Using the CLB in WorkLINC

Oct 15, 2026

Striving for greater English proficiency and securing employment, newcomers in Canada’s Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) use the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) / Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) to gauge abilities and progress. In the WorkLINC program at the Immigrants Working Centre, the CLB anchor curriculum, Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA) real-world tasks, and classroom activities. Instructors share CLB competency areas with employers and community partners to align support. The article outlines WorkLINC’s evolution, its industry-specific work readiness classes, and implementation challenges in multi-level cohorts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Using the CLB in WorkLINC

The WorkLINC Program

The Evolution of WorkLINC

Using the CLB in WorkLINC Audrey Beaulne Immigrants Working Centre Abstract Striving for greater English proficiency and securing a job are common goals of newcomers to Canada. For newcomers in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program, the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)/Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) provide an indicator of their abilities and progress in their language acquisition. The CLB have become the backbone of WorkLINC, an industry-specific work readiness program. They anchor curriculum, Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA) real-world tasks, and classroom activities. WorkLINC participants develop their vocabulary, soft skills, workplace safety knowledge, and get employment support. Instructors have shared the CLB with employers and community partners to increase comprehension of newcomers’ language levels. Though there are challenges meeting the diverse needs in multi-level cohorts, engaging learners about the purpose of classroom tasks and understanding the CLB competency areas in which they need development enables them to focus on achievable goals directly related to their employment aspirations. Résumé S’efforcer de mieux maîtriser l’anglais et se trouver un emploi sont des buts communs des nouveaux arrivants au Canada. Pour les nouveaux arrivants au programme Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC), les Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) fournissent un indicateur de leurs capacités et de leurs progrès dans leur acquisition linguistique. Les NCLC sont devenus le pilier de WorkLINC, un programme de préparation au marché du travail propre à l’industrie. Ils soutiennent le curriculum, les tâches du monderéel de l’évaluation linguistique basée sur le portfolio (ELBP) et les activités en classe. Les participants à WorkLINC perfectionnent leur vocabulaire, leurs compétences non techniqueset leurs connaissances de la sécurité au travail, et obtiennent du soutien à l’emploi. Les instructeurs ont partagé les NCLC avec des employeurs et des partenaires communautairesafin d’accroître la compréhension des niveaux linguistiques des nouveaux arrivants. Bien qu’il y ait des défis à relever pour répondre aux divers besoins de cohortes multiniveaux, le fait d’intéresser les apprenants au but des tâches en classe et de leur faire comprendre les domaines de compétence des NCLC dans lesquels ils ont besoin de perfectionnement leur permet de se concentrer sur les buts réalisables directement liés à leurs aspirations en matièred’emploi. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, Special Issue: 23, 2 (2020): 220-227 CJAL * RCLA Beaulne 221 Using the CLB in WorkLINC As the national standard in Canada for adult English language learners in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program, the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) provide a framework for newcomers to gauge their needs and progress not only in their language acquisition but also their skills development as they prepare for the workplace. The WorkLINC program at the Immigrants Working Centre (IWC) in Hamilton, Ontario, offers intensive, industry-specific work readiness classes for learners looking for employment. The CLB, designed for broad application in study, community, and workplace contexts, have been the foundation of curriculum development unique to WorkLINC and the implementation of Portfolio Based Language Assessment (PBLA) within the program. This ensures learners can move through their language learning and work towards their employment goals simultaneously. This article describes the evolution of WorkLINC, how the CLB are used in its program design and classroom practice, and some of the challenges the instructors have encountered in delivering the program. The WorkLINC Program Initially started in 2016 to meet the needs of low-level, employment-seeking newcomers to Hamilton, WorkLINC has become a permanent part of IWC’s LINC program. WorkLINC offe

FAQs

What role do the CLB/NCLC play in WorkLINC?

The CLB/NCLC provide an indicator of learners’ language abilities and progress. In WorkLINC, they anchor curriculum, PBLA real-world tasks, and classroom activities.

How does WorkLINC support learners toward employment?

WorkLINC combines industry-specific English language development with individual employment support from employment counsellors. It also includes safety-related training and, depending on the cohort, additional certifications and a second preparation phase.

What challenges do instructors face when using the CLB in WorkLINC?

Instructors need to meet diverse needs across multi-level cohorts. Engaging learners with the purpose of classroom tasks and clarifying CLB competency areas helps them focus on achievable goals connected to employment aspirations.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Anna Hans