Share your
IDEAS
How have you welcomed international students into your community?
The Ministry of Advanced Education would like to hear from you regarding the various ways international students are welcomed by communities throughout BC. Have you welcomed an international student as a homestay parent? As a business/organization providing services or employing international students? As a language partner or student “buddy” to an international student? The Ministry’s International Education team will use your feedback to inform the development of best practices for successfully incorporating international students into BC’s rural communities. While our current focus is on the development of best practices for successfully incorporating international students into B.C.’s rural communities, all experiences – including those in urban centres – are welcome and quite valuable.
By the time I landed to Canada one think was heating my mind that how and from where to start up, specially I was worrying how to find a job and get a job. In Canada I had neither work experience nor Canadian education, all my professional career connection and my experience, education were done in my home country. Therefore I was felling huge gap that I might not be able to adjust myself, finding a job and stand on my feed.
Anyhow I did not rest just start looking around checking web sites, joining new immigration programs and quickly felt that there is no gap between the country I was born and here. In short I found a part time job for a while and then start looking around to find a job fitting my qualification and my interest. Then start applying for financial sectors of course few interview passed and some of them called some of them not, but I did not step back I continue applying and developed my resume accordingly.
It is about 8 months that I am in Canada and after two weeks I got a part time job. And now I am managing one of the biggest financial retail institution branch in Vancouver BC. My biggest strength is that I never give-up, so you have to start from somewhere and the doors open themselves. First thing you have to know is the language, start studying does not matter what age you are. There is hug support from government of Canada for new immigrant try to use it in a way to help you out. Join new immigrants programs, training centers for special courses and develop your resume short and concise, present yourself at the interview.
Now I believe why people calls Canada land of opportunity & Multiculturalism.
I’m Maureen Smiley, District Principal for International Education in West Vancouver. The West Vancouver district was the first to welcome international students back in 1982. Since then, our program has grown to an enrolment of approximately 500 in addition to our short-term summer programs.
We welcome 200 new international high-school students every September. To prepare them, we hold a comprehensive two-week orientation program at no extra cost. The orientation includes introductions to student leaders for peer support, English lessons and a walk-through of the orientation guide we’ve developed. We also introduce students to the local area, talk to them about money and transportation options and even give a presentation about the wildlife they might encounter on the North Shore. Of course it’s also important that host families get support. In early fall, we hold an evening presentation to inform hosts of their students’ countries of origin and any cultural nuances.
One of the most important things we provide students is an emergency info sheet about the size of a credit card with resources and contact information. It’s an excellent tool in the event they need help.
I’m also president of the International Public School Education Association (IPSEA) provincial organization. Many of our 37 member school districts do similar activities to welcome international students to their communities.
Check out the IPSEA website at http://www.studyinbc.org for more information and to read some of our students’ stories. If you are an international student, read our tips for a great homestay experience, here. We are continuing to increase the use of our updated website and welcome any feedback!
At Harmony Homestay we offer a variety of services specifically to international students. Our most popular services focus on helping students register with schools and connect with local families, which is an excellent way for students to learn English, meet people and study Canadian culture and history.
We also provide custodianship services to ensure students are meeting their life goals. We work with teachers so the student gets the most from their classes and help prepare students for next steps like applying for university and work visas.
Part of the fun is discovering a student’s natural talents and abilities and encouraging them. This includes arranging extra classes like music, dance and sports. Joining a club or sports team is an excellent way for a student to become part of the community. They bond with their teammates, travel to other arenas or fields to play games and explore the local area.
We have a student from Taiwan who is very quiet and shy. Initially, he had a hard time making friends until he joined the rugby team at his school. This gave him a great opportunity to connect with other students with a shared interest and “break the ice” in a way he had not been able to before. He has built many great friendships now and is really enjoying his time in BC!
For more info about Harmony Homestay, visit http://www.harmonyhomestay.com or connect with us on Facebook!
At Fraser International College, welcoming international students is key to providing the strong foundation of support they require to succeed in the Canadian higher education landscape.
We begin welcoming students before they even arrive, by ensuring each feels individually recognized and supported through sustained contact with FIC. Our students are traveling far from their familiar surroundings to begin studies with us, and we help ease them into this transition by providing relevant, accessible pre-departure information at several points before their journey begins. Once here, every student is assigned their own advisor, and we have made a school-wide Orientation a mandatory part of their studies with us. During Orientation FIC works hard to provide ample students to have ample opportunities to begin forming bonds with their new peers. Students are also counseled on course-selection, medical insurance, academic and cultural supports in place at FIC or available in the wider community. We use a very strong peer support program to also assist students with the beginning of the transition to the new environment both socially and academically.
Once studies begin, we closely monitor progress and use an intrusive advising model to ensure students are always aware of the supports available to them. We monitor attendance and follow up on unexplained absences, which could otherwise negatively impact their academic success. During their studies, students are provided many leadership opportunities (which have become highly sought-after by our eager-to-contribute students) and students needing additional help with their transition are encouraged to attend myriad support tutorials. Students are also encouraged to added many of the extracurricular activities that are arranged within the FIC and greater SFU community.
Hello Christa,
Thank you very much for sharing ways in which Fraser International College provides a welcoming environment for international students. As you stated in your email, welcoming international students is key to providing the strong foundation of support they require to succeed in the Canadian higher education landscape.
In your comment you outlined a number of initiatives that Fraser International College undertakes to provide a welcoming environment for international students, including:
• Establishing a connection with the student prior to their arrival to British Columbia
• Assigning a student advisor for every student
• Offering a strong peer support program to assist students’ transitioning into the new social and academic environment
• Monitoring attendance and progress
• Providing support tutorials and leadership opportunities
• Encouraging participation in extracurricular activities
The peer support program that is available to assist international students at Fraser International College sounds like a wonderful program. Can you share some additional information about this initiative?
