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PROJECT TITLE

English as a Second Language Training Project for Health and Social Services Network Staff in the Eastern Townships 2010-2013

AGENCY

PARTNERS

The CSSS du Granit, the CSSS des Sources, the CSSS de la MRC-de-Coaticook, the CSSS de Memphrémagog, the CSSS du Haut-Saint-François, the CSSS du Val-Saint-François, the CSSS- Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Sherbrooke, the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS), the Centre jeunesse de l’Estrie, the Centre Jean-Patrice Chiasson/ Maison Saint-Georges, the Centre de réadaptation Estrie, the CRDITED Estrie, the Villa Marie-Claire, Vigi Shermont, the Maison Rose BlancheÌý

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OBJECTIVES

Each institution in the region has identified the key positions and the level of linguistic skill required to meet requests in English. The project aims to support the institutions of the Eastern Townships health and social services network in their responsibility of ensuring that staff interested in these positions have the ability to respond adequately to requests in English.

NEEDS AND PRIORITIES

The needs that justify the language training program are:

• To recognize the importance of English training as one of the cornerstones of meeting the needs and expectations of the English-speaking population with regard to healthcare and social services in English.
• To meet the objectives of the Regional Action Plan with regard to access to English-language services, i.e. targeting the departments and staff who work in them and provide them with the required training;
• As expressed by representatives of the English-speaking community, to encourage better communication and, as expressed by the workers, to improve their English-language skills.
• To benefit from the momentum created by the progress achieved from training projects over previous years.

The project is an ongoing part of what has been achieved in the region over previous years. The region’s priority continues to be the improvement of accessibility to services by ensuring that users who want to can speak in English and receive a suitable response in the same language. Workers from institutions that have direct contact with English-speaking users are, from this perspective, key players.Ìý

STAFF TARGET FOR 2010-2013

Reception (57), Health (757), Social (146)ÌýÌý
Total: 960

DESCRIPTION OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES

• Call for tenders: For 2010-2011, the program structure will remain unchanged, i.e. decentralized. Distribution to institutions will be based on an annual call for local projects. These local projects must adhere to the main priority and work towards the objectives set forth in the regional project. An invited tender will allow seven institutions to come together thereby sharing the administrative work generated by the project and achieving economies of scale.
• ÌýTraining activities: The activities planned will vary depending on the institutions.Ìý Education will be centred on communications and will take into account the principles of adult learning. Two types of teaching have been retained: face-to-face (in small groups and individually) and immersion. In addition to lectures, various training strategies will be used: workshops, demonstrations, discussions, role playing, project management.
• Activities for maintaining and developing skills and knowledge transfer:
  • Client referral: English-speaking clientele will first be referred to people undergoing the training ;
  • Lunch and learn: learners will participate in a lunch with discussions in English with people from the same institution;
  • Correction of reports written in English: participants will have to correct reports written by their colleagues;
  • Daily self-learning activities.
• Learner evaluation: A placement test will be held prior to the start of the session, by phone or face-to-face. Trainers will conduct evaluations and informal follow-ups throughout the training sessions. The end of session evaluation will vary depending on the methods retained by the institutions (written test, oral test, etc.). Evaluations will also vary depending on the skills that the institutions want to develop among their staff. The evaluation will not measure the learner’s progress between levels.
• Training materials: Training organizations will develop original materials and adapt and use existing materials (specialized lexicon, thematic workbooks, traditional educational materials).

ÌýThe courses will take place on the premises of the institutions and training organizations.

PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES

For most learners (850), no incentives are planned. One institution will offer courses during work hours with compensation for half of the participants’ training time (45). One institution will reimburse participants’ travel expenses (45).

TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS

The Eastern Townships School Board – New Horizons Adult Education Centre, the Continuing Education Centre – Formation linguistique L.C., le Linda Beaudoin.

BUDGET ALLOCATED FOR 2010-2013: $405,000