Working together
English as a second language
By Wendy Thomas
Vancouver Island University's (VIU) Powell River campus and Westwind English Academy are working together with School District 47 to support the growing number of international students. For English as a second language (ESL) students interested in post secondary education, VIU offers a transition year to strengthen both academic and language skills. To enhance the wide range of student abilities, Westwind English Academy provides ESL courses, cultural activities, and community involvement. Each school has a distinct role, so international students can choose what they need.
Arlette Raaen, VIU campus principal, explains the benefits: "By increasing the diversity of students, we'll be able to provide a more vibrant learning environment. Powell River offers a safe place for learning, in a beautiful natural setting, with easy access to Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Completing a preparation year after high school will ensure a successful experience at university."
Westwind English Academy's director Rachelle Warman stresses the importance of an enriched environment: "We provide learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Students have more confidence in their communication skills. They become part of a new family at school, at their homestay, and within the community. Students feel less stress here and are more relaxed and can focus on learning English."
Brooks Secondary School has taught international students for 10 years. ESL teacher Robyn Scoville remarks: "After a few months, students are very comfortable around town, feeling independent. Students gain self-confidence in both their English and their involvement in Canadian life."
Laurie Yule, International Coordinator for School District 47, also views Powell River as an ideal location for learning. "As there are so few 'non English' speakers in Powell River, it is the perfect setting for absolute immersion. Students pick up English quickly when it is the only mutually available language of communication."
Three new Brooks international students - Kenneth and Kate Kwan from Hong Kong and Hikaru Hirotsuji from Kobe, Japan--arrived in the fall with similar reasons for choosing Powell River.
Kenneth and Kate feel small town life improves English. Because not many people in Powell River are from China, Kate can't use Cantonese. In her multicultural classroom, "If I want to talk to a student, I must use English." Her brother Kenneth agrees. "In Vancouver, there are lots of Chinese people, so I came to Powell River to be more comfortable speaking English."
Classmate Hikaru also wanted some place with less Japanese and chose Powell River because she liked the West Coast. She immediately loved the small town, describing the airport and Pacific Coastal plane as "cute."
Kate agrees, "In Hong Kong, there are many people in the street. Here, sometimes I can't see anybody in the street. When I am lost, there is nobody to ask!" She was surprised that everybody was so nice in Canada. "When I have any difficulty, they will help me."
High school students Diego Castaneda from Neiva, Colombia, and Katie Park from Suwon, Korea, plan on staying. Diego has an aunt living in Canada. "Her husband has family here, so she knows Powell River and wants to buy a house." Until his family moves closer, Diego is enjoying his homestay. "Living with an English family really improves my language learning. I use my English a lot."
Katie Park's family moved here because her uncle owns the Texada store, and they wanted to be in a better environment. Katie was in awe of how clean Canada is. "In Korea, there are many cars and people and not many trees. Sometimes it's black from pollution."
Powell River attracts not only international high school students but also world travelers looking for adventure and language learning. Outgoing Tokyo university student Rumi Niino plans on teaching English to teenagers in Japan. Rumi wants to perfect her English--particularly her pronunciation--before starting a teaching career.
Powell River is the perfect combination of language and community for Rumi with English in the morning at Westwind English Academy and afternoons with grade six students where Rumi teaches origami and Japanese numbers. Students' raising their hands impresses Rumi; Japanese students would be reluctant to freely share opinions in class.
Powell River is a delightful surprise. Rumi loves how "Everyone knows each other here!" The close-knit community feels like home. "People will say 'Hi' to me when I am out walking--people I don't even know!"
So for Kenneth, Kate, Hikaru, Diego, Katie and Rumi--and other international students - Powell River provides a breathtaking, natural setting to improve their English.
Vancouver Island University's local campus, Westwind English Academy, and School District 47 are excited to be working together, providing a university transition year, focused skill development, and fun extracurricular activities for high school ESL students and other language learners.
Living english: Brooks students Kenneth Kwan and Diego Castaneda say the homestay program has vastly improve their English.
English teacher: Rumi Niino is auniversity grad from Japan working on English skills at Westwind Learning Center.
