ARCHIVED – Language assessment and training services
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New for 2024 Call for proposals
- Language placement assessments in English or French are to be centralized within and across geographic regions, where possible, and in particular for remote assessments
- Funding will be available for fully online/digital, instructor-led language training, or fully online/digital, self-directed language training courses
- Language training adapted to the needs of French-speaking or allophone newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities, now integrated with the Settlement program
- Refined scope for employment-related language training
Further details are available on this page. Applicants are responsible for reading the funding guidelines in full.
Description
Language assessment and training services provide newcomers with opportunities to improve their official language skills for successful social and economic integration. Services can be offered in a variety of formats and delivered by qualified professionals.
Eligible Indirect Services with a national or sector scope
Please refer to the Indirect Services with a national or sector focus funding guidelines: Standardizing service delivery: language training services for more details on the following activities.
- Projects that develop, distribute, or improve (or do all three) Canadian Language Benchmarks or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens-based assessment tools for the purpose of placement in language training.
- Projects that enhance the national open-source learning management system to support the delivery of all modes of language training delivery.
- Projects that develop Canadian Language Benchmarks or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens-based, or both, teaching resources and content consistent with national curriculum guidelines and a national learning management system to support the effective delivery of language training across Canada (outside of Quebec).
- Professional development projects that build on and strengthen the capacity of the sector to deliver high quality language services.
Expected outcomes
IRCC expected immediate outcomes, as described in the (Re)Settlement Program Logic Model, are written to capture the overall results for all projects that deliver a particular set of activities.
There are 3 IRCC expected immediate outcomes, related to Language Assessment and Training services:
1. In-depth understanding of clients’ general and language needs and assets to facilitate settlement and language training pathways and outcome assessment
If language assessment is part of the proposal, clearly describe how it will specifically contribute to this outcome, for example; by describing how appropriate assessment of a client’s official language levels will result in an accurate understanding of client language needs, of additional supports required to access language training services, and of timely referrals to language training services.
2. Clients improve official language skills
If general language training (LINC/CLIC, literacy, or adapted language training) is part of the proposal, clearly describe how it will specifically contribute to this outcome. For example, describe how official language skills, or literacy abilities have improved and how English or French, or both, skills for eligible French-speaking clients have improved.
3. Clients improve labour market knowledge, employment related language skills, job search skills, connections, and acquire Canadian work experience
If employment-related language training is part of the proposal, clearly describe how it will contribute to this outcome. For example, identify how eligible clients will improve employment-related or occupation-specific language skills and how this service helps prepare them for the Canadian labour market.
For more information on outcomes please refer to the Outcomes Guidance.
Eligible activities
1. Language Assessment and Referral
Description of activity
- Language placement assessments in English or French centralized within and across geographic regions, where possible, and in particular remote assessments, that lead to appropriate referrals to language training options suited to eligible clients’ needs
2. General language training (LINC/CLIC)
Description of activity
- Formal language training delivered as Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) or Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC) and aligned to portfolio-based language assessment leading to learner progression and LINC/CLIC certificates
- As a priority, basic levels (up to Canadian Language Benchmarks level 4 or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens niveau 4, or both);
- Intermediate levels (Canadian Language Benchmarks levels 5 to 8 or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens niveaux 5 à 8, or both)
In general, activities related to formal language training should consider the following:
- services should align with national curriculum guidelines and a national learning management system
- services should be flexible (i.e. full or part-time services, including in the evenings and week-ends), accessible (i.e. with support service options), and delivered in-person, remotely (online/digital) or hybrid (a combination of the two) [see Mode of Delivery section]
- services can focus on all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) or specific language skills, e.g. oral communication skills, as needed by the target client group
- services should be designed to be responsive and adaptable to fluctuations in demand
- services should provide year-round enrolment
- services should integrate intercultural awareness, including on Indigenous Peoples, culture and history
- Services should support eligible clients who are deaf or hard of hearing
3. Language training - Literacy
Description of activity
- Language training courses led by qualified instructors and aligned to portfolio-based language assessment leading to learner progression and LINC/CLIC certificates. Language training courses delivered to learners having been formally assessed and assigned a literacy designation (up to CLB 4L) where the majority of the class holds this designation.
