F A L L 2 01 6 E D I TI O N WELCOMING ELC STUDENTS Under its new name, The Lakehead University English Language Centre welcomed around 150 new students to Thunder Bay for the Fall semester! Students from around the globe have joined our programs. We are very excited for the upcoming months! STAY IN TOUCH www.facebook.com/ LakeheadUniversityELC WHAT S INSIDE Upcoming Events! Volunteer in the Spotlight Student Testimonial Welcome New Staff Pictures and More! WE HAVE MOVED! Lakehead University s English Language Centre is now located on main campus! (FB Room 2039). Lakehead University English Language Centre www.lakeheadu.ca
STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD! This semester, the English Language Centre welcomes students from Japan, China, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Mexico and more!
ELC STUDENT INTERVIEW: Q: What is your name? A: Salman Baig Q: What country are you from? What did you study there? A: I am from Pakistan, from the largest city in Pakistan, the City of Karachi. I previously obtained my bachelors of Electrical Engineering and worked at the biggest telecommunications company in Pakistan, and did my duties there for 3 years. Q: Why did you choose to study in Canada? A: After brainstorming with my friends and teachers, I have come to know that Canada provides a good education system. It is an undeniable fact that Canada is providing education without any discrimination of race, gender or religion. When studying abroad, a big concern is safety issues. Canada is a peaceful country. Q: What program do you plan on taking here at Lakehead University? A: Back in Pakistan, I obtained my bachelors in Electronics Engineering. I am going to pursue my Masters in Electrical Engineering in the telecommunications field. Q: How are you liking Canada so far? A: It's great, I am enjoying it. There are new and lovely people. But I am a little afraid of the weather (ha ha). Q: What is your favourite thing you have learned in Canada? A: Here in Canada, there are a lot of people from different countries. It has been great to learn and explore the different cultures and traditions here. Q: How are you liking the City of Thunder Bay? A: I like Thunder Bay so far, I visited Kakabeka Falls. I love nature, basically. Q: How are you liking the ELC program so far? A: I have made a lot of friends and I am looking forward to the rest of the semester. Q: What has been your most enjoyable event? A: I enjoyed the ice hockey! I have some experience playing field hockey so it was great to see a live ice hockey game.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: VIJAY BABU My Name is Vijay Babu. I am from Chennai city in Southern India. I joined Lakehead in the Master's in Computer Science program for the Winter 2016 term. I came to Thunder Bay on December 27th, 2015. I landed at the Thunder Bay airport at 2:00 a.m. in the dead of night in Winter. So one could possibly imagine what kind of thoughts might be running in the mind of an international student who is stepping into a new country for the first time. The first feeling one gets is loneliness. Coming from a different country with a different culture (and of course weather), most of us international students find it a bit lonely and might even feel alien initially. Same was the story with me. So much was my anxiety during my initial days that I thought of going back to my home country. Hadn't it been for the support provided by my friends here, I don't know what might have happened to me. I didn't know anyone in Thunder Bay before I came. I contacted a few Indian students here through Facebook and they helped me with everything from finding me a temporary accommodation to finding a place to rent for me. We don't know each other well. To be honest we knew nothing about each other before I came here. Yet they took care of me as a friend. The only common thing about us was that we were students from a faraway land. They told me about their struggles when they first landed in Thunder Bay and how it motivated them to help other students who come to Thunder Bay. So It was this bond of friendship and brotherhood that I wanted to nurture by paying it forward and continue the chain. is our new home and in order to feel at home we need to fit in and for that all we need is a little support, a friend to talk to, a friend to share our difficulties and a friend to practice our language skills. I wanted to be that friend who will be there by their side and make them feel at home, for if students don't support each other who will? Besides volunteering for the ELC program helped me in a lot of ways. I got to know about different cultures and found new friends like Spark, Jongcheol, Charlie, Charlotte, and Jenny. I thank Jenny for giving me this opportunity. Jenny is such a friendly and wonderful person that I think hardly any of us might feel away from home. Overall it was a totally different and new experience for me helping them fit in and learn the English language. I am happy that I was a part of this wonderful program. That's what inspired me to volunteer for the English Language Centre, to help fellow international students overcome the language barrier and fit in. For us international students this
Interested in becoming a volunteer? WELCOME KATRINA! The English Language Centre at Lakehead University has strong community connections within Thunder Bay, Ontario. Our program thrives with the involvement of volunteers. They share their passions with the students, support them as they explore our beautiful city, build friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Contact Jenny Veal at: 1.807.346.7865 or jveal@lakeheadu.ca "Hi, my name is Katrina and I am 22 years old. I was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. I have one older brother and a dog named Shadow. I did my undergraduate degree at Lakehead University in Kinesiology. I am now doing my Professional year for my education degree at Lakehead as well. In my spare time, I enjoy being active and playing sports. I play hockey for the Lakehead University Women s team; I am a senior defenseman in my 4 th season. I look forward to getting to know all of you! STUDENT TESTIMONIAL For more information please contact Jenny Veal Hi everyone. My name is Ana Dornelas, and I am from Brazil. I would like to share a little bit of experience in Canada, at jveal@lakeheadu.ca or 1.807.346.7865 specifically in Thunder Bay, studying English and doing part of my program, Chemical Engineering, at Lakehead University. How could I summarize the best 18 months of my life? What a hard work. Let me try it! I arrived in Canada in July 2014. Living in a country with different culture, people and language was a great challenge for me; however, I like challenges, I got motivated to learn and live here. During my first six months, I attended English classes. From those classes and events promoted by LU`s International Office, I not only improved my English skills, but also I contacted with people from different countries, which was such an amazing experience. In 2015, I started my studies at university. The structure of the laboratories, library and classrooms besides Ana Dornelas the qualified professionals were fundamental for the learning. Recife, Pernambuco About my experience in this city, I would say that it was cold Federal University of Pernambuco but rewarding. Here I met awesome people, learned more about myself and played Winter sports which I have never BRAZIL tried before. Finally, I have to say that Canada welcomed me, showed me how its people are friendly, educated and generous. Here, I made myself at home despite being kilometers away from my birth country.
