Introduction to Intercultural Communication - Evening
2023-06-06 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Edmonton)
Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Online
Facilitators: Selestia Herrera-Ganton, Alberta Routes Regional Advisor (North, East-West)
Description:
ECALA is pleased to be hosting the Alberta Routes workshop, Introduction to Intercultural Communications. Participants are invited to reflect on foundational concepts related to culture, including how culture is defined, how it relates to people’s behaviours and values, and how to respond to unfamiliar encounters with mindfulness in order to foster effective communication and build relationships. This session is a great place to start and will leave you wanting to learn more.
Click here to register.
Please note: this is a repeat of our June 12th morning session

Annual Report Writing Session
2023-06-07 13:30 - 15:00
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: Online Zoom
Facilitator: Leanne Adegbonmire & Marnie Rempel Friesen, Grant Liaison Team
This session will walk through ECALA’s 2022-2023 Annual Report, due July 8, 2023. Come with questions and examples to share with other participants. As a reminder, this session will focus on the Microsoft Word & Excel documents to be submitted online. We will not cover the Financials in this session.
This session is for ECALA-funded agencies.
Click here to register.

Introduction to Intercultural Communication - Morning
2023-06-12 10:00 - 12:00
Date: Monday, June 12, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Online
Facilitator: Selestia Herrera-Ganton, Alberta Routes Regional Advisor (North, East-West)
Description:
ECALA is pleased to be hosting the Alberta Routes workshop, Introduction to Intercultural Communications. Participants are invited to reflect on foundational concepts related to culture, including how culture is defined, how it relates to people’s behaviours and values, and how to respond to unfamiliar encounters with mindfulness in order to foster effective communication and build relationships. This session is a great place to start and will leave you wanting to learn more.
Click here to register.
Please note: this is a repeat of our June 6th evening session

Resource Share Back Lunch n Learn
2023-06-14 12:00 - 13:00
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Where: Online
Facilitators: Team ECALA
Description:
This session is exactly what’s in the name — We want to provide a space for ECALA to share back all of the resources (ELL, Basic Digital/Digital Literacy, Adult Literacy, Senior Learners, and General) you’ve shared with us over the past few months!
Click here to register.

One-to-One Tutoring: Reading and Writing
2023-09-01 - 2026-06-30
Are you struggling with reading or writing? Learners at PALS work one-to-one with a tutor to improve their skills. We will match you with a tutor who understands your unique needs and learning style. One-to-one tutoring allows us to focus on your areas of challenge and we can go back and address any learning gaps you need to. You can work online or in-person at the PALS office or at a library near your home. Meetings are for a few hours each week at a time that works for you.

English Level 1
2023-09-06 - 2026-06-30
Do you want to learn English? Come work on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Talk about:

Greetings
Introductions
Shopping
Family and friends
Jobs
Phone calls
And more!

English for Beginners (Pre Literacy)
2023-09-06 - 2026-06-30
Do you want to learn English? Come work on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Talk about:

Greetings
Introductions
Family and friends
And more!

Empowered Parenting
2023-09-06 - 2026-06-30
In this class you will talk about developing positive relationships and positive parenting skills. We will talk about:

Health
Safety
Behavior
Child development

You will learn through games, videos and conversations. The goal of this group is to learn positive parenting techniques and develop skills for success.

ECALA's 25th Anniversary and Annual General Meeting (AGM)
2023-09-20 18:00 - 19:00
ECALA’s 25th Anniversary and Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Debbie Clark
Registration: Click here
Join ECALA-funded agencies to celebrate ECALA’s 25th Anniversary and participate in our Annual General Meeting
The Agenda and meeting materials outlined in the ECALA Bylaws will be sent to registrants at the end of August.

