Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT)

Improve your workplace communication skills

Newcomers to Canada often encounter barriers to employment, including lack of Canadian work experience, language barriers, differences in workplace culture, difficulties in obtaining recognition for foreign qualifications and international experience, discrimination and lack of workplace integration and diversity programs.

Pursue FREE newcomer service language training that will help you to:

communicate better with supervisors, colleagues and clients;
understand your sector and occupation in Canada;
understand Canadian workplace culture in your field; and
develop strong interviewing, networking and job-search communication skills.

Who is eligible?

Participants must be one of the following:

- Permanent resident
- Convention refugees/Protected persons
- Ukrainian temporary resident
- Temporary resident affected by the crisis in Gaza (showing “MOME2023” in status documentation)

They must live in Ontario and have training or experience in a specific occupation or industry but need to improve their occupation-specific communication skills.

Participants must have CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) level 5 and up. If your level is lower than 5, please refer to Fanshawe’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program to learn how you can improve it and become eligible for OSLT.

How to get started?

Step 1

Learn more about the OSLT courses.

Step 2

If you have questions about OSLT or would like to register, contact us at oslt@fanshawec.ca.

Step 3

Staff will book a one-on-one virtual or phone appointment with you to answer questions and help you register.

Upcoming Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) courses

Accessing The Technology Job Market |Online | October 16 – December 5, 2025

This online course addresses the language and communication skills needed when searching for a job. The course will help you develop communication skills needed to introduce yourself professionally in the job search context, describe requirements for working in your chosen occupation in Ontario and develop a Job Action Plan for securing employment in your chosen occupation.

Time commitment: 8 weeks/40 hours total

Zoom classes: Thursdays, 7 - 8 p.m.

Managing Workplace Interactions | Online | November 3 – December 19, 2025

This practical and innovative 40-hour online course will help you learn and practice language skills for managing interactions and working effectively with others in the workplace. Relevant cultural concepts will also be presented throughout the course. You will participate in Zoom classes once a week and the rest of the work is done online.

Time commitment: 6 weeks/40 hours total

Zoom classes: Tuesdays, 6 - 7 p.m.

Professional Managers | Online | January 5 – March 27, 2026

This course is for you if you have training or experience as a manager in business or technology environments. It will help you better communicate as a professional manager and understand the socio-cultural dimensions of management in Ontario. The course covers the language and communication skills needed to gather and share information with staff, colleagues and upper levels of management; communicate in one-on-one interactions, in meetings and through email; manage challenging interactions with staff, colleagues and upper levels of management; give presentations appropriate for managers. Sector background knowledge and culture relevant to the workplace context in Ontario are explicitly addressed in communication practice tasks.

Time commitment: 12 weeks/140 hours total

Zoom classes: Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Accessing the Business Job Market | Online | January 26 – March 20, 2026

Time commitment: 6 weeks/40 hours total

Zoom classes: Thursdays, 7 - 8 p.m.

Writing Professionally (for OSLT alumni only) | Online | January 26 – March 20, 2026

This 40-hour online course focuses on the language and socio-cultural communication requirements of writing workplace communication in the business and technology sectors at CLB 7 to 8. The course addresses the language and communication skills needed to develop a strategic approach to writing workplace communication, understand purpose and audience in written workplace communication, use logical structure in emails, and write effective emails to make requests, exchange information, make complaints and follow up.

Time commitment: 8 weeks/40 hours total

Zoom classes: Tuesdays, 7 - 8 p.m.

* Please note this course is for OSLT graduates only