The following are some examples of innovative practices initiated by colleges and institutes in the area of language training:

• Douglas College has a unique program available to ESL immigrant students. The Language Partner Program serves approximately 30 immigrant students in a buddy program with Anglophones at the college. This program was designed because immigrant students are looking to make contact with the host culture but find it very difficult as they lack confidence and are afraid that they will annoy people when they cannot offer quick responses. This program pairs immigrant learners with people within the college or community who are willing to converse and establish a friendship for a minimum of one hour per week.
• The Douglas College ESL department has also established two bursaries for immigrant students that are awarded twice a year, thus serving four immigrant students.
• Red River College also has a Language Partner program through which immigrant students teach Canadian students their language and Canadian students assist immigrants in practicing and improving their English.

2.2.2 Occupation-specific Language Training

The following colleges and institutes located in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba offer full-time and part-time occupation-specific English as a Second Language (ESL) programs that are for intermediate to advanced ESL learners. These programs are designed to meet the language needs of students who have specific employment, academic, and settlement goals.

British Columbia

Vancouver Community College, Vancouver
Professional and Career English (PACE) Department offers the following programs:

• Academic and Professional English – Self-Paced Program offers a flexible program for non-native English speakers with a professional background from their former countries who have professional and/or academic language acquisition goals and are motivated to work at their own pace through an individualized course of study.
• English for Health Sciences (ESL) course is designed for second language learners who are required to obtain Grade 12 English equivalency for entry to VCC's Health Sciences programs: Practical Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Lab Assistant, Hospital Unit coordinator, Dental Assisting/Reception, Dental Laboratory Technician, Denturist.
• English for Business and Customer Relations (ESL) is designed for second language learners who are presently employed, have previously worked or wish to pursue a career in business, technical occupations or customer relations.