Immigration Canada

English Proficiency: Mastering the CELPIP Test.

by Chris Koelbleitner

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) is a multi-purpose English test that allows test takers to demonstrate their ability to function in English. The CELPIP has two versions: the CELPIP-General Test that measures four skills areas—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—and the CELPIP-General LS Test that measures only listening and speaking proficiency.

The CELPIP-General Test has been designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for use by individuals who are applying for permanent resident status in Canada. Other organizations, such as the Real Estate Council of British Columbia (REC BC) and the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), also accept the test for membership to their organizations. All four skill components of the CELPIP-General Test are delivered by computer at three-hour test sittings that are held at CELPIP Test Centres located across Canada, and in select cities internationally.

The CELPIP-General LS Test has been approved by IRCC for use by individuals who are applying for Canadian citizenship. The Listening and Speaking components of this test are delivered by computer at one-hour test sittings that are held at CELPIP Test Centres across Canada.

Preparing for the CELPIP Test

For individuals preparing to take the CELPIP Test, Paragon Testing provides a variety of free and purchasable study materials. Free study materials for the CELPIP Test include:

Sample test: Available on the CELPIP website, the free sample test includes sample test questions and answers to help test takers understand what to expect on each component of the CELPIP Test.
Practice test: Available for free when test takers register for a CELPIP account, this is a complete practice test, covering each component of the CELPIP Test, including detailed answer keys for each section.
Webinars and workshops: Available online, a free CELPIP information session is hosted live each week, giving test takers an overview of the CELPIP Test components, as well as an informal question-and-answer session. In addition to information sessions, free workshops are held regularly to help test takers prepare for the Speaking component of the CELPIP Test. Recorded webinars and workshops are also available on the CELPIP YouTube page.

Purchasable study materials for the CELPIP Test include:

Study guides and practice tests: Available in the online store, online practice tests and study guides are available to help test takers prepare for the CELPIP Test. Each practice test includes a complete answer key as well as sample responses taken from actual CELPIP test takers. Study guides are available in ebook and print versions.
Online study programs: Online study programs, available in the online store, provide in-depth preparation for CELPIP test takers, and offer instructional videos, interactive quizzes, and extensive analyses of sample responses. Online study programs are suitable for test takers of all language abilities and are accessible on tablets and cellphones.
CELPIP Preparation Program: Offered in partnership with organizations across Canada and internationally, the CELPIP Preparation Program gives test takers personalized instruction from experienced instructors.

CELPIP Strategies for Success

Here are 10 tips to help you successfully prepare for the CELPIP Test:

Practice using a computer. The CELPIP Test is fully computer delivered, so ensure that you are comfortable with a mouse and keyboard. Practicing with CELPIP’s free online sample test and free online practice test are good ways to familiarize yourself with this format.
Remember that CELPIP is a test of general English proficiency. CELPIP assesses your ability to use English in everyday situations. It is not a test of business English or academic English. One of the best ways to prepare is just to get out and use English as much as possible in your daily life.
Use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures. Try to show the range of your vocabulary in your writing and speaking. Avoid using the same words over and over again. You don’t need to memorize the dictionary—just use words that would be natural in daily life. Remember to use varied grammatical structures and construct sentences that differ in length and complexity.
Manage your time. The CELPIP Test is fully computer delivered, and you will see a timer on each screen, telling you how much time you have left for that section. Keeping an eye on these timers can help you gauge how to pace yourself throughout the test.
Check your work. If you have any time left over while completing the reading, listening, or writing components of the test, make sure to read over your answers and make sure that you have attempted to answer all questions as well as you can. In particular, try to spend a few minutes reviewing your writing, ensuring that you have no typos that could impact the clarity of your response.
Speak clearly and at a natural pace. Speak clearly into the microphone, which should be close to your lips but without touching them. It is natural to speak quickly when you are nervous—try to slow down and speak at a normal pace.
Do not worry about your accent. Our raters are trained to disregard accents. Unless your accent prevents you from being understood, do not focus on it. Instead, concentrate on using good grammar, accurate and varied vocabulary, and providing complete answers.
Take notes. While taking the CELPIP Test, you will be provided with notepaper and a pen. You may use these to take notes during any point in the test, though you may find it especially useful to outline some ideas for your speaking or writing responses. It is also a good idea to take notes about main ideas and specific details during the listening test.
Focus on what you know. You may come across some difficult words in a reading or listening passage. Do not get stuck worrying about words you do not understand. Focus on general meaning and the parts of the passage that you do understand. Sometimes it is possible to understand a new word based on your knowledge of the words that are around it.
Use a variety of reading strategies. You do not have to read every single word in a passage to successfully answer questions on the reading test; instead, use reading strategies, such as skimming and scanning. These may help you with some of the simpler questions, leaving more time to spend with the more difficult questions.

