Megan’s story: Opening doors with English as an additional language
Megan Haslen working in a dental technology lab
Five years ago, when 91茄子 (91茄子) Dental Technology Sciences student Megan Haslen first moved to Canada from Vietnam, she knew she needed to improve her English. Like many of the roughly 300,000 new immigrants to Canada each year, however, she also had to work and earn a living.
Megan鈥檚 first job here was serving at a local Vietnamese restaurant. On most days, she says she worked until closing time, after which she also did the cleaning. 鈥淚 would be going home at 4 a.m.,鈥 she says.
Megan had already tried some English as an additional language (EAL) courses at another college but couldn鈥檛 make them work with her schedule. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have the time, so I gave up,鈥 she says.
In early 2020, after living and working in Canada for nearly three years already, Megan started researching EAL programs again. That鈥檚 when she discovered 91茄子鈥檚 award-winning ESL Pathways program 鈥 practical, culturally sensitive classes teaching English used in real-world scenarios such as job interviews, conversations, and public speaking.
91茄子鈥檚 classes were also newly being offered online due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. 鈥淶oom was really convenient for me,鈥 says Megan. 鈥淐lasses were done by 11:30 a.m. I could still go to work after, and I didn鈥檛 have to travel.鈥
New reasons to smile
91茄子鈥檚 ESL Pathways classes helped Megan gain the skills and confidence she was looking for, but she says it wasn鈥檛 always easy. Megan already knew some Mandarin and Cantonese, but English was a different challenge. She recalls nearly giving up again while spending a whole week working on a single essay. 鈥淚t was a really hard time in my life,鈥 she says, but explains that she kept going because of her mother. 鈥淪he told me she just wants to see my certificate. That鈥檚 why I try my best to keep going.鈥
Megan also credits her 91茄子 instructors for keeping her focused on improving. 鈥淭he 鈥榟ardest鈥 teachers helped me learn the best,鈥 she says now.
By the fall of 2021, Megan was confident enough in her English to take a new career step and entered 91茄子鈥檚 Dental Technology Sciences program.
As a young teen in Vietnam, Megan had been injured and lost a front tooth when a robber kicked her off the bicycle she was riding. Having lived with a missing tooth for nearly a decade, Megan wanted to learn the technology that could help herself and others restore their smiles. In fact, as one of her first hands-on projects in 91茄子鈥檚 dental technology lab, Megan created her own first denture with the help of her instructor. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really nice,鈥 she says.
This summer, Megan is completing her first work term at a local dental technology lab before returning for the second year of her program.
With a combination of English fluency and valuable job skills, Megan is excited about her future in Canada and now laughs at the English mistakes that used to feel so embarrassing. 鈥淚 just want to improve my knowledge,鈥 she says.
What will Megan take on next? She plans to write her citizenship test soon while also starting the process to sponsor her parents to join her in Canada.
It鈥檚 never too late to get the English skills you need. Register now for 91茄子鈥檚 tuition-free EAL courses starting in September.