Canada is projected to bring in an increasing numbers of newcomers over the next few years. Many of whom English is not their first language.
With so many new hires not having English as their main language, it’s time for employers to start treating language support as another form of professional development for their employees.
However, in order to do this, businesses need to have an idea of how language is measured in our country.
In Canada, most English programs measure language using the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). There are 12 levels that go from beginner (basic) to advanced.
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) describe 12 levels of ability in each of four different language skills – Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing
Quoted from www.clb-osa.ca
| Stage 1: Basic | Stage 2: Intermediate | Stage 3: Advanced | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
When a person is assessed, they are given a level in each of the four skills. The level assigned could be different for each area.
For example, a person could have a language assessment (the CLB test is called the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program – CELPIP) and receive a :
- Listening: 5
- Speaking: 5
- Reading: 6
- Writing: 7
Usually people are stronger in their reading and writing than their speaking and listening. This is because people normally have more time to read and write, therefore have more time to translate in their head.
Note: There are a variety of different language assessments. CELPIP and IELTS are some of the most common ones in Canada.
How can I as an employer understand where my staff are on their language journey?
Depending on the pathway that a person came to Canada on, they may or may not have been required to take a language assessment. However, it’s important to note that CLB language requirements can be different depending on the pathway and the job.
The truth is, as an employer, you will never know all English levels of your staff. For businesses, it’s better to look at language in terms of a workplace goal.
What do you need your staff to do?
You need them to have enough English so that they can :
- Carry out the job they were hired for.
- Do the job safely.
- Be able to ask questions and understand others at work.
- Have basic formal and informal conversations at work so that they can build connections and feel like a team.
- Understand Canadian workplace culture.
- Feel comfortable and supported at work and in Manitoba. (So that they will want to stay).
what level is that?
While there is no “goal” level, most ESL/EAL educators recommend that to have the above skills, staff need to be at a CLB 6 or higher.
In other words, you want them to be at an Intermediate level.
What can a person do at a CLB 6?
They can:
- Have conversations on common and some less common themes. (length would depend on their knowledge of the subject in English)
- Read, write and understand common workplace notes, documents, posters.
- Increase their English level more easily on their own if needed.
- As they now have the basics down, it’s really up to them do decided how high they want to increase their language skills – depending on their workplace goals.
How do I Get My Staff to a CLB 6?
Your first step is to contact a certified English language instructor. Something important to note is that there are different English teacher certifications. Make sure you do your research, the qualifications are not the same as a certified public school teacher.
From there you can discuss your needs and put together a plan that best fits your staff.
Acquiring English takes time, so the sooner you can get your staff learning, the sooner you will see results at work.
want to learn more?
CLB-OSA
- You can find more information on the different CLB levels
- Staff can register and take an informal listening and reading CLB test.
- https://www.clb-osa.ca
Here’s a great video that describes the Canadian Language Benchmarks.
