Program Description:

The more you know about Canada, the more confident you are communicating in English, the more you know about the fundamentals of business, the better you will be able to adapt to the Canadian work environment. The Canadian Workplace Skills programs provide students with an orientation to Canada, the education environment, English language and communication skills, and employment readiness. Each one of the programs focuses on different sectors of industry. The Childcare and Language Assistant (Co-operative Diploma) program provides all of the areas described above as well as the knowledge of working with children, including child development, early learning in BC (and Canada) and its regulatory environment, child guidance, health, safety, and nutritional needs of children, the Montessori method and creative learning, and assisting in the learning with language arts. The courses are provided with a variety of activities via classroom, guest speakers, observations, in-class practice, and field trips. It also includes a co-op placement to apply the knowledge and skills gained in class. Students will be able to gain work experience in childcare settings such as daycare facilities, home child care, after-school programs, and community-based activity programs. The purpose of the work experience is to introduce students to the environment of working with children in a safe, health, and creative learning environment. Graduates will be able to comfortably communicate in various forms, work as a team or independently with a confidence to work with children with a full understanding and awareness of the regulations and policies specific to the workplace. The graduate will be confident in their decisions for their future career path or educational goals. One of the requirements to work as an Early Childhood Education Assistant in a licensed childcare facility in BC is to be certified by the ECE Registry. The Canadian Workplace Skills: Childcare & Language Assistant Program / Canadian Workplace Skills: Childcare and Language Assistant with Co-op program offered by Pacific Link College is not recognized by the ECE Registry. This means that upon graduation, students will have to apply for certification through the ECE Registry’s equivalency process. For more information about the process visit the ECE Registry website.