Reading Strategies for Working with Adult Learners
2023-09-22 09:30 - 11:30
Reading Strategies for Working with Adult Learners
Date: Friday, September 22, 2023
Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Where: Virtual
Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/9aS7dneTSe
Are you looking for reading strategies and tools to help you with your adult foundational learners? Join ECALA and Bonnie Caron, PALS Adult Literacy Coordinator, to examine the basic elements of learning to read:

Phonics
Word Families
Sight words
Prefixes and Suffixes
Syllables

Bonnie will share excerpts from a comprehensive curriculum she has developed that helps teach literacy from pre-reading to Grade 8. You will also receive an amazing list of resources and information on how where to purchase them. You’ll want to be there!

Teaching Basic Digital Skills: a Multilevel Curriculum
2023-10-12 13:00 - 15:00
Teaching Basic Digital Skills: a Multilevel Curriculum
Date: Thursday, October 12, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Marnie Rempel Friesen and Chelséa Legg-St.Pierre
Registration: Click here
Do you teach digital literacy? Do you have English language learners in your classes? Is it a challenge to figure out what to teach and how to teach it? Immigrant Settlement Services of British Columbia (ISS of BC) has created a curriculum to teach basic digital skills to English language learners. Come to this session to:

Review the ISS of BC resource
Share best practices and strategies when teaching digital literacy
Explore different language levels of the same lesson
Practice working with the ISS of BC lesson plan framework
Discuss ways to adapt the curriculum to your setting

Scribe Lunch n Learn
2023-10-16 12:00 - 13:00
Scribe Lunch n Learn
Date: Monday, October 16, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Leanne Adegbonmire
Registration: Click here
Join our one-hour lunch and learn session to explore Scribe – the ultimate screen capture and documentation tool. Learn how to effortlessly create step-by-step guides with text and screenshots by simply recording your processes. Share instantly with your team or embed into your knowledge base. Streamline your workflow with Scribe!

The Power of Positivity
2023-10-19 09:30 - 12:00
The Power of Positivity
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023
Time: 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Registration: Click here
Being positive and sharing that positivity with your learner can go a long way in engaging them in the learning process. Many of our learners have had negative experiences in a learning environment. This workshop will:

Look at how to incorporate and encourage positive language from both the educator and the learner
Explore the differences between fixed and growth mindsets
Practice positive ways to show support when our learners feel challenged

The Impact of Family Violence on Learning
2023-10-20 09:30 - 11:30
The Impact of Family Violence on Learning
Date: Friday, October 20, 2023
Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator: Sarah Jensen, Education Specialist at The Today Centre
Registration: Click here
Do you know how to recognize some of the signs someone is in an unhealthy relationship or is a victim of family violence? Do you know how to support someone who may be in a situation like this? How might being in this situation affect your learners? ECALA and the Today Centre are offering a workshop to empower community members to recognize, respond, and support people who may be experiencing family violence.
Information shared will include:

A more in-depth look at the different types of abuse that may be happening
Look at the role of power
Possible barriers to seeking support
Strategies to better respond to disclosures
Information on safety planning

Community Resources in Edmonton The Today Centre is a non-profit agency in Edmonton that offers a safe, inclusive place for adults who have been victims of family violence and provides educational opportunities to learn more about this topic.

Chat GPT Lunch n Learn
2023-10-23 12:00 - 13:00
Chat GPT Lunch n Learn
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Leanne Adegbonmire
Registration: Click here
Join our hour-long session to explore an easy introduction to ChatGPT. Unlock the potential of ChatGPT in teaching, even if you’re tech-cautious! See how it can boost lesson planning, simplifies info finding, and learn simple techniques to create helpful prompts. Embrace AI step by step and enrich your teaching experience!

Scribe Check-In Lunch n Learn
2023-10-30 12:00 - 13:00
Scribe Check-In Lunch n Learn
Date: Monday, October 20, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Leanne Adegbonmire
Registration: Click here
Did you attend the Scribe lunch n learn? Join us for this check-in session. Discover how fellow participants are incorporating Scribe into their work, share your experiences, and get your questions answered. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your Scribe skills and learn valuable insights from your peers. Don’t miss out!

