The Bow Valley Learning Council - 2020/21 Programs

The Bow Valley Learning Council – 2020/21 Programs
The Bow Valley Learning Council (BVLC) offers programs, tutoring, learning supports and referrals in
foundational learning to adult learners in the Bow Valley. Foundational learning needs include ELL (English
Language Learning), literacy, numeracy, digital skills and other essential skills as needed. It is funded by Alberta
Innovation and Advanced Education.

The Bow Valley Learning Council’s programs and supports encourage and support adult learners as they work
to achieve their goals in reading, writing, digital skills and communicating effectively in English or French
(French language needs are currently referred to community partners).

The Bow Valley Learning Council supports adult learners (18+). Many of our learners are English Language
Learners who want to improve their English communication in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Others
are ELL Literacy Learners who require ELL support and need to build literacy skills. We also support English
speakers who might need help with reading and writing. Support with digital skills has become another
important part of the work we do in recent years.

We offer a number of English Language Learning (ELL) classes throughout the year (these are currently reduced
due to Covid 19) as well as placing learners with tutors or in small groups to set and work on learning goals
(these partnerships are generally being conducted online during Covid 19). Learning goals are different for each
person, so the BVLC supports each learner with his/her own learning plan. You can contact the BVLC Program
Coordinator, Deb Penninga to learn more about this program.

We could not offer the Bow Valley Learning Council programs without the help of many volunteers. Please
contact us to learn more about volunteering with the BVLC or other important service providers in the
community.

Coordinator:
Deb Penninga, the Program Coordinator, can be contacted at bowvalleyliteracy@gmail.com or 403-431-0091.

Contact Deb Penninga at bowvalleyliteracy@gmail.com; 403.431-0091; www.bowvalleylearning.ca
Our offices in Canmore and Banff are currently closed due to Covid 19. Please call or email to make an appointment.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Tutoring
This volunteer works with one or more learning partners for 1.5 to 2 hours per week from September 2020 to
June 2021. Training and ongoing support (currently online during Covid) is provided. An ESL or teaching
background is an asset but not required. Please note that the BVLP is only able to support a limited number of
learning partnerships per year, so we are not always able to offer this volunteer position.

Small Group Support Volunteer or Small Group Leader
This volunteer helps teachers in our Prepare to Take a Beginner English Class, Conversation Class or others that
arise on an “as-needed” basis. The classes that we are currently offering or plan to offer during Covid 19 are
online and generally offered via Zoom.

Job Description
   • Get to know learning partner/program participants.
   • Discuss, set and measure (informally) learning goals.
   • Work with adult learners toward learning goals and to develop strategies for learning.

Responsibilities and Tasks
  • Work with adult learners on a weekly basis. During Covid, meetings generally will happen online or at
     approved meeting sites with all required safety measure observed. The BVLC learning year runs from
     September to June.
   • Attend orientation session, new volunteer training and training sessions when possible. These
     opportunities are currently being offered online during Covid.
   • Keep in regular contact with the Program Coordinator.
   • Read emails from Coordinator and check BVLC Facebook feed (accessible without a Facebook account of
     home page of BVLC website (www.bowvalleylearning.ca). Ensure that program participants are aware of
     all current news, program/community events and learning opportunities.
   • Track and record hours spent planning, at training sessions and working with learners. A volunteer hours
     log is provided in this document.
   • Complete report forms in June and December. Please note that letters of reference cannot be provided
     when reporting has not been completed.
   • Protect the privacy of learner information, including what takes place during a lesson.

Qualifications
You have an interest in education and a desire to help others. You are willing to learn about and practice the
principles of adult learning. During Covid 19, we anticipate our volunteers will meet with learners online. In
some cases, if both the volunteer and learner are comfortable and public health regulations allow for it, it
may be possible to meet in person in a public place that allows for physical distancing.

Contact Deb Penninga at bowvalleyliteracy@gmail.com; 403.431-0091; www.bowvalleylearning.ca
Our offices in Canmore and Banff are currently closed due to Covid 19. Please call or email to make an appointment.

Community Profile
The Bow Valley Learning Council serves the communities of Banff and Canmore (with a combined population of
21,000+) as well as the MD of Bighorn, Kananaskis and Lake Louise. Located in the Rocky Mountains, this is an
active community, with people coming from all over the world to hike, bike, canoe, climb, ski or simply take in
the spectacular scenery.