ELC FALL 2016 EVENTS October 6 - Presentation by Thunder Bay Police Services October 7 - ELC Student Newsletter Introduction Session October 8 - Rock Climbing October 12 - Paint a Local Landscape Art Project October 15 - Tour of the Canada Games Complex October 16 - ELC Student Newsletter Workshop October 19 - International Coffee House October 21 - Tour of Canada Games Complex October 23 - ELC Student Newsletter Workshop October 26 - Board Game Night October 28 - City Hall Tour and Meet and Greet with Mayor of Thunder Bay, Keith Hobbs October 29 - Rock Climbing October 30 - ELC Student Newsletter Workshop October 31 - Pumpkin Carving SEPTEMBER 2016 EVENTS AT ELC It has been a busy September for events and introducing the new students to the City of Thunder Bay. All ELC students are required to attend 8 events by the end of each semester. There are several each week, and are a great way for students to practise Canadian culture, conversation, and make friends along the way! September 8, 2016 The new and current students of ELC had the opportunity to see Thunder Bay and learn about Thunder Bay public transit on a city bus tour! Students got to see where services such as Thunder Bay Police Services and Service Ontario are located. September 12, 2016 Students attended the ELC Orientation held in the Lakehead University Faculty Lounge. ELC staff went over the student policies and academic information and program requirements.
September 13, 2016 The Aboriginal Cultural and Support Services held their annual Fall Harvest, where ELC students got to learn about traditional Aboriginal culture and customs such as moccasin making, smudging and ceremony, traditional cooking and medicine walk. September 24, 2016 Students enjoyed a Saturday afternoon hiking and sight-seeing at the beautiful Kakabeka Falls Lookout! September 21, 2016 Previous ELC students from Brazil and our new students enjoyed a night of conversation and making friends at one of our coffee nights. September 26, 2016 Leading Edge Gym provided personal self defense training to students! ELC welcomes all staff and students from Lakehead to attend our coffee nights. They are held Wednesday evenings at The Study at 6:30 p.m. Please check our Facebook for event information! September 30, 2016 ELC staff and students attended the Lakehead University Thunder Wolves hockey game at Fort William Gardens!
For more information on how to obtain a library card please visit: www.thunderbaypubliclibrary.com Or contact Jenny Veal at jveal@lakeheadu.ca or 1.807.346.7865
HOMESTAY WELCOME RECEPTION 2016 September 22 The English Language Centre hosted the first annual Homestay Program Welcome Reception in the Faculty Lounge. All staff and ELC students were invited to attend. There were appetizers and refreshments, as well as a live performance from the Lakehead Japanese Cultural Association of Thunder Bay. Welcome Homestay hosts and students! Lakehead University s Homestay program applications for students have now become easier! Now available is an online Student Homestay Application Form. Now you can fill out the form and pay online! What is Homestay? Homestay is a great way to practise English and be immersed in Canadian culture. By living with a Canadian family, students can improve conversational English skills in daily life, participate in family activities and have a better understanding of Canadian customs and cultures. Students will enjoy a home away from home. HOMESTAY SECTION Homestay Includes Are you interested in being a host? A private bedroom (bed, desk, dresser) Wi-Fi / Internet Laundry and kitchen facilities Opportunities to speak English Canadian Culture Competitive compensation rates: $775 with meal plan $550 without meal plan For more information please visit our website or contact us directly for an application form international.homestay@lakeheadu.ca // Jenny Veal 807.346.7865
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! @LakeheadUniversityELC #LakeheadAdventures #LakeheadUniversityELC BECOME A PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER! Submit your photos to our Instagram or Facebook today! Facebook.com/LakeheadUniversityELC WELCOME TO THE LAKEHEAD TEAM! We are excited to welcome Amanda Mauger and Tamara Rajala to our instructor team! Amanda is a CELTA trained ESL instructor from Nova Scotia. She taught at and later managed an EAP program at a private Syrian university for two and a half years, and had been working at a private language college in Halifax before moving to Thunder Bay this September. She is looking forward to working with the students and becoming part of the team here at Lakehead University. Tamara has been teaching English Language Learners for over sixteen years. She believes teaching is a privilege and loves seeing students achieve their goals. She has lived and worked in several countries and was an expat for over ten years. Additionally, She has travelled to over 15 countries and just returned from Ireland, Wales and England! It is safe to say that her passions include travelling and learning about different cultures. Tamara also likes to read, write fiction and watch movies. She doesn't play team sports, but likes to swim and snorkel. CONTACT US Lakehead University English Language Centre Main Office: FB2039 Thunder Bay, ON 1.807.346.7888 international.english@lakeheadu.ca lakeheadu.ca