We’re celebrating Ellen who is our first Language Contest winner. Our Language Contest consists of three fairly difficult grammar questions every Friday on English Online’s (EO) Facebook and Instagram pages. After successfully answering the first set of questions correctly, she continued answering the weekly quizzes, acing all of them. This earned for her the additional title of overall Language Contest winner for February.
Not bad for someone who came to Canada with almost no English.
This is the simple truth about Ellen – she prepares, works hard and then beats all odds to reach her goals. So it’s not really surprising that she won our contest. This is just another notch on what’s becoming a lengthy list of achievements for Ellen.
On her own but not alone
Ellen came to Canada in 2015 to study Culinary Arts and Design at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT). Before coming to Manitoba, she signed up for a homestay program since she was coming to the country alone. This proved to be a wise move as she could not say enough good things about her experience. “My first homestay family was very patient and supportive. When they picked me up at the Winnipeg airport and asked a simple question, I didn’t even know how to speak a whole sentence! So they helped me practice speaking English after school daily. My homestay mom would ask me what cooking skills and recipes I learned at school during our family dinner time, and my homestay dad would teach me new vocabulary when he drove me home every time,” Ellen recalls. After a year, however, she had to move to a second family when her homestay dad injured his back. Ellen lived with the next family for four years. She established such a close bond with them that even today, despite having moved out and living on her own, she still calls them weekly and visits them monthly.
Ellen completed the culinary arts program in a year and immediately applied for a post-graduation work permit. Being the hard worker that she is, she took on three part-time jobs and became a full-time cook after graduation. She worked for two and a half years as a cook in a restaurant until she became a Permanent Resident (PR). But shortly before receiving her PR card, Ellen decided to shift her focus to immigration studies. She shares that when she was working at Tim Horton’s, she helped her colleagues there who were also applying for PR. One day a co-worker told her “Ellen, you should really be an immigration consultant. You’re good at it.” Ellen took this to heart and decided to study “Immigration: Law, Policies and Procedures,” a one-year online program at the University of British Columbia. On the very day of her graduation, she received a job offer to work at a private immigration service and consulting firm assisting Chinese clients to meet their immigration objectives. Ellen accepted the offer to work as an immigration administrative assistant and has since been promoted to office manager.
The principle of mise en place
When I invited Ellen for this interview, she asked if she needed to prepare for the questions. I told her that it will just be a casual chat, but she still took it upon herself to list down all her talking points. She explained that this is a habit she learned from being in the culinary industry. “The first thing I learned from the culinary arts program is the French term called mise en place (everything in place.) You get all the ingredients prepared and ready before starting to cook,” she said. Since then, thorough preparation has become a habit she practices in most aspects of her life.
Preparation, coupled with perseverance and a love for learning seems to make up the secret sauce that fuels her drive. If you check Ellen’s LinkedIn profile, you’ll see that despite working several jobs, she’s had time to volunteer, take professional courses, learn English, and even run in marathons, yearly! In fact, she has participated and finished as a medalist in the 10K Manitoba Marathon six times (see her photo above) and she’ll participate again in 2022. For her, this is another way of supporting the community and integrating into Canadian culture.
This drive has also led her to continue improving her English language skills. “Those five years I stayed with my homestay family and worked in various jobs helped me improve my English. When I joined a Chinese company, where my colleagues and clients are all Chinese, I communicated mostly in Chinese in the workplace. But when I went home, I bonded with my host family entirely in English. Now I live by myself, so I create a personal language learning environment at home. If you’re not constantly learning, you’re actually falling behind. That’s why I started taking English courses. I participate in EO classes during my lunch break and free time after work,” Ellen said. Aside from wanting to improve her English in her daily life, she is also preparing to take the IELTS test as a requirement for becoming a licensed immigration consultant.
Learning with EO
“I definitely enjoy learning with EO, especially the vibe of online classes. I’ve met a lot of instructors, Pam, Nastashya, Blaine and some teachers in training. They are friendly and knowledgeable. They always encourage us to ask questions and give us feedback on our homework. I’ve also met other learners all over the world. We get to practice small talk and then discuss a certain topic in group chat. With some of the learners, I can tell that their language skills are at the beginner level, but they are so brave to talk. That’s the significant step to moving forward.” she said.
