West in Kitchener and at 258 Hespeler Road in Cambridge. How long are assessments valid? Assessment results are valid for up to one year. How are assessments booked? Call us at (519) 579-9622 and ask for language assessment. Please have your immigration documents available. YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo Immigrant Services www.ymcaimmigrantservices.ca Kitchener-Waterloo Office 800 King Street West, 3 rd Floor Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1E8 519-579-9622 Cambridge Office 258 Hespeler Road Cambridge, Ontario N1R 3H3 519-621-1621 School Settlement Office 77 Young Street, Room 101 Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4Y9 519-748-8220