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Sept 09
Level 2 to 4
NEWSLINC
The LINC Home Study program is funded by:
The Official Newsletter of LINC Home Study
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 3
LINC Home Study
LINC Home Study is an English language program for newcomers to Canada who wish to improve their
listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. This program provides students with the opportunity to
learn English in the comfort of their homes and is open to landed immigrants and convention refugees 18
years or older.
Classes are taught by certified TESL instructors, who contact students every week to review homework,
practice speaking and answer questions. Students have a choice of using their computer to study English
or having a traditional textbook. All the study materials are based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks
standards.
Is there a fee for this program? No. The program is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and as
such, all study materials are provided free of charge to participants. LINC Home Study students are
encouraged to study independently for between 5 to 10 hours a week, and to finish homework on a regular
basis. To be successful students have to study hard, and commit their time to improving their English
skills. The teacher is there to guide students along on their path to significant language improvement.
The LINC Home Study program offers many other study options, including drop-in conversation classes,
additional phone conversation classes, a senior‟s program, instruction for deaf and blind clients and a
business writing course. We encourage all LINC Home Study students to take advantage of the o ptions
available to them, to participate in the online LINC Home Study forum, to contribute to our monthly
newsletters, and to their journey in learning English.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 4
Index
EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to the September
issue of the LINC Home Study
newsletter.
This month we have introduced
a “ Feature Article” section
which will highlight the theme
for the month as well provide
you with more useful
information on how you may
participate.
As usual, we have received
some great submissions from
students in the program as well
as a couple of great recipes to
tickle your taste buds.
Thank you to all those that
submitted feedback for our new
redesigned issue. We want to
encourage you to continue to
send us your articles, feedback
and comments every month.
Enjoy!
Staff Reflection
Student Reflections
Recipes
Activity Central
Quotes that Sustain my Daily Existence by Shamim M……….……........pg8
The Wedding of the Decade by Jasmine H………………………………....pg9
Elephants by Nirosha G……...……………………………………….…….....pg10
My First Day at School by Bi H………………………….…………...………pg11
Learn English at Home by Hong Xin Z ……………….…………………....pg12
The Bata Shoe Museum by Sayed-Akbar J.G.…….………………………pg13
Chips Chili by Ninan S……………………………………………...………....pg14
Sweet Apple Dumplings by Saadia K...……………………………...……..pg15
Word Search…..………………………………………………………....……...pg16
Alphabet Activity……………………………………………………………..…pg17
Answer Key……………………………………………………………..…….....pg18
Student Corner…………………………………………………………..……...pg19
Feature Article
Back to School………………………………………………..……….……...…..pg6
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 5
Home Study
LINC
Program Updates
DDrroopp--iinn CCoonnvveerrssaattiioonn SSeessssiioonnss: Throughout the summer drop-in conversation classes are being offered to LINC
Home Study students in levels 2, 3, & 4 who live within the GTA. Classes are held on Saturdays between 10am and 12pm
at 2 Robert Speck Parkway, Mississauga (near Square One).
AAddddiittiioonnaall CCoonnvveerrssaattiioonn CCllaasssseess ((bbyy pphhoonnee)):: Students who would like extra conversation practice can join an
additional conversation class. In addition to a regular teacher, students can have a conversation teacher who will speak
with them for another 35 to 45 minutes each week. Additional conversation classes are offered as 12 week sessions to all
students in the LINC Home Study program.
LLIINNCCiinngg SSeenniioorrss: Weekly in-class English Conversation sessions for newcomer seniors have begun for LINC Home
Study students who are over 55 years of age. Sessions take place every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 12pm.
at 2 Robert Speck Pkwy,
BBuussiinneessss WWrriittiinngg CCoouurrssee:: The LINC Home Study Business Writing course is available to LINC level 6 & 7 students.
In this online course students learn about professional business communication, including topics such as resume writing,
composing proper letters and email, and how to write reports.
