When immigrant seniors make the decision to commit time and effort to learning the English Language, many of them do so when they are in their 60s and many have minimal formal education. For them, it is a challenge that they are willing to endure so that they can achieve greater inclusion and participation in a society they have chosen to call home. Their ultimate goal is to be able to understand English and to be understood when they speak English. On a regular basis, they will proudly share moments of ‘triumph’ when they are able to finally understand road signs and maps, or carry on a simple conversation. For them, having the language competence represents freedom to pursue inclusion and belonging to the greater community. It is therefore not uncommon to see seniors attending English Classes 5 days a week throughout the year.
As a senior-serving organization, we have first-hand knowledge of their struggles when it comes to learning English. These include memory problems, not being able to apply what they have learned but most of all, self-doubt. In many cases, the negative, self-defeating refrain they keep repeating to themselves becomes self-fulfilling prophecies.
At MPC, our long-term goal in providing programs and services to seniors is to transform them from being passive participants to active contributors to society. This has given us opportunities to witness lives transformed: when seniors first discover that there is ‘value’ left in them that can be used to help others, their self-esteem soars and the motivation to learn and give becomes formidable.
Our Heart to Heart program is one such initiative. Through this initiative, seniors initiate projects that improve the lives of other seniors in the community. They begin with creating care bags for those in care homes, hospitals and those struggling with transitions such as the loss of a spouse. Through this volunteering opportunity, they are able to use their English language skills in practical ways such as sourcing and shopping for care bag contents, making cards and writing care messages, initiating contacts and communicating with care bag recipients. For example, in the process of preparing the bags, they learn vocabulary items such as paper bags, glitter, double-sided tape, gift wraps and gift tags. Through volunteering, seniors discovered the joy of giving and an immersive environment in which to learn English in very practical ways. Some have even gone on to learn English songs so that they can entertain seniors in care homes!
Our experience shows that while formal English learning is important, finding practical opportunities for learners to apply what they have learned is very effective in internalizing that learning.