Be a Bridge in Your Community
Training for tutors to provide English language support to adult immigrants and refugee newcomers living in BC communities
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ABOUT

What is ESLSAP?

English as a Second Language Settlement Assistance Program (ESLSAP) is a program that was created to provide English language support to adult immigrants and refugee newcomers living in B.C. communities. The program was offered from 2008 to 2014. In 2010, several online volunteer tutor training resources were developed to support the delivery of ESLSAP and were made available through Open School BC.

Although ESLSAP is no longer an operating program, settlement services and organizations continue to utilize volunteers to offer English language learning in an informal setting as part of their menu of services for immigrants and refugees. As such these rich online resource materials remain relevant and useful in the delivery of English language learning through volunteer tutors as we continue to make them available to everyone.

Being a volunteer tutor is rewarding. You’ll have the opportunity to:

  • Make a difference in someone’s life
  • Contribute to your community in a meaningful way
  • Learn about other cultures
  • Gain new insights into your own culture
  • Develop new friendships that might not be otherwise available to you
  • Obtain volunteer experience

Who can use this resource?

This resource is available to anyone, you don't need to have a teacher background, what’s most important is that you be open-minded and enthusiastic. Volunteer tutors are community members ages 19 and older, from all walks of life. Tutors work one-on-one with immigrants, helping them learn the English language.

What do tutors do?

Tutors plan lessons and tutor their learner on a regular basis, usually once or twice per week. Tutoring sessions might include informal conversations, games, outings and sharing social events. It's really up to the tutor and learner to decide what kinds of activities work best.

Do I need to know grammar?

Everyone already knows a language. The important thing is to work on communication skills to help each person become part of his/her community. Some simple grammar may be useful but is not necessary to the learner’s success.

ESLSAP TUTOR TRAINING

Explore this resource anytime, anywhere – you may work at your own pace. The four modules should take you approximately 1.5–2 hours to complete. Throughout the training, you will discover a variety of online activities, video and downloadable resources containing key concepts and valuable reference material for you to use in your tutoring sessions. We are confident that you will find your tutoring experience enriching and rewarding.

Resources

These resources were developed to support the training of volunteer tutors for the former English as a Second Language Settlement Assistance Program (ESLSLAP). They are intended for use within a face-to-face training environment, however we encourage you to use these resources and modify to best suit your own training needs.

  • The ESLSAP Coordinator Resource (PDF) provides information for individuals who are facilitating the face-to-face training for volunteer tutors.
  • The ESLSAP Tutor Companion (PDF) is a supplementary workbook used by participants in the face-to-face portion of volunteer tutor training.
  • The ESLSAP Video can be used in face-to-face training and are referenced throughout the ESLSAP Coordinator Resource.

ESLSAP Online Volunteer Tutor Training

Go to the training here.

The World Factbook

Also known as the Google CIA World Factbook, this site has facts and maps of most of the countries of the world. This could be a resource to use prior to meeting your learner or give you some ideas of visuals to use.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html#

British Columbia Newcomer’s Guide to Resources and Services

This booklet is a good source of general information for newcomers to BC. The booklet is written in simple English and also in the following languages: Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese. It covers a wide range of topics: orientation to BC, health care, money and banking, finding a place to live, finding a job, cars and driving, child care, education, citizenship, government, etc.
https://www.welcomebc.ca/getmedia/5a8fafac-0cfe-4c17-a795-3c20f7464c61/bc-newcomers-guide-english.pdf.aspx

Canadian Language Benchmarks

For more information on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB), go to:
http://www.language.ca/

Canadian Language Benchmarks Can Do statements

Download PDF here

Activity 3: Identifying Needs Video 1

Download Video for Activity 3: Identifying Needs Video 1 here.

Activity 3: Identifying Needs Video 2

Download Video for Activity 3: Identifying Needs Video 2 here.

ESLflow.com

You might find the following websites helpful to teach listening skills:
http://www.eslflow.com/Picturelessonsandteachingideas.html

Picture Vocabulary for Everyday Actions

At this website, you will find free, specific pictures with audio for pronunciation for ESL learners.
http://www.eflnet.com/vocab/dictionary/everyday-actions-list

Activity 3: Listening Video 1

Download Video for Activity 3: Listening Video 1 here.

Activity 3: Listening Video 2

Download Video for Activity 3: Listening Video 2 here.

Free ESL Flashcards

This a website where you can make your own flashcards.
http://www.eslflashcards.com/

Audio Examples of English IPA Symbols

This is one phonetics site that also includes audio samples.
http://esl.about.com/library/listening/blIPAvowels.htm

Activity 2: Speaking

Download Video for Activity 2: Speaking here.