For more information on any of these programs, please email the LINC Hom e Study office at [email protected]
LLIINNCC HHoommee SSttuuddyy NNaattiioonnaall DDeelliivveerryy:: In August 2008, the
Centre for Education and Training (TCET) received funding from
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to expand the LINC
Home Study program into Alberta (AB), Nova Scotia (NS) and
New Brunswick (NB). LINC Home Study National Delivery (LHS
ND) was put into operation. As of July 2009, LHS ND had a total of
91 students.
Due to the success of this pilot project, CIC approved the
continuation in AB, NS and NB, as well as its expansion into
Saskatchewan (SK), Prince Edward Island (PE) and
Newfoundland/Labrador (NL). In the future, LHS ND will
collaborate with the Ontario LINC Home Study in the publication
of NEWSLINC.
Elizabeth Cormier (Project Manager, LHS National
Delivery) and Doris Cheng (Administrative
Assistant, LHS National Delivery)
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 6
Feature Article
BACK TO SCHOOL
Most parents know that being organized is the key to surviving the day-to-day joys and challenges of having kids. But no
matter how organized you are in this recession there is no question that shopping for back-to-school can break your budget.
Here are some tips which can help you save money when shopping for your child's back-to-school supplies:
Start from home
Before you head to the store, take a walk around your home and you may find some items there. Things like rulers, lunch
boxes and backpacks do not need to be replaced each year.
Look for special deals
You can save money on supplies by looking for bargains and sales. If you want to catch better deals then try shopping at
multiple stores. Always keep an eye on flyers as one store may have products on sale that other stores do not.
Avoid unnecessary purchase Only buy what you need and to avoid overspending, always make a list of things you want to buy.
Save money by buying post season sale items
It is very common that retail stores tend to cut the price
even more after the "buying season" is over. By thinking
ahead and taking advantage of discounts offered this year,
you are sure to save money for next year.
If necessary, buy more than one
The school supplies listed by teachers can last for the
starting months only. In later months, kids will need refills
on pencils, notebooks, paper, etc. To solve this problem the
best thing is to buy in bulk. But don‟t be intimidated by too
many deals. Think about your budget limit before buying in
bulk.
Shop at dollar stores
If you are not brand name conscious then the dollar store is
the best place to buy supplies like penci ls, rulers,
highlighters, scissors, erasers, folders, and notebooks.
Tips for Parents
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 7
Back-to-school Checklist:
Backpack
Binder
Binder paper
Clothing and shoes
Lunch box
Notebooks
Pens, pencils, crayons, markers
Pencil sharpener
Ruler
Safety scissors
School books
Garage sale
If you have a teen going to college or university then you may find something good in garage sales, like couches,
nightstands, lamps, desks, other furniture and accessories.
Teach your children about money management
Kids can be unwilling to reuse last year's backpack or lunchbox. If this attitude is hindering your attempts to save money
on school supplies, give children a budget. It is very common that children spend less when it‟s their own money. Have
your child pay the difference between what you are willing to buy and what they want to buy, This will teach them a
lesson in money management.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 8
Inspirational Quotes
“Teachers open the door,
but you must enter by
yourself.”- Chinese Proverb
“Our greatest glory is not in
never failing, but in rising
every time we fail.”-
Confucius
“Do not wish to be anything
but what you are, and try to
be that perfectly.”- St.
Frances de Sales
“Watch your thoughts; they
become words. Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they
become habits. Watch your
habits; they become
character. Watch your
character; it becomes your
destiny."- Patrick Overton
“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.”-Friedrich Engels
I try to apply this saying in my daily life. I feel that we have millions of theories
available to us but we do not apply these in reality. Only by taking some action or by
beginning to apply the theory, will we be able to know if the action made a change in
our lives. It may be as simple as making a habit of having breakfast everyday!
“Formal education will make you a living; self education will
make you a fortune.”-Jim Rohn
We need a college/university degree in order to get good jobs however being “ street
smart” we are able to accomplish lots more.
“Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” – Chinese
Proverb
When things are at their worst, and it feels like there is truly only darkness, it‟s hardest
to be hopeful. But no matter what, we should never give up. We can be a small,
constant light to others and we can make a choice to not wait for change, but make a
change for ourselves.
“A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.” –
Chinese Proverb
When we show kindness, a little of the goodness we offer stays with us and helps us
become a better person. Beauty is a generous heart and a hand that‟s open.
Staff Reflections
by Shamim M QUOTES THAT SUSTAIN MY DAILY EXISTENCE
Shamim is the Payroll and Finance
Administrator for LINC Home
Study program.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 9
A few years ago I attended a wedding in Montreal. To
say it was the most memorable experience I had so far,
is in my opinion, putting it mildly. It was and still is an
experience I recall so many times that I am sure many
of my friends are tired of hearing now .
This experience started when I got an invitation from
the intended groom‟s parents. We had only met twice
before, but I guess I must have made quite an
impression to be invited to their son‟s wedding. Once
the invitation was accepted, I was told to only book the
hotel and everything else would be taken care of.
Well, I did not listen and instead, booked a weekend,
all inclusive package. On the morning of the wedding,
I got ready real early and had breakfast at the hotel. I
called for a taxi and as I waited, a limousine came for
me. I was very surprised, but a bigger surprise awaited
when I got to the groom‟s parents home. A breakfast
fit for a king was prepared. I had never seen so much
food in one setting. All I could do was just look at it in
awe.
Later on a fancier limousine took me and other guests
to the church for the ceremony. It was simply beautiful
but most of all, it was on time. At this point I felt like
Alice in Wonderland. After the ceremony, there was a
photo shoot, and again, I was included as a „family‟
member. We were then driven to the bride‟s parent‟s
house for lunch. The lavish spread was surreal. I kept
pinching myself to make sure it was real. There was a
break during which I returned to the hotel for a nap
before the actual reception.
The reception was held at a banquet hall in Sherbrook
and it was an extension of the earlier, well orchestrated,
elaborate event. When I arrived at the hall, I was greeted
with a variety of beverages in the downstairs reception
hall. Upstairs at the entrance to the banquet, guests
were greeted by family members of the bride and groom
and presented with gifts. We were then ushered into a
foyer surrounded with a wide variety of sandwiches,
beverages and fruit trays. After much mixing and
mingling, we were allowed into the actual designated
banquet room. It was beautiful, magical! Wow!! The
event organizers made sure everyone participated, thus
no one felt „left out‟ or ignored. The program was
punctuated with dancing, acting, singing, food and more
food. The reception ended with a midnight buffet – set up
like a display on an ocean liner.
I have read of events like this, but to be an actual
participant was just amazing. The entire event was most
enchanting. To say the least, it was the w edding of the
decade and I was blessed to be a part of it.
THE WEDDING OF THE DECADE
by Jasmine H.
Jasmine is an Administrative
Assistant for LINC Home Study
program.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 10
ELEPHANTS
Student Reflections
by Nirosha G.
When I was in Sri Lanka, one holiday my family,
with my parents, went to visit an elephant
orphanage called Pinnawala Elephant
Orphanage. It is about 80km from the capital city
Colombo and towards the ancient city Kandy.
Our van took nearly two hours to reach there.
This orphanage covers a large area. This was
started in 1972 to protect orphan elephants
because elephants are an endangered mammal
in Sri Lanka.
Most Sri Lankans and lots of tourists from all
over the world come to visit this remarkable
place. This is one of the most attractive
tourist places in Sri Lanka, and this orphanage is
one of the biggest elephant orphanages in the
world.
The time we went there was the elephants'
feeding time. We can touch baby elephants
also, and if you want, you can feed milk to them.
It is very interesting to see baby elephants drink
their milk. Everybody enjoyed it and next is their
bathing time. For bathing, elephants were taken
to the nearby river called "Ma-Oya". There is a
special area for visitors to watch them in their
natural habitat. We took photographs and
recorded to keep our memories alive when we
want to be reminded again.
