Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT)

1. Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) Tsae-Ling Tenney October 2012

2. Welcome

3. Today’s Overview

4. OSLT InstructorTsae-Ling Tenney tsae-ling.tenney@senecacollege.ca Work experience • College Instructor (Seneca College) - ESL courses and computer courses • Business System Analyst (IT) – Business Applications • Teaching Assistant - MBA Program in China (CIDA Project) Education • University of Saskatchewan - English as a Second Language TESL Ontario Certificate (Honour Roll) • University of Alberta - Master Degree in Business Administration • University of British Columbia - Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering

5. Overview Participants • The OSLT Accounting and Finance Curriculum has been developed for newcomers whose language skills fall within Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 6 to 8. • Accounting Personnel or Finance Personnel

6. Overview Purpose OSLT helps prepare participants with the language and communication skills for finding and retaining work in accounting and finance occupations.

7. Overview Key Features • Language training is the primary objective. • developed in collaboration with expertsfrom accounting and finance programs at Ontario colleges • builds cultural awareness to enhance communication • draws on the knowledge and experience of the participants

8. OSLT Accounting and Finance Curriculum Unit 1: Working in Accounting and Finance Unit 2: Gathering and Sharing Information Unit 3: Communicating Using Technology Unit 4: Managing Interactions Unit 5: Moving Forward in Accounting and Finance

9. OSLT Accounting and Finance for FCA HIGHLIGHTS • Learning about Employment Pathways • Gathering and Sharing Information • Using Appropriate Telephone and Email Communication • Participating Effectively in Team Meetings • Practicing Interview and Networking Skills • Decoding Job Ads

10. Course Outline (Handout) • Course Description • Global Outcome • Unit Outcomes • Assessment Process • Course Expectations

11. Needs Analysis (Handout) • education/training or work experience • learning goals

12. Working Toward Learning Goals Achieve Learning Goals Practice - Get Experienced Skills Worked On Become Aware Time Spent

13. Doing Your Best Work • Participating actively in class • Working independently outside class • Using resources effectively

14. Ice Breaker ActivityInterview and introduce your partner to the class. • In what occupations have you worked within accounting and finance? • How long have you worked in each of your occupations? • In what country did you do your training? • What kind of accounting or finance training did you receive in your country of origin? • What kind of accounting or finance training have you undertaken in Canada? • If you are currently working in your occupation in Ontario, how long have you been doing that? • What kind of job would you like to eventually get in Canada?

15. Exercise • Email at Work • Mistakes made • Corrections required • Goals achieved • The moral of the story

16. The following is an email sent by a project leader regarding a viability report on his project. From: Ian Robson To: Leo Leong Subject: Meeting hello mr. Leo, I was wondering if there was a way to get in contact with you to discuss your report and, the conclusions coming out of it. I was unsure if I could email you with my concerns because of your schedule, so if there was a way that we could talk in person about your report it would be very helpful. I thank you in advance for whatever inconvenience this may pose for you. Thanks, IAN ROBSON

17. The following revised email includes a few corrections: From: Ian Robson To: Leo Leong Subject: Meeting re: Report on Leasing Project Good morning Leo, Hope you had a good long weekend. I was wondering if we could meet to discuss your report on the Leasing Project, specifically on point #5 on page 25 of the report. Iwould like to provide you with a detailed breakdown of the reliability tests proposed and the justification for these tests. I will call your office and arrange a meeting with you sometime this week. Thank you. Ian

18. Sometimes a careless typing error causes a polite request to be not so polite. Hell Bruce, Would you please give me access to the daily tax reports. Thank you kindly, Rebecca Of course Rebecca meant to say ­Hello.

19. Accidentally omitting a word can change the meaning of a sentence. Hi Dave, Would you please provide an explanation of how we calculate fees on a customer invoice. I hope I am causing any trouble to anybody. Thanks, Bob Bob meant to say “I hope I am not causing any trouble to anybody…”

20. Sometimes if you choose the wrong word, which is pronounced the same as the correct word, it changes the meaning altogether. Hi Dave, We have had a number of inquiries about the slow network response. Unfortunately the satellite signal is down. Please bare with us. Regards, Joy Joy should have said, “please bear with us”.

21. Discussion • What we can learn from this • Best practices • Take-aways

22. Summary • Define your challenges • Technologicalas well as personal • Set realistic expectation • Goals are not achieved overnight • Keep your eye on the goal • Maintain focus and don’t be discouraged

23. Questions?