OCASI Executive Directors Forum

A1: Language Interpretation and Translation Services – Update on Changes and How They Will Affect Your Organization (English and French)

The Canada Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA) Consultation on the Settlement and Language Training Needs of Newcomers Report (2008) called for an improvement to the delivery of language interpretation and translation services (LITS) in the Ontario settlement sector. As part of its commitment to addressing this issue, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Ontario Region, carried out a Study of the Need for Language Interpretation and Translation Services (LITS) in the Delivery of Immigrant Settlement Programs in 2009 to look at best practices and identify specific areas for improvement. CIC is now implementing several of the recommendations that came out of this study. As part of this process, CIC Ontario Region has defined the boundaries within which settlement interpretation services will be reimbursed. A minimum standard of training for interpreters who are engaged by settlement agencies has also been established and a set of standards which will guide the work of interpreters working in the settlement sector has been identified. This seminar offers service providers an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming changes to the delivery of interpretation in CIC-funded programming. The session will give service providers an opportunity to ask questions and drill down into the implications of this policy change on the work that they do.

Elizabeth Kaminsky works in the Settlement Programs Unit of CIC – Ontario Region. She is the co-chair of the Language Interpretation and Translation Services (LITS) Steering Committee.

C1: Language Standards Promoting the Integration of Immigrants into the Francophone Communities of Canada (French)

Language Standards Promoting the Integration of Immigrants into the Francophone Communities of Canada (French with English Interpretation)
This workshop will present various applications of the Canadian standards used for describing, measuring and assessing the proficiency in French as a Second Language (FSL) of an immigrant who is based in the Francophone communities of Canada, outside Quebec. These standards are called the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). They are also found for English as a Second Language (ESL) under the name of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CBL). During this workshop, participants will:

• become familiar with the concept and the structure of the NCLC;
• understand the advantages of using them with the Francophone immigrant community settling in a minority environment in Canada;
• learn the various applications of this framework and its benefits, especially for administrators, teachers and learners;
• discover certain tools which were developed from the NCLC:

1. The Batterie de tests de classement (BTC-NCLC) which is a valid, reliable and standarized assessment instrument for the appropriate placement of newcomers and immigrants into FSL language training programs such as Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC), Cours de langue de niveau avancé (CLNA) or other programs.
2. Curriculum Guidelines for the CLIC program, levels 1 to 5 and 5 to 7, a teaching tool of FLS whose aim is to facilitate employability, continuous learning and the active participation of newcomers and immigrants in Canadian society.
3. CLIC en ligne: the online language course for immigrants (which has an English counterpart known as LINC online). This course was created from the Curriculum Guidelines and is aimed at learners who do not have access to courses held in classrooms.
4. Professional Development Workshops and NCLC Online Introductory Modules.
5. Occupational Language Analysis: a description of language competencies needed for success in a given occupation.
6. Checklist for help in creating a profile of Évaluation et reconnaissance des acquis (ÉRA). (The counterpart for ESL is known as a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Profile and Proof of Learning Checklist.

François Belisle was appointed as the executive director of the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) in 2009. He has extensive experience as the executive director of various pan-Canadian non-profit organizations in the field of education, notably the Royal Society of Canada, Skills/Compétences Canada and the Canadian Paraplegic Association. As part of his functions at Skills/Compétences Canada, he has established a series of national technical standards. Before joining the CCLB, he worked for the federal government. François is fluent in French, English and Spanish.

Élissa Beaulieu is the Program Manager for the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC), Mrs Beaulieu has nearly 10 years of experience in French as a second language for adults. After graduating from the University of Ottawa in Visual Arts and Psychology, Mrs Beaulieu became involved with teaching FSL and then managing projects and developing programs. Born in Northern Ontario, she understands well the issues linked to French communities in minority situations. It is with great pride that she works in helping these communities to maintain their rights and services.