Source:https://www.wes.org/advisor-blog/english-proficiency-celpip-test/?utm_source=WESA_Job-Seeker_Newsletter_20180219&utm_medium=Email&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTTJReE1qQmhPV1ExT0RobCIsInQiOiJxK2ZmYW13dDBkc3VqXC9VbUV4b2Y3ak9GbDNjZVVyNU92bnlZZTRyT1ZtNGtRaXI2OFY3ZHErbUlSb0thbnB4OGVBakpHUzdlVk4wem9tNkFwb0FMYWlnaHdLZTh0eVRYWU1CcTduYzAxbGg2dnVlUllHQWV1XC9kXC81ZXlTNFN5dCJ9

Pathways to Canada for international students.

Demand from international students for education in Canada is growing and language providers have developed a wide range of pathway courses to help them transition into post-secondary institutions, says Gillian Evans.

"Getting a good score in a language gauging exam, such as TOEFL or IELTS is great, but it does not guarantee the student is capable of doing a presentation in public, writing a research paper, is aware of cultural norms, etc.," observes Dimitrios Papadakis, Director of International Partnerships at McKenzie College www.mckenzie.edu in Moncton, NB. "More and more students prefer pathways because they provide a clear, straightforward road-map into a university or college."

Demand for pathway programmes in Canada is growing in tandem with demand for post-secondary education from international students. And as Anthony Stille, Director of the English School of Canada www.esc-toronto.com in Toronto, ON, notes, there are lots of draws to a Canadian post-secondary education. "With a quality education, reasonable tuition, postgraduate work permit options and the possibility of becoming a Canadian citizen at the end of all the hard work, investing in a Canadian education [has] advantages. Currently, with the contrasting immigration policy in the USA, the appeal of a Canadian education has become even more significant."

Lucy How, Pathway Programmes Director at Oxford International North America, Eurocentres Canada & San Diego www.oxfordinternational.com, says pathways is "absolutely a growth sector", fuelled by the growing number of international students looking to complete either their undergraduate or graduate education in Canada. "Rather than applying directly to university from their home country students are realising the benefits of experiencing life in Canada for a period of time while gaining crucial language and academic skills."

To fulfil this growing demand for programmes that prepare international students for post-secondary education in Canada, many universities, colleges and language schools have created specific pathway courses. These courses go beyond just language learning, as Diana Mockute at ILAC www.ilac.com in Toronto, ON, points out. "What really makes ILAC's University Pathway Program so successful and different from a regular English course is the focus that is placed on essay writing and research building, academic reading, time management, critical thinking, as well as, note-taking strategies for academic lectures, sophisticated grammar, advanced vocabulary and high-level pronunciation techniques emphasised in improving speaking skills." Indeed, ILAC's Pathway certificate is accepted by many Canadian institutions in lieu of TOEFL or IELTS scores.

At the University of Saskatchewan Language Centre www.usask.ca in Saskatoon, SK, two types of academic pathway programmes are offered: the U-Prep, which teaches advanced English along with academic skills; and the Bridging programme, which as well as English language tuition, enables students to participate in a university undergraduate course in either Anthropology or Sociology, and earn undergraduate credits. "The main benefit of the Bridging approach is that it gives students a gradual introduction to the realities of academic study but with the benefit of integrated English instruction designed to support their work in meeting the requirements of the academic courses," explains Dale Yellowlees.

Like the University of Saskatchewan, the English Language Institute (ELI) at Renison University College www.uwaterloo.ca/renison/ in Waterloo, ON, offers a Bridge to Academic Success (BASE) programme that allows students to continue to learn English and obtain academic support while at the same time earn a credit in their subject area. Elizabeth Matthews, Assistant Director at the ELI, adds, "This programme focuses on integrating BASE students with other first-year students in their disciplines. The distinctive feature of this programme is that it fully immerses learners in the academic culture of the University of Waterloo."

Sheila Nunn, President and CEO of East Coast Language College (ECLC) www.eclccanada.com in Halifax, NS, highlights the importance of keeping their pathway course content relevant. "We are in close contact with our partner universities and colleges so have many discussions about whether our curriculum is meeting the current needs of the students when entering the post-secondary institutions. At ECLC, we also believe that a curriculum is a living thing - it's a bit like the Forth Bridge and is never finished! We are constantly doing internal reviews based on student, instructor, and partner feedback."