Even during Covid 19, tourism remains the main industry in the Bow Valley and hotels, restaurants, shops and
galleries abound. The prospect of employment attracts people from around Canada as well as many new
Canadians, Temporary Foreign Workers and people with Working Holiday Visas (limited at the moment during
Covid 19). Many agencies and volunteer organizations are working hard to make sure that we have an
inclusive, welcoming community. Community meals, sporting events and free or low-cost recreation
opportunities are regular occurrences.

Community includes: Banff, Canmore, Dead Man’s Flats, Exshaw, Harvey Heights, Kananaskis, Lac des Arcs,
Lake Louise and Morley (Stoney Nakoda First Nation).

English Language Learner Support Services
When we are operating under normal circumstances (prior to Covid and hopefully in the new year), The Bow
Valley Learning Council (BVLC) offers English Language Learning (ELL) classes in both Banff and Canmore and
Bow Valley College offers LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) classes in Banff, along with
CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) testing and placement. The BVLC also offers a pre-Beginner English
program in Banff for those learners who are getting ready to transition to other English language learning
opportunities. The BVLC hosts regular consultations with learners to make sure that they are aware of all the
learning opportunities they have access to as time, immigration status and the demands of daily life allow.

When we are operating under normal circumstances (prior to Covid and hopefully in the new year), drop-in
groups and classes are another way in which we can meet the needs of those who may not be able to sign up
for a class. The BVLC offers a weekly conversation group in both Canmore and Banff as well as an advanced
English class in Canmore. These groups provide opportunities for learners to gain confidence, supplement
other learning and develop networking skills.

Work schedules, limited childcare options and other factors make it difficult for some learners to attend classes
so the flexibility offered by a one-on-one learning partnership is invaluable. The BVLC has a thriving volunteer
tutoring program and we supported over 20 learning partnerships in the 2019-20 year.

During Covid, the majority of classes/tutoring sessions we offer will be online. In certain cases, small groups,
classes or learning partners may have on site sessions if allowed by public health regulations and pre-approved
by the BVLC.

Contact Deb Penninga at bowvalleyliteracy@gmail.com; 403.431-0091; www.bowvalleylearning.ca
Our offices in Canmore and Banff are currently closed due to Covid 19. Please call or email to make an appointment.

Community Challenges
Of course, every community is faced with challenges during Covid. While online learning is a solid interim
alternative to in-person instruction, it’s difficult for many of our learners to access and take advantage of the
digital technology required to make online learning work effectively.

In addition, our community is very spread out, and it is difficult for learners in our smaller, more distant
communities to access learning opportunities. Staffing shortages, a lack of affordable child care and
transportation costs are further obstacles. BVLC services are in high demand and it is a challenge to recruit and
train volunteers at a rate that meets the need. While there are excellent supports for beginner and
intermediate learners, there are fewer options for (ESL) Literacy Learners or Advanced Learners who want to
develop greater fluency in writing and speaking.

Community Support
Our community has a great network of support for learners and service Pproviders, including the following:
Banff Library
Canmore Library
MD of Bighorn Library
Bow Valley College
Bow Valley Immigration Partnership
Bow Valley Settlement Services
Community Learning Network
FCSS (Family and Community Support Services) Canmore
FCSS (Family and Community Support Services) Banff
Innovation and Advanced Education Alberta
Job Resource Center
Family Resource Network - Canmore
Family Resource Network – Banff
Temporary Foreign Worker Support Services – Bow Valley
YWCA Banff

Local Contact:
Deb Penninga, Coordinator
bowvalleyliteracy@gmail.com
403-431-0091

Contact Deb Penninga at bowvalleyliteracy@gmail.com; 403.431-0091; www.bowvalleylearning.ca
Our offices in Canmore and Banff are currently closed due to Covid 19. Please call or email to make an appointment.

Volunteer Log
Tutor Name: _____________________________ Learner Name: ________________________________
           Date        Time      Prep Time     Goal(s)       Next             Comments
         (d/m/y)                     (if       Before       Meeting
                                 applicable)    Next
                                               Meeting
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
 10
 11
 12
 13
 14
 15
 16
 17
 18
 19
 20
 21
 22

Please use the ‘Date’ column to indicate if there is a ‘no-show’ and please contact the Program
Coordinator if there is more than one ‘no-show’.

A log of hours must be submitted to the BVLC in January and June.

Lesson Plan Template

Date                Length of time      Level        Topics

Goals
Reading             Writing             Listening    Speaking

Materials

Warmup

Review

New lesson
Part one

Part two

Homework/Practice between sessions

Conclusion