It is also important that learners recognize that some professions such as teachers, doctors or nurses have an "advisory role". Advice given by these professionals in no way indicates that a parent is inadequate. It is simply offered to assist the parent make appropriate decisions.

Potential activities to try with the learner¹⁰

• Discuss the difference between drastic intervention (involving police) and helpful intervention (i.e. a nurse giving advice on child care).
• Discuss standards of acceptable discipline in Canada. These standards may differ from the ones the learner is accustomed to in her native country. Let learners know that children can be taken out of homes where family members use inappropriate forms of discipline.
• For lower level students, there are resources available in The ESL Toolbox: Ready-to-Use Enrichment Activities for LINC Classes, ¹¹ that have simple language and many visual aids, which can be used to introduce topics such as abuse, date rape and other related issues.
• Please consult program personnel whenever serious issues arise. Program staff can make the referrals necessary to support a learner.

D: Discussing Culture with a Learner

Discussions about culture may come up frequently in your tutoring sessions. Learners are generally very interested in learning about Canadian culture and may come with numerous questions after a busy week.

However, there may be times when you want to make this part of the formal lesson. One way to introduce culture into the tutorial sessions is through the use of "critical incidents." Critical incidents are set up in a way that stimulates discussion and allows the learner to express her viewpoint.

⁹ Human Resources Development Canada. Working with Newcomers: A Guide for Immigration and Settlement Workers , 1991. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and the Government Services Canada, 2003.
¹⁰ Human Resources Development Canada. Canada: A Source Book for Orientation, Language and Settlement Workers, 1991. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and the Government Services Canada, 2003.
¹¹Ormiston et al., The ESL Tool Box: Ready-to-Use Enrichment Activities for LINC Classes (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: University Extension Press, 1995.)