English Grammar

This website provides an overview of English grammar and has simple explanations. http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/

Grammar for Beginning Level English Learners

This resource has a different presentation than the one above and includes ‘teacher’ information. http://esl.about.com/od/grammarforbeginners/Grammar_for_Beginning_Level_English_Learners.htm

Grammar for Beginning Level English Learners

Depending on the level of the student, this is an interactive site where learners can practice. http://a4esl.org/q/h/grammar.html

Grammar Practice Worksheets – ESL Lesson Plans

This website will provide some ideas for grammar work sheets. https://www.education.com/worksheets/grammar/

Activity 4: Reading and Writing Video 1

Download Video for Activity 4: Reading and Writing Video 1 here.

Activity 4: Reading and Writing Video 2

Download Video for Activity 4: Reading and Writing Video 2 here.

Activity 4: Reading and Writing Video 3

Download Video for Activity 4: Reading and Writing Video 3 here.

There are no supporting resources for this module. Please refer to the ESLSAP Coordinator Resource and the ESLSAP Tutor Companion for more information.

There are no supporting resources for this module. Please refer to the ESLSAP Coordinator Resource and the ESLSAP Tutor Companion for more information.

Better English Lessons

Better English Exercises has interactive exercises for general and business English in grammar, spelling, vocabulary, sentence constructions, matching, crosswords, etc.
http://www.better-english.com

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)

http://www.language.ca

Canadian Adult Reading Assessment: Instructor's Manual

http://www.grassrootsbooks.net/ca/canadian-adult-reading-assessment-instructor-s-manual.html

Canadian Adult Reading Assessment: Student's Assessment Booklet

http://www.grassrootsbooks.net/ca/canadian-adult-reading-assessment-student-s-assessment-booklet.html

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

This website provides information on becoming a Canadian citizen.
http://www.cic.gc.ca

Ellen’s Story (National Film Board)

Ellen’s Story (Robert Duncan, 47 min) recounts the challenges of Ellen Szita, a single alcoholic mother on welfare, who breaks the cycle of helplessness in her life through recognizing her inability to read beyond a most basic level. The story provides important insights into the shame and stigma that can accompany possessing a learning disability.
http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/film/?id=25975

Enchanted Learning

Picture dictionaries can be purchased in bookstores. The Enchanted Learning website provides a printable picture dictionary.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/books/abc/picturedictionary/

English as a Second Language

ESL directory of sites for all skills has lots of additional links, plus, it has great, low level listening activities under the heading “hearing practice.” You can play an oral version of ‘concentration’, where you have to find pairs of cards with the same word spoken on each.
http://www.rong-chang.com

Historica Canada Heritage Minutes

The Heritage Minutes are a collection of bilingual Canadian 60-second short films, each depicting a significant person, event or story in Canadian history. First released in 1991, they have been shown on television, in cinemas and online, and have become a part of Canadian culture.
https://www.historicacanada.ca/heritageminutes

Interesting Things for ESL Students

Many Things has word games, puzzles, quizzes, exercises, proverbs, slang and much more. There is an “Easy Things for Beginners” section, and many good listening activities with accompanying text.
http://www.manythings.org

Puzzlemaker

Puzzlemaker is an opportunity to create your own or use ready-made crosswords, word searches and other materials. http://www.puzzlemaker.com

Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab is an excellent site for learners who want to practise their listening. There are quizzes and exercises at the Easy, Medium and Difficult levels, on topics ranging from ‘Doctor’s Appointment’ to pronunciation to telephone conversations.
http://www.esl-lab.com

Resources for teaching English

Guardian Weekly has newspaper articles that can be downloaded with follow up vocabulary and reading comprehension exercises.
http://www.onestopenglish.com

Teaching Reading to Adults: A Balanced Approach

Pat Campbell. Edmonton, AB: Grassroots Press, 2003. In the manual, the author draws on her experience to integrate participatory theory and practice with the needs of literacy students and available resources. The video explores teaching strategies outlined in the book.
http://www.grassrootsbooks.net/us/teaching-reading-to-adults-a-balanced-approach.html

Vancouver Community College (VCC)

VCC Library Online has several good ESL websites through the VCC online library.
http://library.vcc.ca/

WelcomeBC

Welcome BC provides information for newcomers to BC.
https://www.welcomebc.ca

The Westcoast Reader

The Westcoast Reader is a newspaper for adults who are improving their English reading skills.
http://www.westcoastreader.ca/

Literacy BC

This website provides a wealth of information and resources pertaining to the promotion of literacy in the province.
http://www.literacybc.ca/

The Learning Disabilities Association of British Columbia (LDA-BC)

Information about the regional chapters of the LDA-BC can be found on the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada website.
http://www.ldabc.ca/