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When your "Oi" must turn into "Hello"
By : Nadya Reis | Sotaque Brasileiro, Number 4, Spring 2004
What is happening to me? There are times when I feel safe and determined. Other times, I do not know what I'm doing here... Your adventure through this land of the north will go through some different phases, which are common to the process of cultural adaptation - so relax. Let's talk a little bit about each process.
It is the beginning - everything is new and there is a smell of adventure in the air. So many things to do and discover! Find a place to live, get all these credit cards, SIN, OHIP, find out how the transportation system works, buy furniture, dishes, glasses, look for an English school, open bank account. Phew.... It seems that everything is done. And now?
Detours
After a few moments of euphoria, you start to have the feeling that things are not quite what you expected. The work is not so easy to find or what you found is not in your area of expertise. And the cold? Who would have thought it was that cold? The yearning for family and friends also hits hard during this phase. You feel depressed, dejected, might even get sick. Do not despair - as with the first, this phase too shall pass ...
The road
One day comes that feeling that you belong to this place, that you feel connected to the new reality. Your contacts with other people start to get nice and relaxed, the language seems to flow more naturally. You get to be recognized as part of their social and professional environment. You feel good and happy with what you have achieved so far.
For a long time these stages will alternate, sometimes all of them in the short period of one day. It happens all over the land and is part of adapting to your new world. Be patient, as the "detours" are progressively shorter ... Gradually, many of the things that seemed incomprehensible start to make sense and you'll find yourself doing and saying things we never imagined.
And here comes that feeling that you can start living your life again - changing parts of the script that you do not like, choosing unexpected paths, chasing lost dreams. And to think all this turmoil began just when you got off the plane and "oi" became "hello ".....
The new language that children here seem to speak so easily will be one of your greatest challenges. It is clear that fluency is needed for almost everything you want to do. You often will not be able to express exactly what you think, other times you will omit yourself only by the challenge of explaining your opinion. Not counting the days when you feel tired of hearing all the time a language that it's not yours (yet. ..). As good as your knowledge of English is, the language that's spoken day-to-day will surprise you many times. To ease things up a bit, there are two types of free courses available for new immigrants: the LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) and ESL (English as Second Language).
The LINC is a program that places the teaching of the language in a broader context: you will be encouraged to communicate, even if your pronunciation and grammar are not perfect. The Canadian culture and habits are important parts of each lesson - how to act in specific social situations, how to dress for special occasions, what to do in your spare time.
To register for this program you will need to present your immigration card and should seek an assessment centre to verify your knowledge of the language. It is always best to call ahead and make an appointment. The levels available range from 1 to 5, the latter corresponding to high-intermediate level English. The classes may be full time (usually 9:00 am to 3:30 pm) or part time and each level lasts approximately 3 months. Some LINC centres offer childcare during the time that you attend classes, others offer help with transportation.
If your level is above the maximum offered, you will be referred for an ESL program more appropriate to your needs. The assessment centre will give you the result of your evaluation that will be needed to sign up at the school of your choice.
LINC Assessment Centre in Toronto
YMCA of Greater Toronto
42 Charles St. E, 3rd Floor
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1T4
Phone: 416 925-5462
Other places in Canada:
www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomer/welcome/wel-22e.html
ESL Toronto District Schools Board of
155 College Street
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1P6
Tel: 416 397-3000 (general INFS)
416 338-4000 (ESL for adults)
Website: www.tdsb.on.ca / coned / esl / esl.html
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