Programs and Services for Immigrants

Education and Training Programs
Occupation-specific English as a Second Language Programs

The following colleges and institutes located in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba offer full-time and part-time occupation-specific English as a Second Language (ESL) programs that are designed to meet the language needs of intermediate to advanced ESL learners who have specific employment, academic and settlement goals.

British Columbia

Vancouver Community College, Vancouver
Professional and Career English (PACE) Department offers the following programs:

• Academic and Professional English – Self-Paced Program offers a flexible program for non-native English speakers with a professional background from their former countries who have professional and/or academic language acquisition goals and are motivated to work at their own pace through an individualized course of study.
• English for Health Sciences (ESL) course is designed for second language learners who are required to obtain Grade 12 English equivalency for entry to VCC's Health Sciences programs: Practical Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Lab Assistant, Hospital Unit coordinator, Dental Assisting/Reception, Dental Laboratory Technician, Denturist.
• English for Business and Customer Relations (ESL) is designed for second language learners who are presently employed, have previously worked or wish to pursue a career in business, technical occupations or customer relations.
• Combined Skills Programs provide opportunities for second language learners at intermediate and advanced levels of English to obtain career training/worksite experience with tailored ESL instruction. Students graduate with marketable job skills, effective communication skills and cultural competence for the workplace. Graduates earn a VCC certificate and are job ready.

All programs are full-time and taught by two instructors; a skills specialist and a qualified ESL teacher. The skills instructor develops theory and practical skills and the ESL instructor develops communications skills for training and employment. Students are prepared to conduct a successful job search. The following combined skills programs are offered at Vancouver Community College:

• Home Support/Resident Care Attendant/ESL
• Culinary Arts/ESL
• Hairstyling/ESL
• Baking and Pastry Arts/ESL
• Accounting/ESL

For additional information, please consult the PACE section of the Vancouver Community College web site.

Alberta

Bow Valley College, Calgary
Accounting Assistant – ESL Certificate
The Accounting Assistant ESL Program is a 44-week program designed for unemployed immigrants who wish to work in entry-level positions in the field of accounting but lack the language and occupational skills to do so. The program provides occupational as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) training. The ESL training will be customized to ensure you can effectively function in a Canadian workplace and handle the training textbooks and materials. The program provides both theory and practice of accounting principles, as well as computerized accounting software. Students learn how to set up, open and operate a complete set of books, including the preparation of financial statements. Core business skills such as general office procedures, Microsoft Word and Excel, and common accounting software programs are also covered.

For additional information, please consult the Accounting Assistant ESL Program section of the Bow Valley College web site.

Norquest College, Edmonton
ESL Trades
The ESL Trades Program is designed immigrants with training and experience helps participants to develop pre-trade skills, find work in a trade or occupation and qualify in a chosen field. In this program students also improve English and learn job search skills such as researching potential employers and writing a resume.

For additional information, please consult the ESL Trades section of the Norquest College web site.

Manitoba

Red River College, Winnipeg
English for Business Purposes is a program designed for students who have a background or interest in business. Students develop language skills that enable them to interact in a business environment or pursue further training. This advanced level program assists students in reading and understanding business materials, writing reports and developing business vocabulary. Oral skills are developed through classroom presentations and discussions. Information about business is provided through informational interviews, research assignments, business speakers, and a work experience component.

English for Health Care Aides is a program designed to assist students who require further language development to work in the health care field or to prepare for Health Care Aide training programs. This intermediate-level program helps students communicate effectively in daily, social and health care situations. Field trips, guest speakers, informational interviews and a volunteer work experience component assists students in gaining information about the health care aide field in Manitoba.

English for Nursing Purposes is a program designed to develop the specific language skills needed by students training in the nursing field. This intermediate-level program targets the vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and writing competencies that are commonly required in a nurse-training program. Particular attention is paid to improving students' competencies in interacting in social situations, giving and receiving information and instructions, using language persuasively and effectively to get things done and in constructing and understanding specific formats and texts in a nursing context. Field trips, guest speakers and informational interviews are provide an orientation to the nursing profession in Manitoba.

English for Nursing Refresher is a six-month program designed to provide students with the necessary English language competency to attain the English language proficiency required for registration and entry into the Registered Nurse Refresher program at Red River College. This program provides a cultural orientation to nursing in Canada through guest speakers, tours of healthcare facilities, test-taking preparation, specific nursing terminology and English language development in a nursing context.

English for Professional Purposes is a program designed to assist students who require further language training to prepare for academic programs at a university or college level. This advanced level program develops the academic writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills that are required to study in post-secondary programs.

English for Technical Purposes is a program designed to develop language skills for further training and employment opportunities in the technology field. This advanced level program assists students in reading and understanding technical materials, writing reports, and developing language specific to the technologies. Oral skills are developed through classroom instruction, presentations and discussions. Information about the field of technology is gained through informational interviews, research assignments, and guest speakers.

For additional information on the above programs, please consult the Red River College web site.

Career and Technical Programs

Colleges and institutes offer full-time and part-time career and technical programs in areas such as health, business, technology, trades, applied and creative arts, social services, tourism and hospitality, academic upgrading, university preparation and employment-related programs such as apprenticeship. Graduates from career and technical programs receive either a certificate or a diploma. Depending on the province, certificate programs typically require one to two years to complete on a full-time basis, and diploma programs require two to three years to complete on a full-time basis.

Career and technical programs provide interesting options for newcomers to Canada who are looking for training opportunities that facilitate entry into the Canadian labour market. These programs are very focused on preparing students for employment in specific professions or trades.

Colleges and institutes work closely with business and industry and

• use industry-based sources to develop the content of career and technical programs;
• offer cooperative and in-industry training programs, in which students study at the college and institute and then work in industry for alternate semesters;
• have general program operations reviewed by industry-based advisory committees which usually report to the college/institute's community-based Board of Governors (in most jurisdictions). Provincial/territorial governments give Boards responsibility for ensuring the relevance and quality of college/institute operations.

For examples of the types of programs offered by these institutions, please consult the ACCC online Programs Database, or go directly to college and institute websites.