This e-portfolio has been created with the volunteer e-tutors and e-facilitators who either volunteer/work at English Online Inc. The main goal of this educational resource is to familiarize the newly recruited teaching members with English Online's mission, who our learners are, and most importantly to provide English Online's teaching team with a solid understanding of cultural diversity and how to be culturally responsive to their newcomer adult learners to maximize their learning experience and ensure their inclusion.

 

Mission & History

 

English Online is a Not-for-Profit organization that is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and was launched in 2008 out of the growing need for EAL/ESL services for newcomers in Manitoba. It is funded by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC). The organization’s mission is to provide flexible and accessible services that encourage newcomers to adapt and succeed in their new chosen country. Through providing a comprehensive online resourceful learning environment, newcomers’ unique needs for language learning and settlement are addressed to integrate successfully into the workplace and community. 

 

When English Online launched its new website You Live and Learn.ca in March 2015, it was the beginning of a new and significant milestone. In addition to the site’s English language learning options, a section for articles on 12 settlement themes was added, which meant that the organization expanded its services to include settlement services to complement the language learning activities and programs already introduced. .( http://myenglishonline.ca/ )

 

 As per Orem ( 2012), it is true that many ESL service providers now strive to offer varied adult ESL instruction that encompasses developing language and life skills. However, English Online as an organization has taken this goal one step further by adding offering settlement and mentoring services in an online setting that provides the learner the flexibility to learn and progress from the comfort of their homes.

 

Who Are Our Learners?

 

• English Online offers its services to adult newcomers to Manitoba in Canada who are either permanent residents, individuals who have been selected, inside of Manitoba, to become permanent residents and have been informed by a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC), and protected persons as defined in section 95 of the IRCC Protection Act.( https://livelearn.ca/register/)

• It is important for educators to get a clear understanding of who their learners are. For newcomers to a new country, it starts with getting a clear idea of the newcomers’ status. Although many immigrants make the decision willingly to move to a new country like Canada, the United States or Australia, there are others like refugee claimants who seek international protection based on the fear of being persecuted due to their “ race, religion or national origin, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, are unable or unwilling because of such fear, to return to” their home countries, but their claims have not yet been determined ( Brigham, Abidi, Tastsoglou, & Lange, 2015, p. 29). 

•  According to Coelho ( 2012) immigrants have different reasons to leave their countries whether for a better future for themselves and their families or to seek safety and protection. Regardless of the different cases, immigrants to a new country, specifically Canada are attracted by some important pull factors like economic opportunity, social and political stability and inclusive multicultural policy. It is contended that the immigrant population in Canada now is mostly comprised of Asian, African and Latin American immigrants, there is a large number of English Online’s learners who come countries like Russia and Croatia. In general, although hope is an invaluable companion to many New Canadians when they first move to their new chosen country, there is also despair and fear that cannot be easily ignored for those who did not make that choice like the refugees or the children of the families who immigrate.

• As such, being informed of the four stages of adjustment ( Honeymoon stage/ First impressions, Culture shock, Renewed optimism, and Integration) that newcomer students experience helps educators to empathize with their learners and be treat them more patiently. This could be true for adults as well as children. Thus, creating a dialogue with one’s learners that invites them to talk about their personal circumstances or issues they might be facing as individuals including their family members could be one way to relate to them and their needs.  ( Coelho, 2012). 

• Orem ( 2012) posits that although the experience of teaching adult learners is an attractive one to some educators who believe that adult learners are more motivated than children, teaching adult English language learners could have its own challenges due to their diverse needs, ages, cultural backgrounds, and motivation.

 

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