|
Project News
New in February, 2024: Participants starting the LearnIT2teach Training will enter the Avenue Instructor Bootcamp course, not Stage 1.
The Bootcamp will require 3-4 hours to complete. After completing this course, LINC teachers will have the option of stopping and staying in the Instructor (non-editing) role. This role allows them to manage and facilitate courses they create with the Course Builder, but not add or change any content.
New in February, 2024: Participants completing the Bootcamp will progress to the Transition to LearnIT2teach Stage 2 course, not Pre-Stage 2.
The one-hour Transition to LearnIT2teach Stage 2 course will prepare teachers for becoming a course editor, so they can benefit from their new permissions when they enter Stage 2.
Tutela Webinar: Working with Language Volunteers: Building Partnerships and Increasing Capacity [Tues. Feb 13, 2024 02:00 PM EST]
Do you have volunteers in your program, or are you looking for ways to increase volunteer engagement? What can volunteers do to support teachers? What are ways to train language volunteers? In this workshop, we will examine these questions. We will look at research and survey results. Through polls, padlets and discussions, participants are invited to share their experiences. …
https://tutela.ca/Event_49334
Web News
Waitlist for English language classes in Calgary shoots up to 7,455 people
... Surprisingly, only a third of newcomers reach out to immigrant agencies in Calgary. ... When it comes to integration, one service lacking is English language classes. Waitlists for what are called LINC classes (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) have ballooned to 7,455 people, up from 6,300 November. For context, in April 2022, there were about 500 people on the waitlist....
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/unsettling-integration-newcomers-canada-immigration-challenges-1.7082617
Seniors housing in Toronto has a language problem. Experts say it's getting more urgent
One-third of seniors in social housing speak English as a second language ... When tenants can't understand the often-extensive amount of paperwork needed to retain their housing, or they can't communicate with staff who only speak English, it contributes to housing instability ,,,
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/seniors-housing-in-toronto-has-a-language-problem-experts-say-it-s-getting-more-urgent-1.7056619
As newcomers to London region increase, so does demand for ESL classes
As Canada continues to accept thousands of newcomers every year and many make their way to the London region, the demand for English-language classes is also increasing, with a waitlist for some classes as educators struggle to keep up with demand. ... Osman Yousif is one of about 2,000 students who take English language studies through the Thames Valley District School Board, southwestern Ontario's largest provider of language training. Her husband is on a waitlist of about 400 people, waiting to get into a course based on his assessed language level. ...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/as-newcomers-to-london-region-increase-so-does-demand-for-esl-classes-1.7096109
As Duolingo Taps AI for Translation, Human Contractors Lose Their Jobs
The growing use of generative AI is coming at the expense of human workers at Duolingo, a popular language learning app. Duolingo tells Bloomberg that it's cutting 10% of its contractors, months after its CEO said Duolingo is relying more on generative AI to develop its content. “We just no longer need as many people to do the type of work some of these contractors were doing. Part of that could be attributed to AI,” a Duolingo spokesperson tells Bloomberg. ...
https://www.pcmag.com/news/as-duolingo-taps-ai-for-translation-human-contractors-lose-their-jobs
This man says moving to Canada was the 'toughest experience ever' with no credit history. So he created an app
... From the moment Madu and his family landed at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, he was faced with financial struggles. While he had money, he didn't have any credit. Now, the Kitchener, Ont., resident is helping others by creating the first BIPOC-focused digital banking app in Canada for newcomers with no Canadian credit history. It will help them rent cars, hotel rooms, homes and apartments while building credit. ...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/newcomer-banking-app-credit-union-for-immigrants-1.7050746
Learning language with AI, virtual reality
Virtual reality occupies an important space in the world of gaming, but that is far from its only use. Because VR gives users the opportunity to immerse themselves in virtual worlds that imitate real life and communication with other humans (or machines) in those worlds, It can also be used to simulate real-life experiences, practices and communicative exchanges. …
https://news.asu.edu/20231218-global-launch-educator-researches-language-learning-virtual-reality
How are Syrian refugees in Ottawa doing? This professor wants to find out
An Ottawa-born professor now working in Pennsylvania has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to research the experiences of Syrian refugees in Canada's capital. ... Based on his initial research and interviews, Abboud said the experience of Syrian refugees in Canada can vary depending on where they live. He added that Ottawa is different from other Canadian cities because of its large Arabic-speaking population and its status as the country's capital, which helps refugees access resources they may not have in rural areas. ...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/syrian-refugee-ottawa-study-samer-abboud-1.7083513
Blogs
+12 Best Free AI Translation Tools for Educators in 2024
Explore the top AI translation tools of 2024, breaking language barriers with advanced features like neural networks, real-time speech translation, and dialect recognition. ...
