On January 20th, 2011, the Coalition on Richer Diversity (CORD) convened a community meeting in St. John’s.  The discussion focussed on access by newcomer adults and youth to English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Basic Education (ABE) training, especially for those seeking employment.  Following a lively and wide-ranging discussion at that meeting, CORD prepared a report on the outcomes of the day’s conversations (see Appendix A below).  The analysis of the points raised at the meeting identified  about six main topics for further work ESL Teacher Training Program(s)

•     Appropriateness of (ESL and ABE) programming
•     Documentation (of newcomers’ credentials)  and placement
•     Access to information for newcomers and service providers
•     Barriers to (newcomers’)  participation
•     Issues specific to youth

Access to basic educational services – English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Basic Education (ABE) – for newcomers in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is a crucial matter which does not appear to be particularly attended to at present.  In the work of the Refugee and Immigrant Advisory Council (RIAC) in the St. John’s area, and the networking we do with individuals and organizations involved with services to newcomers through the Coalition on Richer Diversity (CORD), we hear of a great deal of discussion among, on the one hand, immigrants and refugees looking to access educational opportunities to assist them in getting employment and, on the other hand, service delivery agencies trying to serve educational needs according to their mandates.  In our research over the past three years, we have consulted with stakeholder groups on salient issues about service delivery, reviewed major documentation since 1990 of research on immigration in the province, and conducted research projects on our own.  Our work touches on a broad range of topics, but ESL and ABE continues to head the list of urgent matters.
Aim

The aim of the research discussed in this report is to:

§  provide an overview of the circumstances of newcomers to NL looking for basic level employment here;

§  describe present facilities through which newcomers can get educational support in Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) towards getting employment in NL;
§  identify barriers and facilitators to access;
§  identify efforts to remove barriers; and
§  make recommendations about further actions which might remove more barriers.   

Our Conversation Cafe is Saturday! From 9:30 - 11:30

in the morning we will be hosting one-on-one conversation sessions for ESL learners and those trying to improve their English. You will get the chance to chat for 45 minutes, grab a coffee, tea, and a muffin and participate in a group conversation for 45 minutes. Childcare is provided, and parents with small children are welcome! The Conversation Cafe will happen every Saturday of every month. Come to the Centre for Social Justice, 204 Water St. (above Coffee & Co.). If you would like to volunteer as a conversation partner at the Conversation Cafe, please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by phone at (709) 754-4122.

Looking forward to seeing you here!

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