Note: This project is completed. To obtain information about the tool, please go to Literacy Placement Tool (LPT) - Volume 2.

Additional Tasks for the Canadian Language Benchmarks ESL/FSL Literacy Placement Tools (Phase II)

Project Description

The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) received funding from the National Literacy Secretariat to develop additional higher level literacy and numeracy tasks for the Canadian Language Benchmarks Literacy Placement Tool in order to facilitate the placement of ESL/FSL learners into appropriate language and literacy training programs. 

These Phase II tasks will complement tasks already developed to assess CLB/NCLC Foundations and Phase 1 literacy competencies in a streamlined one-on-one assessment procedure. (To find out more about the Canadian Language Benchmarks for ESL literacy learners visit CLB Literacy (2000).) The placement tools will provide the information to help practitioners tailor instruction to meet each learner’s needs and facilitate improved referral opportunities to more appropriate programs such as English and French-language literacy programs and reskilling programs. The placement tools package will include a self-training guide to enable experienced practitioners to administer the tools in a range of settings (e.g., classrooms, controlled intake assessment centers, reskilling centres). Through providing additional literacy placement tools, the CCLB will enable ESL/FSL teachers to more accurately place learners in appropriate programs. These tasks will be made especially relevant for training for the workplace by using authentic workplace materials adapted to the reading and writing competencies outlined in the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000: ESL for Literacy Learners.

The literacy tools will be nationally useable, portable, cost effective and user (instructor and learner) friendly. Deliverables will include an enhanced placement tool covering the reading, writing and numeracy tasks, a checklist of observable skills and strategies as well as instruments for administration and scoring.

There are two target groups who will benefit from this project.

• One group will be immigrant workers who have worked for several years in Canada, who now, through injury or redundancy, have to be retrained before they can find new work.
• The second group will be newer immigrants who have literacy and language challenges.

As part of this project CCLB is conducting field tests to validate the ESL and FSL literacy and numeracy tasks to the CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) and NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) standards. National validation is being carried out in May 2006.

These tasks will be able to be readily incorporated into existing ESL-FSL assessment intake processes. The tool will include guidelines for use in conjunction with the Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT).

The project is being guided by a national advisory group representing stakeholder groups such as assessors, literacy practitioners and CLB literacy experts. The advisory group has reviewed the tasks and approved the materials prior to validation.

For more information, contact  info@language.ca (English tools) or Silvia Dancose at sdancose@language.ca (French tools).

Funding for this project has been provided by the National Literacy Secretariat, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.