News Release

February 17, 2010

NorQuest College English in the Workplace training responds to the needs of Alberta businesses
Common Ground improves employee communication and cultural understanding

EDMONTON – The Centre for Excellence in Intercultural Education at NorQuest College launched a one-of-a-kind resource today that supports a growing number of Alberta businesses with increasingly diverse workforces. Common Ground: English in the Workplace, funded by Alberta Employment and Immigration, is a made-in-Alberta solution that enables business owners and human resource facilitators to teach English to employees in rural and urban work settings.

Common Ground: English in the Workplace is aimed at business and industry in rural communities with few English language training resources and at businesses in urban regions. It consists of three components: how-to guide for employers, how-to guide for facilitators and an employee training manual.

“Following a successful eight-month pilot project, Common Ground is being used by a variety of Alberta businesses in many different industries,” says Anna DeLuca, dean of Language Training and Adult Literacy at NorQuest College. “This includes manufacturing, food processing, food service, hospitality and tourism.”

“The Government of Alberta is proud to support Common Ground as it strengthens Alberta communities by collaborating with employers and increasing access to programs for immigrant workers,” says Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk. “This is another example of how NorQuest College is relevant and responsive to the needs of adult learners, both inside the classroom and inside the workplace.”

Days Inn employee Lizbeth Brito benefited from Common Ground with a better understanding of her coworkers, increased job satisfaction and a job promotion.

“The program was great for me because the terminology is what we use every day in the hotel,” says Brito. “I understand other workers and customers better and my English is better so now I don’t feel so frustrated.”

“As a first-time instructor, I was able to roll out the program with ease,” says Kara Chwaklinski, human resources manager with the Little Potato Company in Edmonton. “The materials gave me confidence to know what I should be doing to maximize employee understanding and I was able to add my input and adapt it to the specific needs of our employees.” The Little Potato Company employs just over 80 people, with 82 per cent of their workers born outside North America.

To download a free copy, visit http://www.norquest.ca/cfe/intercultural/proj_commonground.asp

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For more information on this release please contact

Martin Schuldhaus Communications Manager NorQuest College Office: 780-644-5924      Cell: 780-722-9919 martin.schuldhaus@norquest.ca