English Class Reflects on Their Experience at GGP
Through the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training, Government of Saskatchewan, Global Gathering Place offers twenty-one Stage 1&2 English classes and an Online English for Employment for Youth program across the province. Clients with temporary permits and new Canadian citizens attend these CLB 1 to 7 classes. In our recent Annual Stage Survey, 93% of the students reported that they are learning important information that helps them in their daily lives. In terms of community content, 93% of them feel confident in using the services that they learned about.
The class highlighted for this newsletter is a Stage 2 CLB 5-6 class that runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings at GGP on 25th. All students in the class hold work permits and come from countries such as China, Libya, India, Ukraine, Brazil, Chile, Iran, and Vietnam. With the priorities for the class being language, employment, and community, 85% of the current students report as being currently employed, and many commented, as noted below, on how their English class helped them with settlement and employment.
“I moved to Canada because of the war in Ukraine… Learning English changed my life in Canada because I can make a phone call, make purchases at the store, visit a doctor. I can work here.”
“I like specially assessment isn’t about just the number to achieve but about how you can improve, and work own your goals… I start on GGP (the same time I started my 2nd job) then, I can see my 4 skills improving. I’m grateful to have this opportunity to learn.”
“I love to be a student in Christin class. She is a great teacher that I have met. I feel more confident now speaking with my friends and my customers.”
Christin Hildebrandt teaches this class, and she explains that she is motivated by three things: “first, teaching gives me the opportunity to help others. I find it incredibly rewarding to cover a topic and then hear how a learner was able to use that knowledge or language structure in their daily life. Second, I love the connection that comes with teaching. Having lived abroad for most of my adult life, I understand the challenges that come with living in a new country or different culture. Being part of a group of people who all have that in common creates a special feeling of belonging, and I find it very fulfilling. Lastly, I love the idea of life-long learning. There are always things to be learned from the lives and perspectives of others, and being in a classroom means that I’ll always have that privilege.
“The most rewarding times are when learners reach out to share their accomplishments. These wins may seem inconsequential to some, but they truly matter. Knowing that the material and lessons were so impactful gives me a true sense of purpose. Just the other day, a learner shared that after a short time at GGP, she had been able to get a job. She said that she’d been able to build the confidence and English ability to talk with people. As a result, she’d done well in the interview and is now getting along well with her colleagues. She emphasized that it had changed her life. In that moment, I felt incredibly proud to have been one of the people supporting her.”
