WELCOMING ELC STUDENTS

FALL 2016 EDITION

WHAT’S INSIDE

Upcoming Events! Volunteer in the Spotlight Student Testimonial Welcome New Staff Pictures and More!

www.lakeheadu.ca Lakehead University English Language Centre

STAY IN TOUCH

www.Facebook.com/

LakeheadUniversityELC

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!

Lakehead University’s English

Language Centre is now located on

main campus! (FB Room 2039).

WE HAVE MOVED!

This semester, the English Language Centre welcomes students from Japan, China, Korea, Saudi

Arabia, Pakistan, Mexico and more!

STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

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.

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

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.

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

Interested in

becoming a volunteer?

For more information please contact Jenny Veal

at jveal@lakeheadu.ca or 1.807.346.7865

STUDENT TESTIMONIAL

Hi everyone. My name is Ana Dornelas, and I am from Brazil. I would like to share a little bit of experience in Canada, 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 the qualified professionals were fundamental for the learning. About my experience in this city, I would say that it was cold but rewarding. Here I met awesome people, learned more about myself and played Winter sports which I have never 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.

Ana Dornelas

Recife, Pernambuco

Federal University of Pernambuco

BRAZIL

WELCOME KATRINA!

"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!”

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 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.

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 24, 2016—Students enjoyed a

Saturday afternoon hiking and sight-seeing at

the beautiful Kakabeka Falls Lookout!

September 26, 2016—Leading Edge Gym

provided personal self defense training to

students!

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 SECTION

Are you interested in being a host?

Homestay Includes

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.

For more information please visit our website or contact us directly for an application form

international.homestay@lakeheadu.ca // Jenny Veal 807.346.7865

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

HOMESTAY WELCOME

RECEPTION 2016

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!

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!

CONTACT US Lakehead University

English Language Centre

Main Office: FB2039

Thunder Bay, ON

1.807.346.7888

international.english@lakeheadu.ca

lakeheadu.ca

WELCOME TO THE LAKEHEAD TEAM!

Facebook.com/LakeheadUniversityELC

FOLLOW US

ON INSTAGRAM!

@LakeheadUniversityELC

#LakeheadAdventures

#LakeheadUniversityELC

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.

BECOME A PUBLISHED

PHOTOGRAPHER!

Submit your photos to our

Instagram or Facebook today!