Hello,
My family and I are about to say good-bye to our first home-stay son. He has been with us for nine months and the experience has been great. We were a bit hesitant at first about sharing our personal space but that has been an non-issue in the way it would be with any other member of your family. Our student has been kind, caring accepting and egar to learn about our Canadian way of life. I believe that living in our community Pitt Meadows which has such a strong current of family friendly activities really helps us to show who we believe we are as Canadians. The Farmer’s Market, seasonal parades and gatherings at Spirit Square, outdoor movies and even garage sales. Our homestay son went around our neighbourhood and collected money for a school campaign. He raised one of the higher amounts. It didn’t matter that the nieghbours who so generously made donations may not have been able to recognize him by name but they saw a yound boy working hard in our community and a good heart is always welcomed here in Pitt Meadows.
Hello Richelle,
Thank you very much for sharing your story about your first experience as a home-stay parent. It sounds like your home-stay son was a wonderful addition to your family and your experience was very positive!
It is wonderful to read that your community of Pitt Meadows provided a welcoming environment for your home-stay son. The communities in British Columbia that have embraced international education have seen significant benefits — socially, culturally and economically.
Through the International Education Strategy, the Province is planning to develop best practices for successfully incorporating international students into British Columbia’s rural communities. The stories we gather through the BC Jobs Plan website will be used to inform the development of the best practices.
Was your home-stay son interested in participating in activities in your community when he arrived in British Columbia or did you have to help/encourage his participation?
Do you think your home-stay son would like to return to British Columbia to study, work and/or live?
We have hosted short term stays many times and we have found that they are often very shy upon arrival. Weather permitting we will usually plan an outing at Goldstream, have a hot dog roast and campfire and invite lots of friends and family. The exposure to the great outdoors, and the camaraderie around the fire works wonders on opening up the dialogue and for many it appears to be the Canadian experience they are hoping for. So get out of the city and show them our wonderful province and activities!
Hello Sean,
Thank you very much for sharing your story about how you and your family welcome international students into your home and community. It sounds like you ensure the students you host experience B.C.’s culture while completing their program, which is just fantastic! I am sure the students also enjoy the ability to share a bit of their own culture with the people they met in B.C.
In your comment you stated that your family has hosted international students who are studying in short-term courses.
Have any of the students you hosted decided to either stay in B.C. to complete further studies or return to B.C. in future to continue their education?
Great discussion question! I’m looking forward to hearing all of the responses. A few months ago, we interviewed a few international students asking them about their study in BC experience thus far. This one student in particular, said that his community and his peers welcomed him with open arms. His classmates encouraged him to speak English and participate in extra-curricular activities. He said that this positive encouragement helped him understand and familiarize himself with BC culture and living.
Hello Robin,
Thank you very much for sharing this positive story about an international student who was welcomed by his peers and his B.C. community with open arms, this is wonderful to hear! The Government of B.C. is also looking forward to hearing more positive stories about all of the ways in which international students are welcomed by communities throughout B.C.
As part of the International Education Strategy, the Province plans to make more information available on community supports for international students and their families and to help connect them to B.C. communities where they will live.
Did the student provide specific examples of how the community made him feel welcome, aside from being welcomed by his peers? Do you know if this student plans to stay in B.C. as a result of this positive experience?
Thanks for the reply, Kathryn. Actually this student told me that it was the simple gestures of people in the community who would smile and say hello to him on the streets that made him feel welcomed. As a result of this positive experience, this student is now completing his post-secondary education here in BC.
What is this about?
On May 28, the Government of British Columbia was proud to launch the International Education Strategy. Through the Strategy, the provincial government, educational institutions and other partners will work together to inform British Columbians about the importance of international education and its benefits for our communities. Communities that have embraced international education have seen significant benefits — socially, culturally and economically.
Why does this matter to me? What impact will my contribution make?
The Ministry of Advanced Education would like to hear from you regarding the various ways international students are welcomed by communities throughout BC. Have you welcomed an international student as a homestay parent? As a business/organization providing services or employing international students? As a language partner or student “buddy” to an international student?
The Ministry’s International Education team will use your feedback to inform the development of best practices for successfully incorporating international students into BC’s rural communities. While our current focus is on the development of best practices for successfully incorporating international students into B.C.’s rural communities, all experiences – including those in urban centres – are welcome and quite valuable. You will see comments from the Kathryn Beaulac and members of the Ministry’s International Education team on this thread, as we work together to generate ideas.
What do I need to know?
The International Education Strategy is a good place to start to understand the government’s overarching plan for international education in B.C. It provides detailed information on the international education sector and defines the province’s goals and actions in this area.
What we really need to hear about, is how you’ve welcomed international education students into your home, workplace and community.
How long do I have to participate
We plan to keep this discussion open until July 23rd, 2012.
How to get started:
1. Read the International Education Strategy to understand the government’s overarching plan for international education in B.C.
2. Think about the ways you share connections with international education – Are you a homestay parent?
3. Tell us about it here on this discussion thread.
Dear Kathryn,
Just wanted to say the new initiative on international education is a really good idea and will be of value to all British Colombians. I work as a marketing consultant that helps international schools (private and public) develop and improve their program management as well as meet agents and recruit students.
I’m also a homestay parent with two boys from Korea and Japan this summer. If there is going to be industry meetings or input on your program we would like to participate. http://www.bethatschool.com
Mary