CIES Continues Expansion with the Refugee Express Drop-In ESL & Integration Program

CIES is extremely happy to announce the start of a new program, the Refugee Express Drop-In and Integration program funded by Government of Alberta. The Refugee Express Drop-In ESL & Integration Program is a fast track language training and social integration program designed for refugees to learn essential vocabulary and basic language skills and put hands on basic real life tasks in order to function in Calgary communities as soon as possible. The project is targeted at the group of refugees that are arriving in Calgary and is designed in the Drop-In nature with independent units so that newly landed refugees can fit in other life commitments.

The program delivery will be face-to-face English language teaching incorporated with community engagement modules and intensive reaching out and on-site activities to facilitate quick social integration. Child-minding will be available for students’ children of 19 months to 6 years old.

The community engagement modules will cover the most basic and immediate needs in life. Community engagement activities will give students the opportunity to visit Calgary Transit Office and apply for low-income passes, to go to grocery stores to learn to pay, and so on. In addition, presenters from banks, City, Calgary Housing, Calgary Board of Education, Alberta Health Services, Calgary Police Service, and other community service providers will be invited to give workshops. Through the field trips and workshops, students will have hands-on experience on each real life tasks that will enable them to function in the Canadian society.

In the end, the program is designed for express integration and to avoid wasting time in waiting for service in existing LINC and ESL programs in Calgary.