There are lots of shops to buy ornaments made
from Sri Lankan raw materials, blended with
traditional art and culture. Some of them were
made from elephant dung.
That day was an unforgettable day for all of us.
We all enjoyed it a lot and I am hoping to visit it
again.
Peel region – Nirosha G. is a Level 4 student.
Her teacher is Lisa M.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 11
MY FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL
Although it was almost thirty years ago, it is still hard to forget my first day at school. Being a six and half year‟s girl,
school was not totally strange to me. My elder brother often talked about his school proudly. "When can I become a
student?" I asked my brother. He said with a smile: "Maybe next year, sweetheart." So it was very exciting for me that I
really went to school as a primary student.
In the morning, I woke up by alert ring, ate my breakfast and took my new bag. Then I went to school with my brother. He
sent me to my classroom. My first teacher, a beautiful woman with bright, smiling eyes was waiting for me. "Welcome to
our class!" She showed me a seat and told me her first name is Yin. I looked around my class. There were almost twenty
kids; they were the same age as me. Then Ms.Yin let us introduce ourselves to others. I remember I made friends with two
girls; their seats were close to me. One of them invited me to her home to have supper and I did. When I came back home,
my mother said "You are amazing!” She thought I was too sociable.
Anyway, the day is a milestone to me and it is unforgettable.
Ottawa region - Bi Hi. is a Level 3 student. Her teacher is Marjan B.
Comics
by Bi H.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 12
Student Reflections
LEARN ENGLISH AT HOME
Since I started the LINC Home Study program, I like to learn English at
home.
I feel that this program is convenient, practical and integral.
First, this program is convenient.
Registration is easy. After I got the information from my counsellor, I
went to an assessment centre to finish my evaluation and called the LINC
Home Study Office. All these took me about two days. There are two
options to study --- online or correspondence. I chose the latter because I
like using the books and CDs. The available time (e.g. Weekdays/
Weekday evenings/Weekends) can be changed. I changed my time from
the weekdays to weekday in the evening.
Secondly, this program is practical.
The content of learning is practical. It includes leisure time, education,
employment, and family relationship etc. This study is interactive
because you and your teacher connect with the home-phone. My teacher
calls me one time every week. While I am reading the text, my teacher
corrects my pronunciation and explains the meaning of the difficult
words. After I finish my assignments, I send them to my teacher, and she
marks my work and sends it back to me, so I feel I have made progress
every time.
Finally, this program is integral.
Every part includes Audio lesson, Grammar, Reading, and language
practice etc. The program offers LINC curricula for levels 2 to 7. I hope I
could finish all curricula. The CDs almost cover the book; I can repeat the
lessons as many times as I want to listen to them.
To sum up, I like the Home Study Program very much because of its
convenience, its practicality and its integrality.
Hong Xin Z. is a Level 4 student. His teacher is Ian Z. (formerly
Paramjit’s student)
by Hong Xin Z.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 13
THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM
Watch a video tour of the museum at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhkAGCAXZwo
The “ Bata Shoe Museum” is an interesting place to
visit. There are hundreds of shoes on exhibit in four
impressive galleries. You will be able to see a wide
variety of footwear which are collected from all
around the world which shows different styles and
functions of them.
Humans have always protected their feet against
outside harms like cold and sharp things for
thousands of years. Over 4,500 years of history is on
display for you to see how man could keep his feet.
For example, there are a few sandals from ancient
Egypt.
Also, there is a lot of information and even samples
of material that people used to make shoes. Surely
you will admire ancient people when you notice
how they could adjust themselves with their
environmental materials for making shoes.
Another important thing in this museum is
“ culture” . It was also very interesting for me to find
shoes from my country!
All nations have considered beauty by using
different colours, styles and materials that shows
their variety of cultures.
by Sayed-Akbar J.G.
For example, Chinese people have custom shoes that
are beautiful, but also strange.
Fashion is considered in this museum and you can see
some modern fashion shoes besides old ones.
