| January 18, 2010 PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HELPS NEWCOMERS WITH ENGLISH SKILLS ABBOTSFORD– A $40,000 investment will help new immigrants and refugees in Abbotsford improve their English language skills by giving them access to free one-on-one tutoring. “This latest round of funding builds on the many programs aimed at assisting our new residents and I believe it is an excellent support network for them,” says Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen. “This free program is a proven and effective way of helping to instil and build on useful language skills,” says Abbotsford West MLA Michael de Jong. “By taking a practical approach in teaching English, the students will have a much easier time learning, which helps them a great deal in settling into their new neighbourhoods.” Abbotsford Community Services in partnership with the University of the Fraser Valley will deliver the English as a Second Language Settlement Assistance Program (ESLSAP). The funding for the program allows for a coordinator to recruit and train volunteer tutors and match those tutors with community members who want to improve their English language skills. Trained volunteers will meet one on one with clients three to four hours weekly to upgrade language skills and familiarize learners with Canadian culture. Program content is individualized to meet the settlement needs and goals identified by the learner in a pre-program assessment. Settlement needs and goal are primarily those related to education and employment, but may also include broader areas to help learners acquire the knowledge they need to interact confidently with Canadians. Learning takes place in a variety of community locations depending on the community and the learner’s preference and needs. In some communities the local public library is the meeting place, while others may meet at a coffee shop, the recreation centre or the curling rink. The ESLSAP is delivered through WelcomeBC with federal settlement funding. This year an investment of $2 million will enable 39 service providers to deliver tutoring services in 58 regional and remote communities and their surrounding areas. Since 2007, a total of $127.6M in federal and provincial funding has been invested in ESL services for immigrants under WelcomeBC. Information on becoming an ESLSAP volunteer tutor can be found at: http://www.mytrainingbc.ca/eslsap/recruitment/ Information on WelcomeBC can be found at www.welcomebc.ca -30- | |
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