You may have a neighbor who you’ve never had a chance to get to know because of a language barrier. Imagine what it must be like to live somewhere where a basic grasp of the language is unknown and life is maneuvered in a general way by recognition of shapes like octagonal stop signs or by having to always rely on another person, usually a younger family member. Not knowing the language that is spoken in your country leads to barriers that can be isolating or even dangerous.
Chelsea Jackson, Program Coordinator from Rocky View Schools (RVS) Community Learning is campaigning in the Chestermere area for adult students who would like to learn basic reading, writing and numeration through the English Language Learning (ELL) program. The ELL classes incorporate developing the four skills of speaking, reading, writing and listening.
The program for English Language Learning runs twice a week in the evening for 12 weeks at a cost of 85 dollars. No one will be turned down if there are monetary issues. RVS Community Learning is able to provide financial assistance to those that qualify. Everyone is welcome to attend the ELL classes regardless of a person’s immigration status (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, refugees, temporary foreign workers, and visitors). Jackson said, “Often a class will have many levels of skills.” The instructors are well trained in differentiating their lesson planning to meet all the multi level needs of the learners. As well the Chestermere area currently has two adult volunteers who are available for FREE tutoring as needed. RVS Community Learning is always looking for more volunteers to help in the ELL classes and to help with one-on-one tutoring.
This fall, ELL classes are also scheduled to run in the daytime at Prairie Waters Elementary and Rainbow Creek Elementary Schools, free of charge one day per week. Jackson said this gives family members an opportunity to become more engaged and feel comfortable in their children’s community.
Jackson is part of the Inclusion Committee that runs out of the Town’s Community Services. The goal of this group is to monitor the overall wellbeing of the residents ensuring that services and programs are available for all. The last year’s census taken in Chestermere indicated that in 30% of households a second language is spoken. * The top 5 and number of households are:
• Punjabi (241)
• Vietnamese (204)
• French (174)
• Filipino (128)
• Spanish (93)
RVS Community Learning is also offering two Spanish courses, a fall course that funs for 12 weeks and a one day Spanish for Travelers course. A General Equivalency Diploma (GED) course is available in conjunction with Bow Valley College. This is a “real time, on line” course that links the student with an instructor from Airdrie via computer, while attending the classroom locally at the Rocky View Community Learning Centre across from Town Hall.
For more information, check their website at www.community learning.rockview.ab.ca, call (403) 945 4114 or see the display ad.
*Source: Chestermere Community Services.
