Learning A Living In Canada

How might Canadian adult educators be better informed about the overall richness and diversity of their collective practices? How might they promote greater involvement and equity? How can they inform policy-makers and the general public about the rich resources on offer? How can they better advocate for all adult learners?, By surveying and analyzing the current state of Canadian adult education, this book represents the latest attempt to answer these questions. Book jacket.

It is well known that even after several years' exposure to high-school French, most English Canadians remain unable to speak the language. It is equally well known that many French Canadians are bilingual. One of the more obvious explanations for this relative deficiency on the part of the English Canadian is his lack of opportunities to use the French language in day-to-day situations, and, conversely, the French Canadian's need to know the second language, too often perhaps for economic reasons. Professor Graham's book gives useful and practical suggestions on how to go about becoming fluent in French. It offers not a course of instruction, but a listing of practical ways of applying oneself to a study of the language. There is specific, up-to-date information and advice regarding services provided by the governments of Quebec and France, courses offered in various Canadian communities, clubs and societies, correspondence courses, universities and summer schools, and language laboratories. A feature which will be especially helpful for those in remote areas is the listing of publications (books, newspapers, and periodicals), music and songs, records, films, and radio and television programmes which provide instruction in French. The reader will quickly see that the available means are much more varied than he realizes, and it is in providing this concise, convenient enumeration of them that Professor Graham performs a great service. Any adult who is reasonably proficient in French, but wishes to improve, will find this a practical and useful guide to ways of making a personal contribution to bilingualism in Canada. This study has been prepared under the sponsorship of the Canadian Association for Adult Education.

This report presents an exhaustive analysis of the results of the 1998 Adult Education and Training Survey.

In response to concerns that the educational system - from public schools through colleges, universities, and apprenticeship programs - cannot adequately prepare students for work in the new economy, Integrating School and Workplace Learning in Canada proposes alternation - a hybrid form of learning that, by combining experiential and cognitive learning skills, allows individuals to develop the relevant skills and intellectual capabilities to address and solve complex problems encountered in the workplace. Alternation involves not only a curricular balance between the theoretical and the practical but also two distinct venues for learning - the classroom and the workplace. The authors discuss cognitive and social learning, its implementation in a variety of settings, its role in smoothing the school/work transition process, and its potential to contribute to the knowledge and skills needed by the workforce. They bring a wide range of disciplinary perspectives to bear in their analyses of the principles and practices of alternation, providing historical, theoretical, and practical insights. Their analysis contributes to and extends the current debate and discussion surrounding necessary changes in our education and training practices.