National Adult Literacy Database

The ESL Literacy Network at Bow Valley College goes the extra mile to address the professional development needs of ESL literacy practitioners in Alberta and beyond. It also responds to the diverse needs of learners with interrupted formal education.

The website offers a wide range of services and unique online resources in addition to adhering to the broader mandate for ESL instruction – breaking down barriers, opening doors and creating opportunities.

• Continuing to evolve and expand, the ESL Literacy Network has a new Youth section that responds to the needs of immigrant youth, ages 18 to 25, with interrupted formal education. Visitors to the section can learn more about Bow Valley College’s Bridge program and download practical classroom resources.
• The Network features an online Community of Practice that gives ESL literacy practitioners the opportunity to ask questions, share resources and take part in meaningful dialogue among their peers.
• The website also includes:  a Blog that allows visitors to keep current on what’s happening at the Network; a Showcase where practitioners can highlight their work; and a Learning Outcomes Database which is based on Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000: ESL for Literacy Learners.

NALD CEO Bill Stirling presents the 2011 NALD Innovative Technology Award to Isabel Gibbins, dean of ESL and Languages at Bow Valley College.

The ESL Literacy Network won NALD’s 2011 Innovative Technology Award and this fall Bill Stirling, CEO of NALD, was in Calgary to present the award.

“NALD established the Innovative Technology Award to recognize outstanding achievement and bring greater visibility to an exemplary or innovative technology product that benefits the field of adult literacy and essential skills,” Bill said. “The ESL Literacy Network is a great example of the kind of resource we’d like to celebrate and we are pleased to reward the outstanding efforts made on its behalf.”

Funded by the Government of Alberta, the ESL Literacy Network is located at www.esl-literacy.com. For more information, online visitors may also access the NALD announcement (June 2011) or a broader feature (November 2011) about the award-winning website.

Members of the ESL Literacy Network family gather as Isabel Gibbins accepts the NALD award on their behalf.

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