With no funding for CLB 5 and up, there is a huge gap of services, especially for those newcomers who want to attend post-secondary institutions. Where can they practice their English, so they don’t lose the progress they made in LINC 1 to 4? As in the past, faith communities continue to address the needs of newcomers with informal English language classes, conversation circles and social events. A sense of belonging and social connection is vital for newcomers, and ethnic faith communities have been filling that need. This interactive session will inform participants about English language services in Baha’i, Christian, Islam, Jehovah Witness and Mormon communities in metro-Vancouver. The handout will also provide info about the free public library offerings.
Some of the program facilitators have been offering newcomer language and social services for more than 30 years. Research about Christian programs conducted in 2013 showed that 50% of the programs did not have any faith components or content (Kristjansson, 2018). Currently, a much smaller percentage of the 40+ programs in metro-Vancouver offer Bible content, which is often optional. Preliminary survey research on the other faith groups shows a higher percentage of spiritual life content.
Participants need not be a believer of any faith group to express the advantages and disadvantages of English classes hosted in places of worship. The focus is on the wide variety of program structures and elements for program development. Current statistics may not be complete since programs start and close because of human resources, makeup of the newcomers in their neighborhood, etc. However, participants will leave with a sense of the depth and width of the programs offered through places of worship. They (especially unemployed teachers) may even be inspired to start their own community-based program. (292) words)
Reference (41 words) Kristjánsson, C. (2018). Church-sponsored ESL in western Canada: Grassroots expressions of social and spiritual practice. In M. S. Wong & A. Mahboob (Eds.), Spirituality & language teaching: Religious explorations of teacher identity, pedagogy, context, and content. (pp. 172–194). Multilingual Matters. Description for Program booklet You need not belong to a faith community to discuss and learn how faith-based communities have served the social and linguistic needs of newcomers in metro-Vancouver. (26 words)
After 40 years in the classroom, Janice is retired, volunteering and downsizing. Her heart remains with newcomers and meeting their needs through curriculum development.
