Occupation‑specific Language Training (OSLT) Program for Newcomers to Canada

What is Occupation-specific Language Training?

The Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) Program at George Brown College helps prepare newcomers for the workplace by focusing on the language and communication expectations of specific occupations in Canada. Many newcomers have considerable background and experience from their home country but have not worked in their field in Canada. OSLT builds cultural awareness to support communication in a professional Canadian work environment. Learning materials and activities reflect common workplace-based situations. The college's instructors are experienced in teaching ESL to adults and draw upon the participants' knowledge and experience of the subject matter. George Brown College, located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city, offers newcomers the resources and the network to succeed in the Canadian job market.

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    Course Outcomes

    Participants will develop the language and communication skills needed to:

    1. Understand workplace culture in their occupation and sector
    2. Interact effectively with their colleagues, clients and supervisors
    3. Give and receive information by email and telephone
    4. Interview and network effectively
    5. Develop soft skills

    Course Content

    Depending on the sector, OSLT courses may include the following:

    Unit 1. Working in the Sector

    Participants learn about the resources they can use to identify the general requirements, qualifications and processes for working in their field in Ontario. Participants gain insight into Canadian workplace culture and practice introducing themselves professionally.

    Unit 2. Gathering and Sharing Information

    Participants practice asking questions clearly and appropriately to obtain information as well as develop skills needed to share and present information accurately.

    Unit 3. Communicating Using Technology

    Participants practice using technology to communicate, including by telephone, email and other Internet-based communication media.

    Unit 4. Managing Interactions

    Participants practice strategies for managing interactions including formal and informal interactions, strategies for negotiating workplace issues, managing situations that require assertiveness or conflict resolution.

    Unit 5. Moving Forward

    Participants prepare for employment searches, including asking for references and researching networking opportunities. Participants also practice decoding job ads, presenting their accomplishments and practice their in-person and telephone interview skills.

    Download the OSLT Guide for an overview of courses.

    Eligibility

    Participants must be permanent residents or protected persons and have:

    • Training or experience in a specified occupation or sector but need to improve their occupation-specific communication skills
    • Language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels 6 to 8* in at least one language skill area or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 5/6 to 8 for courses taught in French

    *Inter-professional Health Care Teams and Professional Managers courses require CLB levels 7-8.

    Current Schedule

    Business – Accounting/Finance (Sep 10 – Dec 19, 2019)

    • Workplace Communication Skills for Accounting and Finance: This practical and innovative course helps participants with training or experience in accounting or finance understand business workplaces in Ontario; effectively interact with customers, colleagues, suppliers, financial officers and government officials; develop strong interviewing, networking, socio-cultural and career-building communication skills; practise common on-the-job communication to improve occupation-specific language skills; and, learn how to use appropriate workplace communication in a variety of business and financial settings.
    • http://co-oslt.org/en/accounting-finance/

    Business – Entrepreneur/Sales & Marketing (Sep 10 – Dec 19, 2019)

    • Workplace Communication Skills for Entrepreneurship and Sales and Marketing: This practical and innovative course helps participants with training or experience in running a business or sales and marketing; understand business workplaces in Ontario; effectively interact with customers, colleagues, employees, suppliers, financial officers and government officials; develop strong interviewing, networking, socio-cultural and career-building communication skills; practise common on-the-job communication to improve your occupation-specific language skills; and, learn how to use appropriate workplace communication in a variety of business settings.
    • http://co-oslt.org/en/entrepreneurship/

    Business – Professional Managers (Sep 10 – Dec 12, 2019; Jan 7 – Mar 26, 2020)

    • Workplace Communications Skills for Professional Managers: This course focuses on the language and socio-cultural communication requirements of professional managers at CLB 6 to 8. The course addresses the language and communication skills needed to gather and share information with staff, colleagues and upper levels of management; communicate in one-on-one interactions, in meetings and through email; manage challenging interactions with staff, colleagues and upper levels of management; give presentations appropriate for managers. Sector background knowledge and culture relevant to the workplace context in Ontario are explicitly addressed in communication practice tasks.
    • http://co-oslt.org/en/professional-managers/

    Business - Writing Professionally (ONLINE)¹ (Sep 26 – Nov 28, 2019; Jan16 – Mar 19, 2020)

    • This online course focuses on professional writing skills. Participants will practice writing in a variety of professional contexts as well as develop strategies for effective writing.
      ¹Must have successfully completed OSLT Business or Technology course.