There is a separate gallery about sport shoes with all
kinds of special shoes useable for sports.
Visit www.batashoemuseum.ca for more details.
York region – Sayed-Akbar J.G. is a Level 4
student. His teacher is Natasha N.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 14
Recipes
CHIPS Ingredients
5 medium sized potatoes
2 large sized onions
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp ginger paste
2 large sized tomatoes
1 or 2 small sized green chilies
1 capsicum
½ tsp salt
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp cumin powder
2 tsp soya sauce and ¼ cup water
5 tea spoons ketchup
Directions
First, boil the potatoes and peel them.
Then, cut them in large sizes. Chop the garlic and
ginger into small pieces. Cut the green chili into large
sizes and capsicum, onion, tomato into medium
square shapes.
Second, heat the pan and put some oil into the pan,
and put the garlic and ginger into the pan and stir until
light brown. Then, put tomatoes into the pan and pour
in 1/4 cup of water and leave it for 2 minutes.
Next, add boiled potatoes, capsicum, and onion. After
that, put in the salt, chili powder and soya sauce.
Stir and leave for 2-3 minutes to cook.
Finally, keep it on the plate and it‟s ready to eat. You
can enjoy it with tortillas.
Halton Region – Ninan S is a Level 3 student. Her
teacher is Carla M.
Chips Chili is a popular Nepalese dish. Nepalese
cuisine is a distinctive fusion of Chinese and Indian
cuisines. Nepalese of all ethnicities eat a wide variety
of cuisine. What Nepalese tend to eat depends highly
on where they live, either in big cities or in the
mountains.
by Ninan S.
CHILI
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 15
APPLE
Ingredients
500g Apple
2 Eggs
2 tsp. Milk
A pinch of Salt
2 tsp. Sugar
¼ tsp. Cinnamon powder
50g Butter
150g All purpose flour
Directions
Wash and peel the apples and cut them in very
small chunks of 5mm. Combine apple, flour,
eggs, milk and salt in a bowl and make hard
dough. You can add more flour if the dough is
not hard enough. Knead the dough into a smooth
ball then divide it into small size balls.
To cook, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add
the dumplings, giving them a gentle stir so they
don't stick together. When the dumplings come
to a boil and float on surface, they are ready.
Drain and remove. If desired, they can be pan-
fried at this point.
Heat the butter in a small pan, add sugar. Once
butter becomes light brown, add cinnamon
powder into it then spread the sauce over fresh
dumpling. Enjoy!
Tip: If you like Vanilla then instead of butter-
cinnamon sauce you can use Vanilla-Sauce.
Saadia K. – She is a member of the LINC
Home Study Team
Dumplings are an ancient food, known to cooks
in many cuisines; Local ingredients and methods
are used across the world to make a variety of
dumplings. In some cultures dumplings are plain
while in others flavoured with local herbs,
vegetables, spices or honey and sugar.
DUMPLINGS
by Saadia K.
SWEET
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 16
Games and Puzzles
Central Activity
Word Search
Find the Back to School words from the list below
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 17
Labour Day Activity
Barbeque
Car show
Comedy act
Concert
Fair
Festival
Game
Musical
Park
Party
Play
Tournament
Are you looking for a challenging way to pass
time? Find the words in the box hidden in
the alphabet grid. Circle each word as you
find them, and cross it off the list.
Then, as part of your homework, use as many
words as you can in sentences of your own.
Actor N
B O
C P
D Q
E R
F S
G T
H U
I V
J W
K X
L Y
M Z
See if you can think of and write down the name of an occupation for each letter of the alphabet. Find
words for as many letters as you can. An example has been provided for the letter “ A” . Some
suggested answers can be found on the next page.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 18
Answers
Central Activity
Labour Day Activity Solution
Word Search Solution
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 19
If you would like to participate
in the Student Corner,
please contact us at:
Corner Student
Yi Qin Z.
