April 16-22 is National Volunteer Week, and the Immigrant Welcome Centre (IWC) wants to celebrate all of the fantastic volunteers that help us to make the community a welcoming place for immigrants! LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) is one of the IWC programs that benefits from the time and passion donated by volunteers.
Morgan Armstrong, coordinator and instructor of the Campbell River LINC, says, “Our volunteers for the LINC program in Campbell River are welcoming, thoughtful, and truly talented people. They are experienced educators who bring positive energy and laughter into the classroom. Not only do I benefit from their assistance as the instructor, but the students are also incredibly lucky to have their support and encouragement in each class.”
Kelly Shannon is a retired elementary teacher who has volunteered at Campbell River LINC for a year. She really enjoys being in a class and connecting with the students. “The newcomers are very appreciative of the support we provide. The environment the teachers create is relaxed and fun, and I love to see the different personalities thrive.” Shannon helps in the class by showing the students how to make small talk, by being sure they understand the instructions or the assignments, or by pairing with students that want to be challenged. “I recently started to learn Italian, and now that I’ve experienced firsthand how difficult it is to learn a foreign language, I empathize more with the students,” says Shannon.
Esther Karasova, coordinator and lead instructor of the Courtenay LINC, says, “Our classroom volunteers make such a difference! They give extra support to students, engage in small group activities with learners, and provide a warm welcome to all! I can’t thank the volunteers enough!”
Maria Connolly is a retired environmental planner who has been volunteering with the Courtenay LINC classes since October 2022. She’s happy to put her ESL teacher certificate to good use. “I got the certificate in 2011 but I’ve never had the chance to teach,” she says. “Now that I have more time, I’m happy to be able to share my training. I’m very impressed by the positive classroom experience, the students bring real-life experiences and many interesting questions to the class, and they are quick to create connections and friendships.” Connolly helps during the class by supporting the students when they do their exercises, identifying concepts and themes in learning exercises. “The teachers do an amazing job in creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for the students, where they gain confidence,” she says. “In class, we celebrate all the different countries and cultures. I’ve always appreciated the diversity in my former workplace. I also think it’s important for newcomers to connect to and be exposed to their classmates’ experience in navigating a new home and country.
LINC is a federally funded program for new immigrants and refugees that focuses on English needed for settlement and employment in Canada. If you are a newcomer to Canada interested in learning more about LINC, or if you would like to volunteer with LINC, contact the Immigrant Welcome Centre office in Courtenay at 250-338-6359, in Campbell River and North Island at 250-830-0171, or visit our LINC page.
