Communication, reading, and writing

The Government of Canada’s Skills for Success model names skills that help in work, learning, and life. Three of them are language skills you can practise every day:

• Communication — receiving, understanding, considering, and sharing information and ideas by speaking, listening, and interacting. Official examples include listening to instructions, serving customers, and discussing ideas.
• Reading — finding, understanding, and using information in words, symbols, and images. Official examples include forms, emails, reports, news, and instructions. The page also notes that reading helps you learn other skills, including from online lessons.
• Writing — sharing information with written words, symbols, and images. Official examples include filling out forms and applications and writing emails, reports, or posts.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says Canada has two official languages, English and French, and that stronger language skills help with getting a job, going to school, using services, helping children with school work, and meeting people. Which language people use most depends on where they live. In much of Alberta, English is the language you will hear most often at work and in shops, but French services also exist.

This course is written at about CLB 4–5 reading level so it is easier to follow. That does not mean the course measures your CLB level or gives a CLB certificate. IRCC explains that government-funded newcomer classes use the Canadian Language Benchmarks as national standards — those classes are separate (see Lesson 5).

Workplace Writing and Grammar (Canadian Spelling) looks more closely at workplace writing and grammar. Here the goal is practice, not a grammar exam.