Outcome, Measurement, and Evaluation
2023-11-16 13:00 - 14:30
Outcome, Measurement, and Evaluation
Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Registration: Click here
Walk through the ECALA Outcomes, Measurement and Evaluation (OME) table and review the different measurements that educators must collect and report on in accordance with the Community Adult Learning Programs (CALP) Guidelines 2020. This session is of interest to anyone who is interacting with learners, is involved with collecting data during sessions or is filling out ECALA reports.
Please note: this session is only for ECALA-funded agencies.

Engaging Activities for Multilevel English Classes
2023-11-21 13:00 - 15:00
Engaging Activities for Multilevel English Classes
Date: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: In person, ECALA Office, #104 4207 98 St NW
Registration: is limited to 12 participants. Click here, to register. Please note registration closes at 5 pm on Friday, November 17.
Do you work with learners who have various goals and skills? Encouraging learners with different strengths to push themselves in the same activity can be a daunting task, but we’ll share creative solutions to make sure each learner is engaged without being left behind or feeling bored. In this session, we share six examples of activities and strategies that you can take with you. You’ll take home a packet of printable resources and digital links that you can modify for your classes.

Fall ECALA Community Conversation 2023
2023-11-24 08:30 - 11:30
Fall ECALA Community Conversation 2023
Date: Friday, November 24, 2023
Time:
8:30 am – 9:00 am Networking online and in person
9:00 am – 11:30 am Community Conversation, a hybrid event
Where: Hybrid: In person in the ECALA Learning Space, Online through Zoom
Registration is now closed.
Join ECALA staff and CALP-funded agency leadership for a morning of timely and relevant conversations. This is a hybrid event. The tentative agenda includes:

Networking
Our Heart and Purse Check-In Conversation
Advanced Education Update – CALP Grant
ECALA CALP Grant Additional Funding, Reporting Update and Group Conversations
Professional Development
Edmonton Literacy Coalition

Please note: this session is only for ECALA-funded agencies.

Lesson Planning (Online Option)
2023-11-29 16:00 - 18:00
Lesson Planning (Online Option)
Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Registration: Click here
In the community learning environment, sometimes it’s challenging to find a balance between Learner Centred Practice and too much Structure. In this session, we will explore how clear Learning Objectives, Interactive Activities, and a clear plan going into a class can provide just enough structure for your learners to thrive. This session is for educators working in all funded categories. Please note this workshop will cover the same content as the in-person workshop on November 30.

Lesson Planning (In Person Option)
2023-11-30 13:00 - 15:00
Lesson Planning (In Person Option)
Date: Thursday, November 30, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: In person, ECALA Office, #104 4207 98 St NW
Registration is closed.
In the community learning environment, sometimes it’s challenging to find a balance between Learner Centred Practice and too much Structure. In this session, we will explore how clear Learning Objectives, Interactive Activities, and a clear plan going into a class can provide just enough structure for your learners to thrive. This session is for educators working in all funded categories. Please note this workshop will cover the same content as the online workshop on November 29.

Edmonton Public Library (EPL)101
2023-12-06 12:00 - 13:00
Edmonton Public Library (EPL) 101
Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Sarah Foy, Community Librarian – Sprucewood
Registration: Click here
Join Edmonton Public Library to learn about all of our FREE in-person and digital resources for learners of all ages, demographics, and needs. We’ll discuss:

how to get a library card
library classes and services- newcomers, educators, early literacy, conversation circles, computer skills, makerspace
Search strategies for:

Physical items – how to search the catalogue (by keyword, language, lexile level, Hi-Lo (high interest, low readability)
Digital content – language learning, new career, technology and software skills, job search help, homework help for all ages, FUN stuff!

