This recently-announced, new policy will allow up to 90,000 essential workers and international graduates already in Canada to convert their temporary status to permanent.
More from CBC.
Tag: teaching
Pandemic has created a mental health crisis amongst international students
One Voice Canada recently released a study that looks at the difficulties that international students, specifically Indian students, face. While these difficulties existed before, they have become amplified by the pandemic. The study notes that there has been an increase in mental health problems and suicide.
Read the report.
The suprising – and likely short lived? – success of the Duolingo English Test
While most of us involved in English language instruction have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, language learning apps have seen a boom. Duolingo saw its sales increase 67% in 2020. It then launched its English Test, which is aimed at the US university market. Cheaper and faster than the TOEFL (and capitalizing on the fact that many US institutions became test optional or test blind recently to help attract students), it has quickly made inroads.
But a number of factors make one wonder if this is a flash in the pan…
Read more in the EL Gazette.
Positive energy: ELT edition
We are planning on making this year the positive energy year. We have some ideas we are working on and we will bring them to you over the course of the year, but we would first like to start by asking our readers what we can bring you that will make a happy and positive difference to you. Please take a minute to think and then ask us for speakers or information on any area that would bring some positive energy to you. The possibilities are endless, really, so don’t be shy to bring anything to us. We will do our best to use what connections and resources we have to make it happen. |
The Broken business model of EFL
There is an insightful article that was recently published in the EL Gazette about the broken business model of EFL schools in the US and the UK. While many teachers think of language schools as money makers that deliberately keep their teachers poor, this article blows that idea out of the water to show an industry that definitely is not making money the way it used to. Note too, that many of the problems the US and UK are facing also exist in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.
Read more in the EL Gazette.
SFU and Navitas extend their partnership
Simon Fraser University and Navitas, which operates the Fraser International College on the SFU campus, have signed an agreement to extend their current partnership until 2030.
Read more on the SFU blog.
Something else to feel bad about: the carbon footprint of international students
It is probably a good bet that a larger than average percentage of ELT professionals are concerned about climate change. Well, a recent article in Inside Higher Ed puts the spotlight on international education and the large carbon footprint that it has. Possible solutions are suggested – including students staying home – but that leaves ELT professionals between a rock and a hard place.
Read more on IHE.
Pairing NESTs up with NNESTs for better outcomes (for students in China, at least)
The EL Gazette has an interesting article on a study that was recently published showing that student outcomes were better in Chinese classrooms when Native English Speaker Teachers (NESTs) and Non-Native English Speaker Teachers (NNESTs) collaborated and co-teach.
Read more in the EL Gazette. If you are a real nerd, read the actual study (paid).
Group work makes local students unpaid tutors to international students
The EL Gazette reports on an Australian student, Meshal Laurie, who argues that with the group work projects they are required for their courses, the Australian students in her program are effectively required to tutor the international students in their groups in order to pass their courses. Similar stories have come out of the UK.
Read more in the EL Gazette.
Federal government puts up $7.6 million for language training for newcomers
The faucet is on again. The federal government is distributing $7.6 million over 4 years to seven institutions across Canada to provide language instruction in English and French to newcomers.
Read more on cbc.ca.