We have over 20 years of experience in the settlement and international English sectors and are CLB experts.

We are licensed by the Canadian Centre of Language Benchmarks to provide Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) training and to conduct CLBPT assessments.

A significant amount of LCRT Consulting’s work is referenced to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) making the team a leading provider of professional CLB-related services.

We have experience with large-scale comprehensive sector-specific language training projects.

We redesigned the LINC Curriculum Guidelines Levels 1 through 3 and trained LINC instructors across Ontario on the use of the benchmarked guidelines.

PROFILE

LCRT Consulting's mandate is to support government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector in their efforts to facilitate the integration of immigrants as full participants in Ontario’s economy and society. We do this through the development of innovative occupation-specific language assessment and training tools and contributing to the implementation of the Canadian Language Benchmarks standards.

LCRT Senior Consultant

Bruce Russell, B.A., B.Mus., CTESL, M.Ed. (OISE)

Canadian Language Benchmarks

In the early 90s, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) sponsored a national project to develop standards for government-funded adult English as a second language training. An LCRT Consultant was a member of the National Working Group on Language Benchmarks.

Following the publication of the Canadian Language Benchmarks Working Document (1996), LCRT Consulting was the successful bidder for the alignment of the existing LINC Curriculum Guidelines Levels 1-3 to the newly published standards. LCRT Consulting redesigned the curriculum and trained LINC instructors across Ontario on the use of the newly benchmarked guidelines.

Since 1998, LCRT Consulting has been invited as members of expert review panels to provide its expertise on communication and the integration of newcomers; for example, the development and revision of LINC program tools. See the Projects section for specific advisory roles.

Canadian Language Benchmarks Language Assessments

LCRT Consulting is licensed to provide CLB Placement Test (CLBPT) Training and to conduct CLBPT assessments.

Occupation Specific Curricula and Assessments

In recognition of the challenges faced by immigrants in their attempts to access employment in Ontario, LCRT Consulting has been extensively involved in the development of language training and assessment for specific purposes.

LCRT Consulting worked with the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and the Ontario Regional Office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada to develop a series of employment preparation curricula for use in Ontario settlement programs. This series, called Steps to Employment in Ontario, exemplifies the integration of occupation -specific content and the Canadian Language Benchmark Standards and are available for public use at settlement.org.

LCRT Consulting has expanded within the area of occupation specific communication and has become extensively involved in research and development related to language proficiency testing. We have developed two occupation specific language tests for internationally educated health professionals: one for medical technologists in partnership with the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences and another for internationally trained pharmacists at the International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto.

Others areas related to newcomer integration in which we have been involved are:

- participation in the national benchmarking of pharmacy communication by the Canadian Centre for Language Benchmarks (CCLB) in partnership with the National Association of Pharmacy Regulating Authorities (NAPRA) as an advisory committee member.

- facilitation of a language assessment standard setting for Ontario health regulators. LCRT Consulting provided language assessment expertise that enabled The Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Scientists (CSMLS) and the College of Medical Radiological Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO) to maintain fair and defensible language proficiency standards.

- national trainer for the Canadian Centre of Language Benchmarks and provide language assessment training to settlement language assessors.

- participated as a panelist on a national roundtable organized by Health Canada at the Metropolis 2011 conference; provided information related to language assessment and integration of internationally educated health professionals in the Canadian workplace.

- presented at Healthforce Ontario conference on occupation specific language assessment.