ECALA Classroom: Learners Skills Use
2024-01-15 13:30 - 15:30
ECALA Classroom: Learners Skills Use
Date: Monday, January 15, 2024
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Registration: Click here
Join our ECALA Classroom series and learn strategies to help you create meaningful learning opportunities. This series is for all educators, such as tutors, volunteers, and facilitators who are working directly with learners.
In this session, we’ll:
• Explore what Skills Use looks like in your learners’ lives
• Develop strategies for encouraging use of foundational skills outside the classroom
• Connect Skills Use to the overall learning journey

Intro to Chat GPT Lunch n Learn
2024-01-17 12:00 - 13:00
Intro to Chat GPT Lunch n Learn
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Leanne Adegbonmire, Grants Liaison
Registration: Click here
Join us for a one-hour session introducing Chat GPT. Learn its basics and how it can benefit you as an educator. We’ll introduce Chat GPT and showcase how it can answer questions, provide explanations, and generate text in various languages, making it a versatile tool for educational content.

Newcomer Mental Health Resources
2024-01-22 10:00 - 11:30
Newcomer Mental Health Resources
Date: Monday, January 22, 2024
Time: 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Rupa Ray, Family Counsellor, Cross-Cultural Counselling, Catholic Social Services
Registration: Click here
The session emphasizes the information about Mental Health Resources for Newcomers and Refugees in Edmonton and Calgary. The session also discusses the signs and symptoms of trauma, including the phase of Dissociation as the most common symptom among refugees. The discussion continues with the types of Mental Health Stigma that the refugees come with. Part of the session focuses on the basic Relaxation Techniques for clients who need them on the spot.

Chat GPT for Lesson Planning
2024-01-29 12:00 - 13:00
Chat GPT for Lesson Planning
Date: Monday, January 29, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Leanne Adegbonmire, Grants Liaison
Registration: Closed due to reaching the maximum participant count. Please email pdcoordinator@ecala.org or pd@ecala.org to be put on a waitlist.
Discover how Chat GPT can transform lesson planning. Explore its practical use in generating ideas and content for engaging lessons. We’ll demonstrate how Chat GPT can generate topic ideas, outline lesson structures, and even provide learning objectives and activities, saving you time and boosting creativity in your planning process.

ECALA Classroom: Tracking Learner Progress
2024-02-05 13:30 - 15:30
ECALA Classroom: Tracking Learner Progress
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Registration: Click here
Join our ECALA Classroom series and learn strategies to help you create meaningful learning opportunities. This series is for all educators, such as tutors, volunteers, and facilitators who are working directly with learners.
In this session, we’ll:

Discuss how to support your learners in creating goals
Explore ways to monitor progress toward goals
Develop strategies to review, revise and reflect on goals for better learning

Chat GPT for Developing Activities
2024-02-12 12:00 - 13:00
Chat GPT for Developing Activities
Date: Monday, February 12, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Leanne Adegbonmire, Grants Liaison
Registration: Click here
Explore how Chat GPT can help create interactive language and literacy activities tailored to your learners’ needs. We’ll showcase examples of Chat GPT generating writing prompts, brainstorming story ideas, and suggesting vocabulary exercises, all designed to make your lessons more dynamic and engaging.

Edmonton Public Library (EPL)101 February 2024
2024-02-14 12:00 - 13:00
Edmonton Public Library (EPL) 101
Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Sarah Foy, Community Librarian – Sprucewood
Registration: Click here
Join Edmonton Public Library to learn about all of our FREE in-person and digital resources for learners of all ages, demographics, and needs. We’ll discuss:

how to get a library card
library classes and services- newcomers, educators, early literacy, conversation circles, computer skills, makerspace
Search strategies for:

Physical items – how to search the catalogue (by keyword, language, lexile level, Hi-Lo (high interest, low readability)
Digital content – language learning, new career, technology and software skills, job search help, homework help for all ages, FUN stuff!

Please note this PD has been postponed until further notice.

Beyond Chat GPT: Other AI You Have to Try!
2024-02-26 12:00 - 13:00
Beyond Chat GPT: Other AI You Have to Try!
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Facilitator(s): Leanne Adegbonmire, Grants Liaison
Registration: Click here
Join us to discover AI tools beyond Chat GPT, revolutionizing education with personalized learning. Everyday more tools are being introduced – it’s challenging to keep up! We’ll introduce you to AI-driven platforms such as MagicSchool and Twee that can support you in so many ways. We welcome you to come and share your own experiences as well!