https://www.teachfloor.com/blog/ai-translation-tools
How To Handle Teaching Large Online Classes
Teaching online brings many challenges but these are further complicated when the class is large. How do you cope with hundreds of online students at once? Let's go over some tips. …
https://elearningindustry.com/how-to-handle-teaching-large-online-classes
14 Best ChatGPT Alternatives And Similar Websites In 2024
ChatGPT is one of the most popular platforms on the planet right now thanks to its use of artificial intelligence (AI) … However, ChatGPT is hardly a one-of-a-kind tool. There are plenty of alternatives and websites like it that offer similar, equal, or better value such as …
https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/best-chatgpt-alternatives-and-similar-websites/
The Ultimate Guide To Developing Engaging Online Course Content: 5 Crucial Steps
Crafting effective online courseware requires a strategic 5-step approach. Begin by defining clear learning objectives that are specific and measurable. Tailor content to the online learning environment, incorporating multimedia and interactive elements for engagement. Review the steps here. ...
https://elearningindustry.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-developing-engaging-online-course-content-crucial-steps
Transformative Strategies For Accessible eLearning
This article highlights key strategies for ensuring accessibility in eLearning, promoting an inclusive educational experience. It covers creating accessible content, adopting responsive design, ensuring intuitive navigation, providing flexible assessments, and many more. ...
https://elearningindustry.com/transformative-strategies-for-accessible-elearning
Professional Development
LearnIT2teach Annotated Bibliography New Resource: Conversational Agents in Language Learning
This article provides a description and the findings of a scoping review mapping and summarising research literature on the use of conversational agents in language learning with suggestions for future research in this area.
https://bib.learnit2teach.ca/blog/conversational-agents-in-language-learning/
BC TEAL 2024 Annual Conference: Call for Proposals
Deadline extended to February, 7, 2024.
https://members.bcteal.org/members/proposals/propselect.php?orgcode=BCTE&prid=1198461
Wow, I cannot stop: a concentration on vocabulary learning via instagram …
… The findings of this research have potential consequences for language learners, instructors, curriculum designers, and policy makers. Specifically, they suggest that incorporating Instagram feed-based activities into language learning and teaching may provide valuable chances for further practice. …
https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-023-01503-w
Jobs
Volunteer Online English Teacher
Teaching children in Latin America with Outreach 360. ...
https://careers.teslontario.org/job-board/listings/gain-international-teaching-experience-online-volunteer-english-teacher-teach-children-in-latin-america-training-provided/
7 Ways to Use AI in Your Job Search
… Realistically, the use cases for AI in your job search are only limited by how creative you want to be. But here are some ways you can make AI work for you as you navigate the hiring process. …
https://www.masterschool.com/magazine/7-ways-to-use-ai-in-your-job-search/
e-Resource Corner
EIGO.ai
Eigo.AI uses the latest AI technology to create lessons for all levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
https://eigo.ai/
Welcome to the LINC English Beginner Research Guide
You can find information, books, and websites to help you learn. Here are some eBooks you can read online! Go to your CLB level and choose a story.
https://libguides.norquest.ca/linc
------------------
New Language Solutions is based in Ottawa, Ontario. We acknowledge that our head office is on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. Beyond Ottawa, we have staff working in locations across Canada. New Language Solutions is grateful to have the opportunity to work as a guest in communities and territories across the country, and we honour the stewardship of the many Indigenous peoples who have resided on and cared for these lands since time immemorial.
We make our acknowledgement as a sign of respect for all Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, past and present. We accept the true impact of the past and the pain suffered by generations of Indigenous Peoples. As an agency that works to support the integration of newcomers into Canadian society and cultures, we express our commitment to support activities that are inclusive of Indigenous Peoples. We resolve to address a history of injustice to First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.
|
