Chilliwack Learning videos

Take a few moments during the holidays to check out our promotional videos.  http://www.youtube.com/user/chilliwacklearning/videos?view=0

Decoda - B.C.'s Literacy Organization

The Decoda Literacy Library has books you can borrow for free!  Decoda pays the delivery and return costs. You can return the books using the prepaid return label enclosed with your delivery.

Check out their website http://decoda.ca/resources/library to search the online catalogue of over 5000 titles and request books or browse materials lists by topic.  For help or ideas, email library@decoda.ca or call 604-681-4199.

New On-Line Learning Tool

NorQuest College in Edmonton had a new on-line interactive ESL teaching resource, Interactive English 2. The resource is built around short stories told through video, audio, and text, and creates opportunities for learners to safely experience and understand Canadian culture and develop functional literacy skills. These stories and associated activities are designed to develop reading, listening, vocabulary, and cultural literacy skills for students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Interactive English 2 is suitable for adults who are learning in a classroom setting, training in employment preparation, studying with community tutors, or working on their own as self-directed language learners. The resource is available free at http://ie.norquest.ca/.  Check it out, and recommend to your learners!

Listening Skills

Some English learners have particular difficulty with listening.  They may be able to speak English, especially if they have time to prepare or practice what they will say.  They may be fairly good readers and writers of English because they've done so for many years, even in their home country.  Listening can be the biggest challenge for some individuals.  Native speakers talk too fast, run words together, don't give the listener time to sort out what is being said before moving on to the next sentence...
Listening skills will only improve with practice, practice, practice!  Online practice is a great way to add practice!  Check out many great web-sites at
http://www.eslstation.net/ESL320L/320L_Listen.htm
Strong English listening skills are especially important to attend college or work in customer service, hospitality, healthcare, etc. Regular on-line practice will show results!  A volunteer tutor to practice with is best of all!