Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
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What is LINC?Who Can Take LINC? How Much is LINC?What is The LINC Class Structure?Who Works in LINC?What Can You Study After LINC?What Do Students Say About LINC? How Can You Contact LINC?
What is LINC?
Keyano College offers part-time English classes for newcomers in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program.
LINC is a Canada-wide English language and settlement-training program funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Who Can Take LINC?
- Permanent residents, 18 years and older
- Convention refugees, 18 years and older
- Protected persons, 18 years and older
- Ukrainians regardless of immigration status
How Much is LINC?
LINC classes are FREE!
LINC is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and is FREE to Permanent Residents, Convention Refugees, and Protected Persons, 18 years or older.
What is The LINC Class Structure?
- Classes start on the first Monday of each month.
- It takes about 10 months to finish one LINC level.
- The LINC school year is from September until June.
- LINC students do speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities in class.
- Classes focus on communication. Students learn practical English that helps them in class, community, social situations, and work.
- LINC students also have a computer class once a week to practice basic computer skills.
- LINC classes include guest speakers and field trips in the community.
- Each month has a topic. Here are some topics we study:
- Money
- Education
- Health
- Food and Nutrition
- Law
- Canada
- Housing
- Employment
Who Works in LINC?
| Glenda Little-Kulai - Chair, Global Access & Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) |
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Her research interests include Adult Learning and English education, trauma-informed English language teaching, and literacy-challenged English language learners.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5615
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| Luciane Almeida - Program Support Administrator |
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Her areas of professional interest include administrative support and collaboration with teams, assisting clients in achieving their educational goals, and connecting with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5706
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| Easter Bhebhe - LINC Instructor |
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Easter's research interests include appreciative inquiry and adult education, as well as student and staff engagement.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5706 |
| Stephanie Craik - Program & Student Support Administrator |
| Leigh Grant-Simms - Program Administrator, Funded Programs |
| Manjeet Gupta - LINC Instructor |
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Manjeet's research interests include second language teaching and learning, English as a foreign language, adult learning and English education, academic and professional acculturation of immigrants, and teaching English as a second/foreign language teacher education.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5706 |
| Holly Hashimi - LINC Program Registration and Recruitment Assistant |
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Her areas of professional interest include immigrant services and outreach, writing and research, as well as creative fundraising/informational projects.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5723
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| Rick Hulbert - Faculty Coordinator |
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Rick's research interests include learning, teaching, and design strategies in language acquisition, and blended learning in language learning environments.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5706 |
| Guoying Li - LINC Instructor |
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Her research interests include computer-assisted language learning, and cooperative language learning.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5706 |
| Nick Mitchelmore - LINC Instructor |
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Nick's research interests include assisting newcomers with employment counselling and employment support, and establishing business partnerships in the community.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5706 |
| Joanne Morin - LINC Instructor |
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Contact Information: +1-780-792-5706 |
| Amanda Vassallo - LINC Instructor |
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Her areas of discipline are second language acquisition, literacy instructor, curriculum development, and small business development for newcomers. Her research interests include second language instruction, and newcomer integration.
Contact Information: +1-780-792-5706 |
Glenda Little-Kulai joined the Keyano College Faculty in 2019, and holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and and a BA in Child and Youth Care. She has 20 years’ experience in the English language teaching field with over 15 years at the post-secondary level. Glenda has a considerably diversified background in her field, and has worked internationally as an administrator, curriculum developer, methodology professor, teacher-trainer, language assessor, and an English language instructor. Her areas of discipline include applied linguistics/second language acquisition, language program management, teacher training, and child and youth care.
Luciane joined Keyano College in 2017 as a Retail Operations Assistant. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Human Resources Management Certificate, and has over 15 years of experience as a Buyer, Marketing Assistant and Customer Service Representative.
Easter Bhebhe holds a BBA, and an MIS. Her diverse professional experience ranges from Accounting, to teaching English in South Korea. Her areas of discipline are Business Administration and Management Information Systems, and English as a second language education. 