4. Language training for French-speaking clients settling in Francophone minority communities
Description of activity
- Language training adapted to the needs of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities (FMCs), in support of the Francophone Integration Pathway. Services targeting eligible French speaking or allophone clients settling in FMCs that offer a combination or sequencing of English (LINC) or French, or both, language instruction (CLIC).
5. Employment-related language training
Description of activity
- Employment-related language training (up to intermediate levels, i.e. Canadian Language Benchmarks level 8 or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens niveau 8, or both) to support the development of language and communications skills required in Canadian workplaces, for example:
- Occupation-specific language training for priority occupations or sectors, limited to medium and high-skilled occupations in in-demand sectors [aligned with employment-related services, and in consultation as needed with provinces and territories to avoid duplication]
Mode of delivery
- Language Assessment and Referral may be delivered:
- In-person (at language assessment centres or by itinerant assessors, computer-assisted or paper-based)
- Remotely (online/digital) – staff led
- Remotely (online/digital) – self-directed
- Language training - (LINC/CLIC) may be delivered:
- In-person
- Remotely (online/digital) – instructor led
- Remotely (online/digital) – self-directed
- Hybrid of in-person and remote (online/digital)
- Language training - Literacy may be delivered:
- In-person
- Remotely (online/digital) – instructor led
- Remotely (online/digital) – self-directed
- Hybrid of in-person and remote (online/digital)
- Language training for French speakers in Francophone minority communities may be delivered:
- In-person
- Remotely (online/digital) – instructor led
- Remotely (online/digital) – self-directed
- Hybrid of in-person and remote (online/digital)
- Employment-related language training may be delivered:
- In-person
- Remotely (online/digital) – instructor led
- Remotely (online/digital) – self-directed
- Hybrid of in-person and remote (online/digital)
Where possible, leverage technology in all modes of delivery to reduce barriers to access and optimize program delivery by offering (consistent with the national curriculum guidelines and the national learning management system):
- Fully online/digital – instructor led language training offered on a national (or multi-regional) scale
- Fully online/digital – self-directed (i.e. asynchronous) language training courses
Funding applicants will also need to consider who the client audience will be for each of the project activities being proposed in their online application form (more than one audience may be selected per activity):
- For Direct Services: Group, Individual
Eligible clients
As per section 3.7 of the Settlement Program Terms and Conditions, only the following persons are eligible to receive these settlement services:
- Permanent residents of Canada;
- Protected persons as defined in Section 95 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA);
- Individuals who have been selected, inside or outside Canada, to become permanent residents (pending verifications) and who have been informed, by a letter from IRCC;
- Convention refugees and protected persons outside Canada who have been selected for resettlement in Canada by IRCC; and
- Temporary foreign workers who hold or received approval of a work permit under section 112 or received initial approval for permanent residence under section 113 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Notes
- Eligible persons include both the principal applicant and eligible dependants (spouse and children).
Restrictions
- To access language training, persons must be of legal school-leaving age within their applicable province or territory
- Except as set out above, Canadian citizens and non-permanent residents are not eligible persons. However, the Settlement Program provides opportunities for citizens and other residents of Canada to participate in the provision of settlement services to eligible clients as volunteers.
Eligible applicants for funding
Eligible applicants for funding for settlement services are:
- municipal governments;
- not for profit organizations including non-governmental organizations, non-profit corporations, community groups, umbrella organizations, regulatory bodies and apprenticeship authorities;
- businesses, including those that provide indirect services (e.g., employers hiring newcomers, private language schools, conference organizers, web or production firms for tool development); and
- educational institutions (including school boards, districts and divisions).
Restrictions
- For-profit organizations may be eligible for funding provided that the nature and the intent of the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports IRCC program priorities and objectives.
