English as a second language

ESL Intensive Benchmarks 3-7

This content-specific program helps learners improve their English skills while building on academic, workplace and settlement skills. Each level includes guided practice times based on Canadian Language Benchmark and Essential Skills descriptors, a full list of grammar outcomes, and a comprehensive chart of pronunciation competencies for Benchmarks 3-7.

At this time, the resources are not available for sale. However, we are sharing the curriculum framework, the instructor resource guide for Unit 2: Shopping, and a sample conversation for the unit.

This program was funded by Alberta Employment and Immigration.

Alberta LINC 5 Curriculum: Linking Canadian Language Benchmarks to Essential Skills with an Implementation Guide for Instructors

(March 2008, 90 pages)

The Alberta LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) 5 Curriculum is designed to meet the goals and objectives of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 6 for listening and speaking, and CLB 5 for reading and writing. Additionally, the appropriate workplace and community Essential Skills (ES) have been woven into LINC 5 to better prepare students for further education or entry into the labour market, as well as participation in Canadian community life.

The curriculum contains an Implementation Guide for Instructors to help with some of the classroom planning, The guide is mainly an “idea and sample bank” and has topics, tasks/activities, project ideas, resources, scheduling suggestions, rubrics, and evaluation forms that could be used or adapted by an instructor.

The Alberta LINC 5 Curriculum was funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Alberta LINC 5 curriculum

CLB 7 Exit Test Template

The Canadian Language Benchmarks are the nation-wide standard for describing and measuring achievement in language learning. The CLB 7 Exit Test Template is designed to assist ESL programs develop their own in-house CLB assessments for specific courses or projects. It includes a checklist of components and a how-to guide.

CLB 7 exit test template

ESL Needs Assessment Tool

The ESL Needs Assessment Tool was developed through project funding from Advanced Education and Technology and Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry. The purpose of this resource is to provide a strategy for assessing ESL needs in rural communities. The resource not only offers guidelines for assessing needs related to ESL instruction, but also includes sample tools to use in conducting the needs assessment. You can use this document to guide you through the entire process from determining needs to interpreting and implementing the findings.

ESL needs assessment tool

ESL Resource Package for Alberta Communities (4RPAC)

(Instructor's guide, revised 2006, 128 pages)

Welcome to the exciting, challenging, and rewarding job of teaching English as a second language (ESL). We have prepared this resource package as a guide and support for you in the classroom. If you are new to ESL literacy and teaching English as a second language, this resource will help you plan and deliver effective training. If you already have experience, this resource will enhance your teaching.

You can use the resource package to help you in these ways:

  • Understand what is necessary in ESL programs and classrooms
  • Assess your learners
  • Decide what to teach, and plan your lessons
  • Find materials and ideas

Download resource

Interactive English - Volume 1

(CD set, Interactive Resource, 2009) *Available for use only within Alberta

Two high-energy characters, Max and Lucy, take us through literacy skill learning and practice. This interactive resource supports the development of reading and listening skill measured at reading levels 2, 3 and 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Seven video stories, accompanied by interactive text and activities, imbed language instruction in real-life scenarios. It can be used independently by literacy learners or as instructional material by classroom teachers or tutors.

Catalog number: 8530

Price: Available free of charge * For use only within Alberta

Interactive English 2

(DVD set, Interactive Resource, 2012)

Interactive English 2 is a collection of six stories about the Tremblay family, three generations who get together to celebrate important days in Canadian family life. They share stories about events in their lives, such as dealing with a car accident or sorting out a misunderstanding in the workplace.

The stories are designed to develop reading, listening, vocabulary and cultural literacy skills for ESL and literacy students from diverse cultural backgrounds. This skill development is supported by interactive texts and activities. This interactive resource supports the development of reading and listening skill measured at reading levels 2 to 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).

Catalog number: 8530

Price: Available free of charge

Multi-level ESL Lesson Plans, Levels 2 and 4: Based on the ESL Resource Package for Alberta Communities (ERPAC)

This resource was developed as a response to requests from small ESL providers in rural Alberta. It provides 10 lesson plans referenced to CLB 2 and 4 that can be adapted for multi-level classes. It addresses specific topics and benchmark levels, presents strategies and techniques for tutors and instructors, and comes complete with handouts and references to authentic materials or resources with Canadian content.

Download resource

Multi-level ESL Lesson Plans, Level 6: Based on the ESL Resource Package for Alberta Communities (ERPAC)

This resource was developed as a response to requests from small ESL providers in rural Alberta. It provides 10 lesson plans referenced to CLB 6 that can be adapted for multi-level classes. It addresses specific topics, presents strategies and techniques for tutors and instructors, and comes complete with handouts and references to authentic materials or resources with Canadian content.

Download resource

Skills for Jobs: A Resource Tool for Tutors of Low-Level Literacy

(Set of 3 Tutor Guides, 2007)

Finally, a Workplace Essential Skills resource for low-literacy learners! This innovative tutor resource is a set of three tutor binders containing lesson plans and workplace related materials catering to low-level literacy learners. Skills for Jobs incorporates Workplace Essential Skills into its step by step lesson plans for basic Job Literacy, Job Numeracy, and Job Talk skills. Tasks are scaffolded according to skill checklists, and all Skills for Jobs materials are reproducible.