Abstract
The study involved 14 volunteer facilitators, four UBC staff members, and the researcher as participant; the data collected were observation notes, questionnaires, results from focus groups, and interviews. The study revealed that the key strengths of the training workshop lay in its approach to training, its focus on confidence and capacity building, the appreciation and contribution of volunteers’ assets, and the support of the sponsoring university. The article concludes with a consideration of the implications for strategic planning for university-community engagement and replication of the program in other educational contexts.
Highlights
In countries such as Canada and the United States, learning English is essential for newly arrived adults to secure employment, participate in society, and even interact with their children and grandchildren
In the province of British Columbia, free English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes are offered through English Language Services for Adults (ELSA), a program funded by the Canadian government
The guiding research question was “What are the perceived strengths of the ESL Conversation Program Facilitator Training Workshop?” Our second research question, which will not be addressed in this article, asked “How does the training workshop work as a community of practice?” This question refers to ideas by Lave and Wenger (1991), who viewed learning as a social process within a community
Summary
In countries such as Canada and the United States, learning English is essential for newly arrived adults to secure employment, participate in society, and even interact with their children and grandchildren. English language classes can provide a connection to the culture in which newcomers find themselves (Schlusberg & Mueller, 1995). In the province of British Columbia, free English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes are offered through English Language Services for Adults (ELSA), a program funded by the Canadian government. While the language and cultural support provided to newcomers by ELSA and its instructors is invaluable, the program has limitations. Volunteer-facilitated language learning programs are an important part of continued free ESL/EAL instruction for adults in British Columbia and elsewhere. Social service organizations, and religious organizations, and usually conducted in informal settings such as libraries or places of worship, these volunteer-based programs provide free language support through both large- and small-group instruction and one-to-one tutoring. Since there is little research on volunteer-based adult ESL programs, let alone the training that their volunteers receive, this article addresses an identified gap by focusing on the training workshop offered by one such volunteer-based program, hosted by UBC’s Learning Exchange in Vancouver, British Columbia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