Any limitations on who can deliver this service
Language assessment services and language training services should be separately managed (e.g. delivered by different organizations) except under exceptional circumstances (such as remote locations or rural areas) where limited expertise and capacity exist.
How we assess applications for this service
Mandatory and asset criteria
Mandatory criteria
All applications will be assessed according to the CORE criteria
- Client Centered
- Outcomes-driven
- Responsive to needs
- Effective use of resources
and also against Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) criteria. More information about the CORE and EDI criteria.
Applicants for these services must also demonstrate, as applicable:
- Ability to deliver English or French language assessments, or both, through specialization or experience.
- ability to deliver English or French language training, or both, through specialization or experience, or both i.e. instructors must be qualified to teach English or French, or both, as a second language in Canada
- For LINC/CLIC for literacy learners:, expertise or affiliation (or both) with local or regional (or both) centres of expertise, partnerships or coordination (or both) with other recipients who can provide wrap-around supports to learners
- For language training adapted for French-speaking clients in FMCs, IRCC is committed to the “par et pour les Francophones” principle, ensuring that services for French-speaking newcomers are offered by Francophone organizations and as such IRCC will give priority to projects offered primarily by Francophone service providers (as defined in the Francophone Integration Pathway)
Asset criteria
Proposals demonstrating the following may be prioritized for funding. Applicants for this service should include a description of the following experience or capacity, as applicable:
- experience in the design and delivery of Canadian Language Benchmarks or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens-based programming.
- experience in the development and maintenance of an online learning management solution for language training.
- capacity to deliver language assessment or language training services on a national (or multi-regional) scale.
- cross-sector partnerships, including with Indigenous Peoples and communities, organizations that provide a capacity-building and professional development role within the settlement sector (e.g. Umbrella Organizations), organizations with expertise working with specific populations (e.g. racialized populations) or on specific issues (e.g. advancing substantive gender equality and women’s empowerment).
- GBA Plus in the design, implementation and evaluation of the project(s). Please refer back to the overview of funding guidelines for more information on GBA Plus.
Examples of quality projects
- The service provider organization provides language assessments to eligible clients and refers them to English or French classes (delivered by language training service provider organizations), offering services both online and in-person. Eligible clients are provided with nationally recognized language assessments based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens, and information on available language classes and support services. The organization collaborates with other settlement language service provider organizations to provide eligible clients with information or referrals to other settlement and community services to support their broader integration needs, and to contribute to policy and planning at the local, provincial, or national level.
- The service provider organization offers a range of language training courses to help eligible clients develop their basic English or French language proficiency, settlement knowledge, and essential skills. Classes are offered year round through full-time and part-time in-person, online, and blended delivery options. The organization collaborates with other institutions to provide their teaching professionals with access to the national online learning management system, national curriculum guidelines, teaching resources and instructor supports, portfolio-based language assessment-aligned courseware and training on its use, and professional development opportunities.
- The service provider organization specializes in the delivery of services and supports for eligible clients with literacy needs. Classes focus on specific learning supports, approaches and instruction that can effectively facilitate literacy development in learners. They also provide digital literacy, oral communication, numeracy, and sociolinguistic and cultural awareness through real world tasks. Learners are assessed through portfolio-based language assessments. The organization works in partnership with other centres of expertise and communities of practice specializing in the unique needs of second language literacy learners.
- The service provider organization offers settlement language training in English or French, or both, adapted to the needs of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities. The service delivery model offers the combination or sequencing of English and French instruction delivered in person, online, or a combination of the two. Language training services provided include classes that focus on targeted Canadian French vocabulary and sector-specific workplace language instruction. These services are offered as part of a suite of services supporting the Francophone Integration Pathway.
- The service provider organization offers advanced English or French language classes targeted to eligible high needs clients to help them communicate successfully at work, learn entrepreneurial terms to conduct business in the Canadian workplace, and gain the vocabulary needed to meet their professional goals. The organization works closely with individuals to identify their needs and offer supports and services tailored to their settlement goals.
References for applicants
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