Student nationality trends in the pathway sector largely mirror those in the international undergraduate and postgraduate education sectors. Diana at ILAC reports, "As Vietnam broke into the list of top 10 countries sending students to Canada for the first time in 2016, ILAC witnessed a sudden jump in numbers of Vietnamese students enrolling at ILAC's University Pathway Program and becoming one of the top five countries in enrollment."

Looking at pathway student nationalities at Heartland International English School www.heartlandenglish.com in Winnipeg, MB, Jenni Danino reports that most are from China, Brazil, Ukraine, Vietnam and India, while Donna Daly, Vice President of Global Village Toronto www.gvenglish.com, cites their top nationalities as being Brazilian, Russian, Mexican and Colombian. gillian@studytravel.network

Source: https://studytravel.network/magazine/articles/by-sub-type/Tertiary%20Focus/article/17685

Optimizing Your Job Search in Canada How to use Magnet Edited 1

Parents and grandparents sponsorship program reopens for 2018

For all Canadian citizens and permanent residents looking to sponsor a parent or grandparent in 2018, the month of January is an important time to act.

The first step in the application process requires an online “Interest to Sponsor” form to be submitted. Form submissions open noon EST on January 2, 2018 and close a month later on February 1. Following that, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will invite potential sponsors to apply using a random selection process.

For 2018, IRCC aims to receive 10,000 complete applications.

“Helping more people reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada demonstrates the government’s commitment to keeping families together, leading to successful integration and stronger ties to Canada” said Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

This new process of application was implemented in 2017 by IRCC to make the process fairer and more transparent for applicants.

It’s important that only those who qualify as eligible sponsors express their interest, in order to allow as many eligible sponsors as possible to bring their family members to Canada.

To find out if you could be an eligible sponsor, refer to this guide.

Source: https://newcanadians.tv/parents-grandparents-sponsorship-program-reopens-2018/?inf_contact_key=cc88c5350936676e36a645b9423a06cc4c72d29d228066df70c8c883fcf337fc

PNP overview

Getting a license as a Chemical Engineer in Canada.

The Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board of Engineers Canada issues the Examination Syllabus that includes a continually increasing number of engineering disciplines.
Each discipline examination syllabus is divided into two examination categories: compulsory and elective. A full set of Chemical Engineering examinations consists of nine, three-hour examination papers. Candidates will be assigned examinations based on an assessment of their academic background. Examinations from discipline syllabi other than those specific to the candidates’ discipline may be assigned at the discretion of the constituent association.
Before writing the discipline examinations, candidates must have passed, or have been exempted from, the Basic Studies Examinations.
Information on examination schedules, textbooks, materials provided or required, and whether the examinations are an open or closed book, will be supplied by the constituent association.

For a list of recommended books and textbooks, you can click the link below.

Chemical Engineering Reference List

How more and more Indian students and professionals are choosing Canada over the US

At a breakfast event at the US Embassy in New Delhi on November 9, 2016, a senior diplomat from the Canadian High Commission discreetly fielded questions on whether more Indians would opt for permanent residence and citizenship in his country, with the new US President Donald Trump taking a hard line on immigration. Fast forward to the winter of 2017 and that trend seems to be becoming a reality. Canada is fast emerging as the preferred destination in North America.

According to the annual Open Doors report on international education released in November by the Institute of International Education (IIE), New York, and the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the enrolment of new Indian students in US campuses remained almost flat in 2016-17, just 1.3% higher than the previous year. Over 500 American colleges and universities reported an average decrease of 7% in the number of newly enrolled students.

Though the 1,86,267 Indian students enrolled in US campuses in 2016-17 still outnumber the 1,00,000 studying in Canada, the latter is showing a significant rise in numbers. In 2016, 52,870 Indian study-permit holders went to Canada, but in 2017 the figure is already 54,425 (till October). On the other hand, the number of fresh visas (for those wishing to study in the issue to students in India was 62,537 in 2016-drop of 16.4% over the previous year.

One of the important attractions of Canada for students is the fact it is 30-40% cheaper the US, even at top universities and colleges. Besides, Trump's stance on immigration and concerns over racist incidents are taking the shine off US campuses.

Optional practical training (OPT), a programme that allows Indian students to remain in the US after they finish their education, is facing difficulties as the H-1B work visa comes under a cloud. Employers in Canada, on the other hand, are wooing Indian students studying in Canada especially those in STEM fields (science, tech, engineering, mathematics). Canada's express entry system, in fact, creates a pathway for skilled Indians to get fast-track permanent resident status and then citizenship.