Manjeet Gupta holds an M.Ed, MA, B.Ed., and BA. Her professional experience includes teaching in the secondary and post-secondary sector, English literature and language teaching, teaching second language acquisition and methodology, and has experience working in India and Saudi Arabia. Her areas of discipline include English literature, second language acquisition, and teacher training.
Holly Hashimi Holds an Office Administration Certificate from Okanagan College, as well as a Journalism Arts Diploma from SAIT. Her professional experience ranges from Administrator for Advancement Services, Marketing and Member Services at Club 63 North, to Journalism with the Fort McMurray Today, Connect, and various media outlets in B.C.
Rick Hulbert has experience in English language instruction ranging from elementary to post-secondary school levels, in both language assessment and language assessment design, curriculum development for online and face-to-face environments, e-learning module design and development, as well as teaching and teacher mentoring in Japan and Kazakhstan. His areas of discipline are English and instructional design.
Guoying Li holds an M.Ed, and a BA. Her professional experience includes English language teaching, and language assessment (Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test). Guoying's areas of discipline are teaching, learning and curriculum studies, and second language acquisition.
Nicholas Mitchelmore joined the LINC team at Keyano College in 2016, and holds a BA. in Economics from Memorial University, as well as a M.Ed (concentrating in TESOL) from Framingham State University. For 21 years Nick taught English in South Korea, during which he taught in Elementary Schools, a teacher training program, and was an Associate Professor at Hanyang University. While at Hanyang University, he created the curriculum for and marketed the first Business TESOL program certification courses in the country. In addition to his time in South Korea, Nick has volunteered or taught English in various classrooms in Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Cameroon, Russia, and Peru. His areas of discipline are second language acquisition, and teaching methods and assessment.
Joanne Morin holds a TESOL Diploma, a BSc, and is expected to complete her Med in Interdisciplinary Studies in June 2023. Joanne's professional experience includes post-secondary teaching experience, as well as English for Academic purposes. Her areas of discipline include English as an additional language (EAL), instruction, leading and learning in a digital age, and educational research. Joanne's research interests include equity-oriented pedagogy, heritage language maintenance, adult EAL learning, and digital literacy. 
Amanda Vassallo holds a BA in Communication Studies from Cape Breton University, and a CELTA certificate- Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. She starting teaching at a private language school in Halifax from 2012-2016. During that time, she instructed language classes, held conversation clubs, coordinated social activities for the students and eventually transitioned into marketing and recruitment for the organization. In 2016, she started working for a settlement organization in Halifax in their LINC program, specifically working with literacy students. During her time there, she presented at national and provincial TESL conferences on literacy issues and needs in the classroom. She also developed and taught a 12-week pilot program for IRCC which helped low level language newcomers start small home businesses in which they would sell their products at local farmers' markets. What Are Your Study Options After LINC?
After completing the LINC level 6, students can apply to take:
- Employed-focused Continuing Education Courses
- English for Academic Purposes
- Academic Foundations or College Preparatory Courses
You may need to take a test called Accuplacer if you want to take high school or college courses. It will check your English and Math levels.
What Do Students Have To Say About LINC?
"I joined (the) LINC program to improve my English language. This program is very helpful to learn English, and now I am able to talk to persons in shipping malls, clinics and offices" Tamseela Shahbaz, LINC 2
"As a result (of LINC), my English improved with listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, which helps me with confidence for job interviews, exam driver license and communication with others." Saredo Ali Houssein, LINC 2
"(LINC) helps to meet some good friends, and I use more English words. I will do everything without my husbands help" Jiyoung Song, LINC 2
View photos of our past graduation ceremonies on our Keyano Photo Gallery.
How Can You Contact LINC?
LINC Office
Call: +1-780-792-5706
Text: +1-780-598-7907
Email: english@keyano.ca
For more information visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website and to learn more about newcomer services in your area, visit the Government of Canada website.
Visit our Facebook page: English at Keyano College Fort McMurray