Introduction
The EAL portion of this program will assist students to prepare for the Health Care Aide Certificate Program by focusing on the skills students need to be able to complete their course requirements. In the first semester, students will go through an intensive language training course which prepares them to build the foundations to be successful in their HCA training component and be able to work in the healthcare environment with its specific requirements.
The EAL component of this program will also focus on certain academic skills to equip students with specific medical terminology, and certain essential skills such as critical thinking as well as problem-solving skills to enhance students’ ability to understand and apply the knowledge provided by the HCA component. These skills are transferable to many areas of work and can be applied while practicing in the field.
EAL Pathways to HCA program distinctly addresses the English language that Health Care Aide Professionals need to be able to practice safely and confidently at work, an occupation which requires precision and a high level of accuracy to avoid any potential errors.
Alberta Human Services Grant funding is available for both the full-time EAL component as well as the full-time Health Care Aide program for those who qualify.
Program Highlights
- Delivery: Online
- Duration: 16-week EAL Component and 32-week HCA Component
-
Instruction Hours: Monday – Friday
(22.5 hours/week) - Semester Intake: January, August
Program Information
- Full-time day classes – 4.5 Hours per day, Monday – Friday – total of 22.5 hours per week
- Hours: 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
- 16-week EAL Component and 32-week HCA Component
- Small classes (average size of 20 students)
- Tutoring support available – individual, group, and in-class
- English for Academic Purposes Course and English for Medical Purposes Course
- Government Approved Health Care Aide Program
For information on the Health Care Aide Program, please see our Health Care Aide Program page.
Language Training courses at Columbia will continue being delivered online with limited face to face available services. Our highly trained ESL instructors are available to respond to the needs of our students. We will adapt and adjust our delivery model based on the Public Health recommendations while making sure there is no interruption to our services to the students.
All of our classes continue to be delivered virtually using Microsoft Teams. Orientation and training is available by our highly trained staff to provide the outmost support to our students to improve their language skills using digital tools. Childcare is available to our students to ensure their children are being taken care of while parents are in class studying.
For the Health Care Aide portion of the program, theory classes will be offered via a distance delivery format through TEAMS sessions with a facilitator. Lab classes will be held on-site at the college, and clinical placements will be at designated sites. Each course will continue to be scheduled in their regular semesters, and will be expected to be delivered in the same time period as a face-to-face class. Classes may include (but are not limited to):
- Interactive webinars
- Discussion forums
- Group work
- Daily Tests
Students may be evaluated by Calgary Language Assessment and Referral Centre (CLARC) to determine placement in the program
OR
Take a Columbia College EAL Assessment
Students will enter the EAL component of this program at a minimum of CLB 7. Students must achieve a minimum of CLB 7 before starting the HCA portion of their training and then successfully complete all of the components of the HCA program in preparing for entry into the workforce as a certified HCA.
Course Features
- Lectures 0
- Quizzes 0
- Duration 50 hours
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 1
- Assessments Yes
