A CLBA is the Canadian Literacy Benchmark Assessment that determines where a person's English skills fall on an ESL scale from 1-5. It determines a learner's English proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. A newcomer must complete a CLBA before a CARE Language Coordinator can begin organizing English lessons in the proper class. The CLBA is free for newcomers or a fee-for-service for others.

Yes, night classes are available for anyone wishing to improve their English. While there is a fee, there are supports available to qualifying applicants. Please speak to a Language Coordinator about Care for Newcomers' ESL evening class funding options. Get started with a Language Assesment

Students with pre-school children who wish to take Care for Newcomers' adult daytime ESL classes can register for the Community-Based Childcare for Newcomers (CB-CNC) program. Childcare is available both on and offsite with government-approved childcare providers who offer a fun and safe environment for students' little ones. The Foundations for Women class also provides on-site childcare. However, there is a waiting list, and it is wise to register for childcare as soon as possible. Speak to your Language Coordinator for more information.

Daytime adult LINC ESL classes are part-time in morning and evening classes. In addition, our Care for Newcomers LINK classes are open for registration year-round for permanent Canadian residents and broken up into two semesters. Evening ESL classes are two times a week in fall, spring, and summer sessions between 6 and 12 weeks. Classes run between 6 PM to 8:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students can then supplement their skills with a Conversation Circle, women's and men's groups, or evening ESL classes.

If you, or someone you know, needs help learning English in Central Alberta, please get in touch with the Care for Newcomers main office at 403-346-8818 or by email info@carefornewcomers.ca. Our Care for Newcomers team can help you coordinate registration and a CLBA for our English as a Second Language class.

ESL for children and youth is taught within our school system. Once newcomers register their kids in school, SWIS and ESWIS workers will coordinate resources through Care for Newcomers and other government agencies to provide newcomer youth and their families all the services they need, including learning English.

Newcomers' English skills can range from being fluent to having no English, depending on their situation. For example, some immigrants began preparing for their move by taking English lessons, whereas refugees fled from their homes and could know little to no English. Regardless of how much English they know, our Care for Newcomers Language Coordinators assist newcomers by first using a CLBA to assess their skill level and then placing them in the correct ESL level class.

Care for Newcomers aims to get students into English classes as quickly as possible. The wait time depends on what class the student qualifies for and is interested in and where the start of the course falls in the calendar. It can take approximately two months from registration for students to begin taking ESL classes. However, enrollment is ongoing year-round, and our Language Coordinators are happy to help you plan your schedule. While you wait for your ESL class to begin, our Language Coordinator will connect you with any Care for Newcomers services and programs that you need to settle into our community.

Care for Newcomers' certified English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors teach newcomers English at every level. Students learn how to read, write, listen, and speak English with the help of teacher's aides and volunteers who help translate, answer questions, and improve pronunciation.