Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce

Skills classes are higher-level skill-specific classes which provide English training for immigrants who wish to obtain gainful employment or receive accreditation for their professional certification.

Skills classes take place outside of the workplace.

Learners in these classes focus on specific skills.  The overall goal of these classes is to provide learners with the English skills needed to:

• obtain gainful employment in Canada or
• aid them in the process of receiving Canadian recognition for their international profession. 

Throughout the year, various Skills programs are offered free of charge to immigrants with Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizenship status.  Skills classes are two or three hours in length, offered twice a week for a series of twelve weeks.

Winkler
Basic Pronunciation – This class is available for learners at a high CLB 3 or CLB 4.  Learners focus on the basics of:

• muscle building
• enunciation
• word stress
• sentence stress
• emphasis
• thought groups
• intonation
• linking  

Classes are learner-centered, incorporating current needs of the learners into the program.  Classes run repeat sessions in the mornings and over supper-hour to accommodate shift workers.  With this schedule, learners can attend either the morning or supper-hour classes to receive the same instruction.

Advanced Pronunciation – This class is available for learners at a CLB 4 or higher.  Learners focus on more advanced levels of

• muscle building
• enunciation
• word stress
• sentence stress
• emphasis
• thought groups
• intonation
• linking 
• higher level vocabulary

Classes are learner-centered, incorporating current needs of the learners into the program.
Classes run repeat sessions in the mornings and over supper-hour to accommodate shift workers.  With this schedule, learners can attend either the morning or supper-hour classes to receive the same instruction.

Computer Skills – This class is available for learners at a CLB 4 or higher.  Learners improve their English skills through the process of familiarizing themselves with the computer.  As computers are becoming more and more crucial to the working world, immigrants need to be familiar with computers in order to be qualified for many jobs in Canada.  Some topics covered include:

• general awareness of Canadian computers
• e-mails
• MS Office
• Internet
• file management
• typing skills

 New computer hardware at Regional Connections, purchased through English at Work, allows for current hardware and software to be used in class.  Classes are small in number, which provides plenty of time for individualized instruction for learners who are trying to grasp the English language.

Classes are learner-centered, incorporating current needs of the learners into the program.

 Winkler Skills classes are generally offered from September through May or June.  Classes run on a 10-week cycle and are held at Regional Connections.  Please contact us for further information about registration or eligibility.

Altona
Pronunciation – This class is available for learners at a CLB 4 or higher.  Learners focus on the basics of:

• muscle building
• enunciation
• word stress
• sentence stress
• emphasis
• thought groups
• intonation
• linking

Classes are learner-centered, incorporating current needs of the learners into the program.

Altona Skills classes are offered from September through March.  Classes run on a 10-week cycle and are held at the Golden West Plaza.  Please contact us for further information about registration or eligibility