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ESL Program Ideas Mission & Outreach Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

Common Ground

By Allan Pole We want to help new Canadians communicate in English so that they can thrive in a community. We do this by establishing common ground, where our lives intersect, and we recognize we are alike in more ways than might first appear. The Latin word “communis” and the Old French word form “comun” […]

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Mission & Outreach Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

Ask Your Cucumber How It Got Here?

By Lorna Tatomir, Literacy and Evangelism Canada Strolling down the streets of downtown Leamington on a Friday afternoon, you’ll notice shops full of luggage, running shoes, lineups of Mexican and Caribbean workers at the banks and grocery stores. Spanish/English signs, multiple Taco-serving restaurants and a hum of Spanish language and music brighten the main street. […]

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Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

The Welcome Mat of Friendship

By Albert Janzen Although peaceful coexistence between Canadians and newcomers to Canada is a wonderful thing, there is potential for much more than that to upgrade the welcome mat that Canada puts out to help newcomers become woven into our multicultural fabric. I am not just thinking of the most recent arrivals but also about […]

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Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

Useful Websites for Newcomers to Canada

By Jenny Zhang Moving to a new country is an exhilarating adventure filled with curiosity, yet it’s natural to have concerns about various vital aspects of your journey. Where can you access official information? How do you discover useful resources to aid your study, daily life, and job search? In this article, I’ll introduce a […]

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Mission & Outreach Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

Look to Jesus, Endure Trauma

By Jenny Zhang “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 Immigration is a life-altering experience that involves leaving everything behind in the home country to seek […]

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Mission & Outreach Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

ESL for Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada

By Albert Janzen We seldom hear of churches that teach ESL to Temporary Foreign Workers (“TFWs”), and it probably stays below the ministry radar of most churches much as the workers themselves are well below the radar of Canadian multicultural diversity. After all, they are only here temporarily, why should they need good English? There […]

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Mission & Outreach Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

Latino Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada: Suspended Identity and English

By Albert Janzen God has placed His love in my heart for the young men from Central America who regularly come north as Temporary Foreign Workers to work on our farms. This is like winning the lottery for them because it allows them to assure their family back home with a better life while they […]

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ESL Program Ideas Mission & Outreach Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

What if…?

By Heather Berghuis Are you seeing a good work beginning, progressing, coming to completion in your life for the work of Christ’s Kingdom? Heather Berghuis cared for her family through 25 years of military family life and is just beginning to see a long-term passion to teach ESL and share the love of Jesus with […]

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Mission & Outreach Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

There and back again

By Brian Seim – Urban Mission Research and Development, SIM Canada China has opened its doors once again for travel to and from their country. On January 8th, our Chinese ESL students were invited to return home. As the Economist wrote, “for the better part of three years—1016 days to be exact—China will have been […]

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Mission & Outreach Newcomers, Refugees & Internationals

Will You be My Teacher?

By Sarah Kim and Inji Kim from Pluscope (pluscope.com) Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:10) Pluscope […]