Another important thing she is learning is being an autonomous learner. “I have developed a learning habit at EO. I check the upcoming events at the beginning of each month and then choose any classes I’m interested in and add them to my Google calendar. I always make a 10-minute reminder for each class, so I won’t be late. In March, we started a new Multi-Week course “Become an Autonomous Language Learner,” and I learned two words – intrinsic and extrinsic. I realized that the idea behind these words is related to my experience learning English. For the past several years, I’ve studied English so hard just because I have to pass English language tests to achieve immigration goals, such as getting into Canadian College, entering Canada with a student visa, and receiving a permanent residency status. So this is extrinsic – you learn English for a specific purpose. It feels like learning English is a chore. I have never thought of asking myself if I really enjoy it, or which part of the language do I like to learn? That’s a huge change in awareness,” she said.
Meeting settlement challenges
This “aha moment” about learning motivation is related to her experience in 2020 when she took the IELTS test as a requirement for her licensure. Unfortunately, she didn’t reach her target score. “This experience made me question myself. How come I didn’t measure up? As a result, I was so frustrated, and I started feeling all the physical symptoms of stress like fatigue and body pain”, she said.
Ellen was able to hurdle this rough period by seeking professional help. However, because of the language barrier, she had to find ways of understanding her situation first and finding solutions that made sense. “My family doctor could refer me to a therapist, but I was concerned about expressing my feelings properly and accurately in English because how would they understand the cultural factors involved in my mental health? So I did my research first by exploring online resources about psychology and therapies,” she said. Later on, she availed of free therapy from NorWest Co-op Community Health. She also found that meditation helped her immensely. It’s a practice she now does every day.
Another challenge she met early on is navigating the language barrier and recognizing the cultural component. “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. As newcomers, we need to be careful about using the phrase ‘I need’. Because if it is used at the wrong time and with the wrong tone of voice, it can sound bossy and rude. For example, when you order food at a restaurant, it is more polite to say ‘May I’ instead of ‘I need’ to show your respect. Small talk is also a new communication skill I learned in the Canadian workplace. When I was working in the kitchen, I didn’t pay attention to daily conversations with other cooks and chefs. My previous co-workers probably thought I was shy or cold! But I just didn’t have the awareness to use small talk. I realized that it is always necessary to understand and adapt to Canadian social norms,” Ellen said. She adds that the best way to adjust is to observe and accept differences, be open to change, and become a lifelong learner.
Future plans
Ellen was excited to share that she recently passed the interview to become an EO volunteer settlement e-coach. “Thank you for posting the practical articles about volunteering on EO’s Live & Learn website. When preparing for my volunteer interview, I explored online resources on EO without checking other websites. Besides reading your articles, I also reviewed all of the presentations from the Multi-Week Courses– Volunteering in Canada, which I attended last year,” Ellen said. She is now ready to coach her first mentee after the volunteer training. She looks forward to “learning by teaching,” meaning applying what she learned at EO as she helps more newcomers in the community.
Despite her hectic life, Ellen plans to continue learning with EO to improve her English. “As a learner, my goal is to spend 1,000 hours on EO. I’ve already spent 110 hours which means I’ve attended 110 classes since 2021,” she said. As for her IELTS test goal, Ellen has taken a better and more mature perspective about this target. “The goal is challenging, but I’ll take my time, monitor my progress, and focus on the moment. The road to success is always under construction. At least I’m enjoying the journey, she said.
Newcomer Story: Anne Sonie Joseph Noel
Three cheers for our Language Contest April Grand Winner, Anne Sonie Joseph Noel!!! We are shining the spotlight on her in our Newcomer Stories this month.
We couldn’t be any prouder of Anne Sonie, who is one of English Online’s (EO) most active learners. Besides attending LINC Home Study sessions with a one-on-one instructor, she also participates in various drop-in group sessions throughout the week. Aside from this, she joins the Language Contest every Friday to practice what she learned in her classes.
“Every day I learn in three or four classes, so the contest provided a space to get involved. It’s an opportunity to do my best. I actually failed the third week and I was very angry with myself! I knew the answer but made a very bad mistake. When I wrote the answer, I used “in” instead of “on” and because of that I didn’t win that week. But I kept trying,” Anne Sonie said.
Because of her perseverance, she garnered the most number of correct answers by the end of the month which earned for her the much deserved title of Grand Winner.
“It was cold but I felt their warm welcome”
Our diligent student arrived at the end of December 2021 in Manitoba. Anne Sonie, her husband, 10-year old son, plus a baby on the way, landed in Winnipeg at the height of winter. Despite being prepared and warmly-dressed, actually feeling -30 °C for the first time was a whole new experience for them. Haiti, their home country, has tropical weather all year round. “It was shocking. It was difficult for me to open my eyes because of the wind and cold outside,” Anne Sonie said.
