The Official and Second Languages Education Centre (OL₂EC)

The establishment of OL₂EC provides our students with new opportunities to discover, develop and appreciate the power of a second language in today's world.

How it Works

• International Languages Proficiency provides our students with credentials that can be used to gain entrance to universities locally and abroad and will enhance future career opportunities.
• The use of Language Portfolios provides the means for our students to accumulate evidence of their second language development. 

Goals of OL₂EC

• To offer internationally recognized certification to students registered in our second language programs;
• To strengthen our French as a Second Language (FSL), English as a Second Language (ESL), and International Language programs by monitoring students’ progress through the use of qualitative and quantitative information and data;
• To provide each student in a language program with a self assessment tool that captures their language development progress;
• To provide new and exciting learning opportunities for our students that will encourage them to continue in a language program and to allow them to excel in language acquisition thus equipping them to better meet the challenges awaiting them globally;
• To create and foster new international partnerships with other education entities in Alberta, across Canada and around the world; and
• To use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) and European Language Portfolio (ELP) as a basis for this work.

Next Steps

• Currently piloting International Proficiency Testing in French, English and Spanish in Spring 2009
• Continuing with International Proficiency Exam in partnership with the University of Lviv of all Ukrainian bilingual students exiting Grade 12
• Begin piloting the use of Language Portfolios in Fall 2009
• Begin offering International Proficiency Testing to any qualifying students in Spring 2010

How to Apply

Further information will be provided after the completion of the pilot stage.

Partners

• Council of Europe: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL), European Language Portfolio
• French National Ministry of Education
• Centre international d’Etudes Pédagogiques (CIEP) in Sèvres, France
• Spain Ministry of Education
• Instituto Cervantes, Calgary, Alberta
• Cambridge University (ESOL Suite of Exams)
• University of Lviv (Ukraine)

Contact Us

For further information, please contact the International Languages Consultant at Learning Services – Innovation (780-989-3000).