Related Benchmarks are attached to each activity. As you adapt and add to the suggested activities, the focus shifts to other benchmarks. These are a guide only as are the LINC Curriculum Guidelines. Access the guide through the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks. http://www.language.ca/display_page.asp?page_id=1
As we mentioned earlier, some topics parallel the LINC Guidelines. The content differs in focus, not language skills. For example, in the section on customer service, the curriculum document looks at returns and complaints. While this is important consumer information, it needed to be expanded to a broader understanding of how customer service works from within as well as externally. CanadaWorks tries to do this. Quality and Standards, the two big words in all sectors (including education) are firmly entrenched in customer service.
We surveyed a variety of stakeholders as step one. These stakeholders included LINC instructors, ESL instructors, workplace trainers, learners in classes not yet working and learners now working, owners/managers of companies and human resource personnel.
Eight stakeholders were asked to be part of a focus group. All were experienced ESL instructors. Some were LINC 4/5, some community ESL and most had sectoral-specific experience (e.g., health care ESL) and one was from a labour organization involved in ESL.
The following sources were also researched and CanadaWorks delivers information or practice on most of the skill areas defined in each.
Essential Skills Profiles: Human Resource Development Canada
Essential Skills: Conference Board of Canada
Foundation Skills: Canadian Unions
Basic Skills: SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) U.S.
Note: some skills may not seem directly related to language skills, but if you break each skill down there is a direct correlation to language competency.