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October 2011
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Be a Name Changer!
We adopted a new mission statement last year to reflect our expanded mission to reach immigrants in ways that are beyond teaching ESL. To capture the essence of who we are we are searching for a new name - and we are looking for your ideas!
Our new mission statement is: Empowering churches to reach out in love to immigrants and internationals in our communities.
You're invited to submit your best entry for a name that reflects our mission. The winner will recieve a $50 Winners gift card and a beautiful hardcover book called Proud Women: A Collection of Stories, published by CIWA.
We'll take your entry into consideration when our Board chooses a new name at the end of the year. To submit your name idea post it on our Cooperative ESL Ministries Facebook page or email it to colleen@eslcooperative.ca. Contest closes on December 1st, 2011.
A Kindred Mission
Peter Drucker, a famed management expert, has said that:
“The Salvation Army is by far the most effective organization… No one even comes close to it with respect to clarity of mission, ability to innovate, measurable results, dedication and putting money to maximum use.”
At the ESL Cooperative we are pleased to be able to partner with the Calgary Salvation Army’s staff and volunteers to offer training and advocacy for their work. Margaret Blackburn and her husband have been with the Salvation Army for many years. Their ministry focus is on the growing number of immigrants in Calgary:
Two years ago, my husband and I felt led to start a Conversation Club at our church, The Salvation Army Glenmore Temple. I had no idea where to go for materials etc. but we just struck out in faith in September 2009. At our first class we had 7 new immigrants/refugees from all over the world. What an exciting time, we saw God at work everyday as we built relationships with our new Canadian friends.
While looking for some information on the internet I noticed that nearby Southwood United Church had an ESL program. I called the pastor to ask for direction re: material and he referred me to the ESL Cooperative. My husband and I attended our first training session in February 2010. It was so encouraging to connect with others who share the same passion.
In fall of 2010 I attended and completed the 30 hour training sessions. I also discovered that Alpha Canada had a new pilot program for ESOL Alpha which we decided to use in our church along with the Conversation Club. During that first session we were thrilled that one of our students found Christ as her Saviour. We are also pleased that three students from our Conversation Club have since found full time jobs within the Oil & Gas Industry.
Thank you so much for the support and encouragement received through the ESL Cooperative and the opportunity to network with other like-minded believers.
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Did you know...
By 2030, if recent trends continue, each year Canada will have more deaths than births. As a result the contribution of international migration to Canada's population will (must) increase in the decades to come. For more facts like this visit the immigrant fact page at www.eslcooperative.ca.
You're Invited...
On September 30th, Fall Training got off to an exciting start with a passionate group of learners, eager to make a difference in the lives of newcomers. When they graduate on October 29th we'd love to have you join us to celebrate! This is a great way to encourage our new grads and find out more about fall training.
For more details please contact myra@eslcooperative.ca. We also appreciate your prayers for the students and teachers as we go into the last two weekends of Fall Training.
Find us on Facebook!
Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to like our page. Click here to visit our page where you can stay updated on what's happening in the Christian ESL network!
Teacher Tips & Tricks
By Gisela Rohde, former board member
There is a technique in teaching/training called, “fading”. It means that the teacher gives a lot of support at the beginning, then gradually withdraws it as students learn to cope on their own – like training wheels on a bike.
I invented a “colors” game to teach the names of colors to grade one students. There were squares in two different colors on one side of a card and a square of one of those colors on the back. Students could win a card by correctly predicting which of the two colors was on the back.
The first time through, I pointed to each color as I said its name, and I even allowed shy students to just point at their choice. In part 2, they had to say the name, then I only said the color names, but didn’t point, and finally the students had to say the names without my help. (You can see that this technique often works best in one-on-one or small group situations.)
The “Side by Side” series uses this technique, too. They give a structure, with example dialogues that use it. Students are then asked to adapt the sample dialogue for particular situations, and finally are asked to make their own (similar) dialogues after looking at a picture of a situation.
Teachers can also use a similar idea, called, “scaffolding” by giving lower level students in the group or class more support than others – for example giving them pictures, sample phrases, or ideas for a dialogue or piece of writing, while asking other students to make their own from scratch.
Cross Cultural Parenting Program for Immigrants with Teens
October 15, 22, 29 and November 5, 12, 2011 CIWA will offer workshops for immigrant parents of teens. The workshop will be held from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Dover Patch Community Resource Centre, Hull Child and Family Services (3203 - 31A Avenue SE Calgary). For more information or to register please contact: Pierre Mugisha 403-263-4414, Ext. 139, pierrem@ciwa-online.com.
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