My name is Yi Qin Zhu. I am from Nanjing, China. I came to Canada almost 4
years ago. I was a senior mechanical engineer in China. I did mechanical design
for more than 20 years. I have a wonderful family. My son is 21years old. We
decided to move to Canada for my son. This was his choice. He wanted to study
here and get a Canadian education. He studies in the University of Toronto. His
specialty is management.
When we came to Toronto, I didn‟t feel bad. There are a lot of Chinese
supermarkets here and buying Chinese food is easy and convenient. In the spring
and summer, everything is green. There are lots of beautiful trees and flowers. I
like it very much. We took our time making new friends. Now we can often
communicate with our friends. Life in Canada is hard because my English is very
poor, especially listening and speaking. This is my biggest trouble in Canada so I
can't do a mechanical engineering job like in my country. I want to study English
hard and improve my listening and speaking skills. I hope to find a good job and
have a nice life.
Yi Qin Z. is a Level 3 student. Peel Region. Her teacher is Rose D.
Zahra T.
My name is Zahra T. and I was born in Tehran. Tehran is not only the largest city, but it is also the capital of Iran. When I
finished my secondary schooling in Tehran, I entered and studied the nursing program at Tehran University. I worked in
many general hospitals in Tehran for many years. After retirement, I developed many hobbies to pass my time and to
relax and forget about the war.
My hobbies now are gardening, weaving, and sewing, but I seldom sew my own clothes. My favourite food is Iranian food
such as; meatballs, rice, and roast beef.
I am married with three children, one son and two daughters. My son and my older daughter are married, and my
younger daughter is single. I have one granddaughter, she is 2 years old. My husband and I came to Canada in 2007.
I came to Canada because my children live here. In my opinion, Canada is very beautiful and quiet. I am free to wear the
clothes that I like, I am free to express my opinion, and I am not half a person.
My goals in my country were to have a good profession to help others, and be a good mother. I believe I was successful
at both goals. My new goals in Canada are, to learn English, and to volunteer in the helping profession.
Zahra Tabatabae is a Level 3 student. York Region. Her teacher is Natasha A.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 20
,
Glossary Game
Bargain (pg. 6)
Hinder (pg.7)
Scholarship (pg.8)
Lavish (pg.8)
Orphanage (pg.12)
Endangered (pg.12)
Remarkable (pg.12)
Milestone (pg.13)
Impressive (pg.14)
Knead (pg.17)
An amount of money that is given to someone by an educational organization to help pay
for their education.
a large house where children who are orphans live and are taken care of.
an animal or plant that may soon no longer exist.
a very important event in the development of something.
to make it difficult for something to develop or succeed.
makes you admire it because it is very good, large, important etc.
to press a mixture of flour and water many times with your hands.
something you buy cheaply or for less than its usual price.
unusual or surprising and therefore deserving attention or praise.
large, impressive, or expensive.
Use any four words from the list to create sentences of your own.
Here is some vocabulary from this month‟s newsletter. Do you know what the words
mean? Match the definitions below with the correct word on the right.
September 2009 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC Levels 2-4 21
mailbag
What are your thoughts or comments on the articles printed in
this month‟s newsletter? Do you have suggestions for articles or
sections you would like to see?
Let‟s hear from you.
e-mail us: [email protected]
LINC Home Study Forum users! Remember, you can interact w ith
other students in the LINC Home Study program and discuss topics
such as Family, Fun, Health & Travel, Job Search & Networking and
more! Please go to the following website and log in from Quick
Login.
Have fun!
http://www.linchomestudy.ca/online/forum/
Please e-mail your submissions for the newsletter by Wednesday
September 30th.
NOTE: Articles should not exceed 500 words. Articles that exceed 500
words may be subject to editing for inclusion in the newsletter.
If you would like to submit your biography for the “ Student Corner” ,
please do not include information on your birthday or age.
For any questions regarding submissions and guidelines p lease e-mail us:
submissions
LINC
Brought to you by the LINC Home
Study team.
A special thank you to all the
students and staff who submitted
their stories, recipes and activities
for this issue.