(ELT) program provides advanced level English Language Training to adult newcomers. The goal of ELT is to provide job-specific, labour market-level language training to assist newcomers find and keep jobs that match their skills, experience and qualifications. The ELT programs are particularly useful for internationally-trained professionals and tradespeople.

For the ELT initiative, an eligible client is a permanent resident, a convention refugee and one who is destined for the Canadian labour market. Prior to being placed in the ELT class, participants must also be assessed for language proficiency by designated assessment centres and meet the language proficiency requirements.

In-Class Language Training Component

The language training component focuses on the following key areas: professional vocabulary, information technology, workplace communication, job search, and workplace culture. This component consists of approximately 200 hours of language training, either on a full-time or a part-time basis.

Bridge-to-Work Component

This component consists of two separate but not mutually exclusive modules: work placements and mentoring.

• Work-Placements - This module follows class instruction and it is non-paid work experience for a period of 2-6 weeks. The work placement experience is designed to facilitate the integration of participants into specific sectors of the work force. Participants will learn workplace ethics of the target sector. During placement, participants' success and challenges will be monitored by PICS through phone contact and/or site visits.
• Mentoring - PICS will facilitate 20-40 hours of mentoring over 4-6 weeks as an alternative to the work placement. PICS matches participants with mentors. The focus of these sessions is employment, with discussions centered around job leads, insight into job openings, advice on resume wording, and introduction to employers.

Guest Speakers - An intrinsic part of the ELT program is the participation of guest speakers on a regular basis. These speakers provide participants with knowledge and insight into a particular industry, provide information on the recruitment process from the employers' perspective, and share personal experiences about the process of acquiring professional certification or recognition of foreign-obtained credentials.

Program Support Services -The three main support services offered by ELT to eligible participants are: on-site Childminding services, Licensed Childcare spots during the bridge-to-work component, and Transportation Assistance in the form of transportation allowances/tokens.

The ELT program is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.