Not knowing the commonly spoken language of a new country can be very isolating. Many newcomer seniors often do not feel that English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes are relevant. They will go many years without learning, which keeps them from accessing many services to support independence and wellbeing. For these reasons, Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society (CVIMS) is developing the Open Shores 55+ Newcomer EAL Literacy Pilot project. The project will assist newcomers 55 years of age and older in developing the language and literacy skills they need to fully participate in Canadian society. The program will provide educational and social experiences focusing on the communication skills needed to meet common, everyday language and social interaction challenges successfully.
This program at CVIMS compliments the existing English language workshops and services that the organization provides for newcomers to Central Vancouver Island.
Advisory Committee Members
CVIMS is forming an advisory committee of 5 to 8 members to assist us in developing this pilot. We are seeking members who:
- are at least 55 years of age
- are permanent Canadian residents, refugees, or naturalized Canadian citizens
- have at least intermediate English speaking, reading, and writing skills
- can commit to the entire term of the pilot development and testing from July 26, 2021, to March 31, 2022
At scheduled monthly meetings, the advisory members will use their knowledge and experiences as newcomers or former newcomers to:
- provide input on the design of the pilot in meeting the learning needs of newcomer seniors
- give feedback on various drafts of the program curriculum and learning activities
If you or someone you know are interested in this exciting opportunity to be part of our advisory group and would like further details, please contact:
Su Mei Ku, Open Shores 55+ EAL Newcomer Literacy Coordinator
E-mail: sku@cvims.org
Tel: (250) 753-6911 Ext 122