Finding and Adapting Resources

Learning resources play a crucial role in LINC classes and there are many things to consider when you choose them. Depending on the level, theme, real-world tasks, skill and competency area, you may find ready-made resources, or you may have to adapt them to make them appropriate. Learning resources include any materials used for skill-building activities, skill-using tasks and assessment tasks, as well as resources that support learning such as vocabulary and pronunciation apps, dictionaries, multimedia (images, videos, podcasts), learning software and platforms, and so on. They include authentic materials, commercially produced resources, resources created for the Canadian settlement language sector, and learners themselves.

• Authentic and abridged materials: Authentic materials provide real-life examples of language and can be found anywhere. They can be used as is, adapted, or created to look like an authentic material. 
• Commercially-produced resources: Commercially-produced resources have the  advantages of often being professionally designed, written 
and edited by experts, and based on second language acquisition research. A disadvantage is that they may not reflect the local context or 
be aligned to the CLB standard.
• Resources created for the settlement language sector: These resources have the benefit of being aligned to the CLB and reflecting Canadian context. Many are available on Tutela and Avenue, and include complete modules with skill-building, skill-using and assessment activities.
• Learners: Learners are integral learning resources for each other. Peer interaction, when guided by an instructor and with a clear purpose, offers learners opportunities to use and practice language skills, as well as learn from each other.

In general, try to use resources created for the settlement language sector. You can find many of these resources on Tutela, Avenue and CCLB. These resources are developed for Canadian content and consistency in terms of language and sociolinguistic knowledge. It is important to note that you must set up a free account to access Tutela resources and you must be a current LINC instructor to access Avenue resources. Another popular website instructors access is ELLII; however, you do require a paid subscription to access these resources.



When selecting resources, you should always assess its suitability for the learners in your class. Check in regularly with the learners and gather feedback on the resources that they liked that best met their learning needs. When you find a resource, whether for a skill-building activity, 
skill-using task or assessment task, ensure that it:

• aligns with the CLB level you instruct, in terms of the CLB Features of Communication and Profiles of Ability
• focuses on a real-world task that reflects what learners will likely need to do in their daily lives
• reflects or can be adapted to reflect the diversity of Canadian society
• includes criteria written in clear, learner-appropriate language (for skill-using or assessment or tasks)
• develop a list of your own criteria that you will be using when adapting existing materials

You may have to adapt learning resources. Methods of adaptation include:

• changing the length of a text
• changing or removing vocabulary
• simplifying sentences by removing or reducing clauses 
• changing or adding cohesion markers (but, also)
• adding, removing or paraphrasing modal verbs (can, could) 
• adding or removing turns in a dialogue 
• changing names or images to represent diversity in Canada, including showing examples of same-sex relationships, people with disabilities, Indigenous people and so on 
• simplifying the language of the assessment criteria