After the initial shock, what made up for the cold were friendly Haitian families and Manitobans. “Even though we arrived here in winter and it was really cold, the people we met gave us a warm welcome which is good. The family who came and picked us up was so kind and accommodating. They made sure that we were comfortable. I like this heat that emerges from their kindness, Anne Sonie said.
Francophones in MB
Aside from the weather, another thing that was a departure from her expectations was the language. “We were told that Manitoba is a province where French and English were spoken so it would be easy for Francophones when they come here, she said. This was great news for Anne Sonie and her family since French and Creole are the official languages of Haiti. However, while she did find some French services as well as a French school for her son in Winnipeg, she learned that English is still a necessity as most people speak it here.
“When I gave birth to my baby at the women’s hospital, I couldn’t find a French-speaker right away . My husband and I put aside the fear of making mistakes in English and put our words together to make ourselves understood. You have to ask if there are French services or if somebody can speak French with you. If not, you must try,” Anne Sonie said. “I realized that I still needed to learn English to connect with others. Also, if you don’t have enough English, you can’t get work. My husband failed a lot of interviews because of English. It’s a disadvantage, I can say. We have to speak English to adapt faster,” she added.
“This is why I would recommend EO to other newcomers. We not only learn English, but it’s a package. We learn a lot about our host country, about other nationalities, other cultures and how to live with them. This is important because we are living in a multicultural place.”
“English is a language I dream of”
Anne Sonie took a language test at WELARC after giving birth to their second child so she could learn English right away. WELARC referred her to LINC Home Study which allowed her to take classes online while taking care of her baby.
“After I registered, I learned that LINC Home Study is under the umbrella of English Online. I saw that I could also attend Coffee Chats, Multi Week Workshops, and the Citizenship Class. I love that class! I learned about the political system of Canada,” she said.
“This is why I would recommend EO to other newcomers. We not only learn English, but it’s a package. We learn a lot about our host country, about other nationalities, other cultures and how to live with them. This is important because we are living in a multicultural place,” she added.
Another thing she likes about EO are the teachers. ”I like the kindness of the teachers and their ability to create a favourable atmosphere in order to learn and give the best of one’s self. They’re all very nice. They give you confidence to speak. Even if you make mistakes, you’ll learn. They don’t judge you. And if you ask them a question that they do not know the answer to, they will look for it and come back to you afterwards. It’s a good attitude since nobody has all the answers,” she added.
Being such a motivated learner, it’s not surprising that her English proficiency improved in a short span of time. During the interview, I remarked that she speaks English very well. Anne Sonie smiled and said “Most of my teachers say that too. They say that I express myself clearly. This feedback helps me to move forward, I appreciate it. English is a language I dream of, I really want to speak it.”
Future plans
“Now I’m taking care of my daughter who is only four months old. But I want to study and get a job in order to integrate into the community. I could go back to banking but I’m thinking about shifting to the healthcare field,” she said. Prior to moving to Canada, Anne Sonie had been working at Unibank S.A. for almost six years. She holds a degree in Economics (Diplôme en Sciences économiques) as well as a degree in American Accounting and Business Mathematics.
In the meantime, she continues to improve her English to be ready to explore her future prospects. She’ll need a higher CLB to go back to school. “At the University of St. Boniface, they recommend that we have to have level 7 CLB to take up a course like Nursing. It’s a project. It’s on my mind,” she said.
Aside from studies and career, she is also looking forward to exploring her new home. “I don’t know the country very well yet because it’s not easy for me to go out,” she said. With warmer weather finally coming, she is planning on going out more and discovering Canada’s natural beauty.
To all newcomers, this is Anne Sonie’s advice: “Learn English before coming because it’s really important to make yourself understood. Try to build your network even while in your native country. It’s a very important thing. When you’re new in a country and you don’t know anybody, it will be very hard for you. Keep an open mind and don’t be shy to ask for help if needed.”
She adds, “We have a saying in Creole that goes ‘Bwa pi wo di li wè lwen, men grenn pwomennen di li wè pi lwen pase l,’ it means exploring the world gives us more possibilities than staying where we are. I hope that newcomers to Manitoba like me will see this journey as an adventure. It’s important not to feel discouraged by obstacles but to be motivated by the opportunities we see in front of us.”
Newcomer Story: Mariela Camero
Double hooray for our June Language Contest Grand Winner, Mariela Camero!!
Double, because aside from her language contest win, we’re also celebrating her CLB promotion. Just before this interview, Mariela took her assessment test with her teacher Tanveen and the results showed that she’s moved up another notch in her CLB level. This is a stellar achievement considering that she started learning English only six months ago.