    Interprofessional for Health Care Teams (Sep 10 – Dec 12, 2019)

    • This practical and innovative course will help participants with experience or training in nursing, dietetics, physiotherapy and social work address communication skills needed for successful communication in inter-professional health care teams. Communication skills covered in the course include describing one's occupation to another professional; providing and gathering information on client care; writing a progress note; seeking assistance from team members; providing assistance to team members; managing challenging team interactions.
    • http://co-oslt.org/en/interprofessional-health-care-teams/

    Health Sciences (ONLINE)

    • This practical and innovative course consists of 3 – online modules will help participants with experience or training in dental hygiene, dietetics, medical laboratory technology, medical radiation technology, nursing, occupational therapy, personal support work, physiotherapy, sleep technology or social work understand health care workplaces in Ontario such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes; clearly and effectively interact with colleagues, clients and supervisors; develop strong interviewing, networking, socio-cultural and career-building communication skills; practise common on-the-job communication to improve occupation-specific language skills; and, learn how to use appropriate workplace communication in health care settings such as clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, community agencies, medical offices and residences.
    • http://co-oslt.org/en/health-care/
    1. Accessing the Health Care Job Market in Ontario (May 23 – Jun 27, 2019)
      • This online course addresses the language and communication skills needed to introduce yourself professionally in the job search context, describe requirements for working in your chosen occupation in Ontario and develop a Job Action Plan for securing employment in your chosen occupation.
      • https://co-oslt.org/courses/health-sciences/accessing-the-health-care-job-market-in-ontario/
    2. Communicating in the Health Care Field (Jul 18 – Aug 22, 2019)
      • This online course addresses the language and communication skills needed to ask common questions in a data collection interview, document data collection findings and conduct telephone calls appropriately.
      • https://co-oslt.org/courses/health-sciences/communicating-in-the-health-care-sector-in-ontario/
    3. Managing Interactions in the Health Care Field (Sep 26 – Oct 31, 2019)
      • This online course addresses the language and communication skills needed to give instructions for routine procedures, provide health teaching, provide comfort and reassurance, and manage challenging interactions.
      • https://co-oslt.org/courses/health-sciences/managing-health-care-interactions-in-ontario/

    Health Sciences - Writing Professionally (ONLINE)² (Jan16 – Mar 19, 2020)

    • This online course focuses on professional writing skills. Participants will practice writing in a variety of professional contexts as well as develop strategies for effective writing.
      ²Must have successfully completed:
      • OSLT Health Care; or
      • OSLT Interprofessional Health Care Teams; or
      • OSLT Health Sciences (Online) – Communicating in the Health Care Sector & Managing Interactions in the Health Care Sector

    How to Apply

    To be considered, please submit the following documents by email, fax or in-person:

    • a copy of your resume; &
    • a valid Canadian Language Benchmark* (CLB) score (must be taken within 12 months of the start date of the OSLT course).

    If you have taken the CLB recently, please forward your ID so we can verify your information. Otherwise, we can make arrangements for you to take the CLB test at the YMCA

    GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE
    School of Immigrant and Transitional Education
    200 King St. E, 264D
    Email: oslt@georgebrown.ca
    Phone: 416-415-5000 ext. 6980
    Fax: 416-415-2775

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    Land acknowledgement

    George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.


    Learn more about our land acknowledgment