Like most of our successful learners, Mariela is quite diligent in her studies despite having a full time job. Aside from having a one-on-one instructor in the LINC Home Study program, she also attends our informal drop-in classes and joins the language quizzes whenever she has time.
From Venezuela by way of Ecuador and Uruguay
Mariela came to Manitoba to join her husband in July 2021, but moving to a new country is not new to her. In 2016, she and her family left their native country Venezuela due to the economic and political upheaval there. They moved to a neighbouring country, Ecuador, lived there for two years, and then moved again to Uruguay.
However, Mariela says that moving to an entirely new continent is harder. Like other newcomers, she had to adjust (and is still adjusting) to a new language, weather, and culture. “I’ve never been to Canada before, so everything was difficult,” Mariela said. She remembers, “I was even afraid to cross the street because it seemed so big to me. I was also afraid to get on the bus and get lost.”
Another concern was the language. Even though she learned some English back in her home country, she never practiced speaking because everyone around her spoke Spanish. “The first time I went to the Canadian supermarket alone, I could not understand anything the cashier was asking me. I got so frustrated that I left the store crying. I really wanted to go back home, everything seemed difficult here. I was also so afraid to start working. I was terrified of the idea of working and not being able to understand anything they said to me. I was feeling so alone, not having friends or anyone to have coffee with and talk about my experience. It was hard,” Mariela said.
And then shortly after she came here, she received news that her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. “This was another hard moment for me. I wanted so much to go return home and be a support for my family. At the same time, I was experiencing my own challenges here. This certainly made my transition more difficult,” she said.
“Since I received my first class, I was very happy and excited to be studying formally. For me, it has been incredible help, in each class I learn something. I try to attend as many classes as possible, because any time when you’re in class, you learn something. My vocabulary, my pronunciation have improved a lot.”
Grit and positivity
It’s tough facing all these challenges but it turns out, Mariela is tougher.
Instead of focusing on her fears and problems, she resolved to improve her English and find work. She went to the Immigrant Centre where the good folks there assisted Mariela in her job search and referred her to English Online for language training.
Mariela remembers the first time she attended an online class with fondness: “When I attended my first class in the program, everybody spoke English and I thought, wow, this is going to be hard. At first I thought it would be explained in my own language and I discovered, no, it’s not like that, it is English everything! But how the teacher handled the classroom matters. I remember my teacher (Blaine), he introduced me to the class and said ‘Welcome, Mariela, I speak a little Spanish too. Actually my wife is from Mexico.’ This is a good memory for me, he made my day happy,” Mariela said. She adds, “Blaine is a very passionate teacher. He handles the classroom well. He always tries to understand what everyone says, even if it’s good or not, or even when the pronunciation is not very good.”
“Since I received my first class, I was very happy and excited to be studying formally. For me, it has been incredible help, in each class I learn something. I try to attend as many classes as possible, because any time when you’re in class, you learn something. My vocabulary, my pronunciation have improved a lot,” Mariela said.
Aside from improving her English, she says she has also developed focus and concentration. “I know that I need to give 100% concentration in my class because it’s easy to be distracted when you have your phone or when you’re in the house. There are distractions like if you have kids, or if you need to start cooking…everything can be a distraction for you,” she said.
Learning and growing
Prior to moving to Manitoba, Mariela was working as a Beauty Advisor for L’Oreal in Uruguay. Now she is working as a caregiver, a job where her positivity and service orientation skills make her shine. “I really like my job, I enjoy helping another person. This client is just very special for me,” Mariela said. “My client also allows me to take classes just as long I have everything ready for her,” she added.
With everything improving on all fronts, Mariela is starting to appreciate her life in Manitoba. “I think Manitoba is a small province that has many benefits. For example, being able to be in in this online English program that is only for Manitobans is a great help for me,” Mariela said.
Another great news is that her sister back in Uruguay is better after receiving treatment. This is a big weight off her shoulders and something that she is extremely grateful for.
Mariela’s story is a good reminder that focusing on opportunities and working on things we can change works better than dwelling on difficulties. A little over a year into her settlement journey, she is thriving and inspiring others with her positivity and hard work. Congratulations, Mariela!
We are proud to feature the first graduate of our revitalized 
Hooray for our August Language Contest Grand Winner, Landiarisoa Razafindranaivo! Landy has won several times in the past weeks, winning almost all of English Online’s (EO) collectibles. It’s a good thing that her daughter loves the items too. Landy shares that some of her prizes have disappeared from her desk and have mysteriously found their way into her daughter’s school bag!