Home Settlement Fluent success: How a free, flexible online program motivated Hurakhsh to improve her French language skills

Fluent success: How a free, flexible online program motivated Hurakhsh to improve her French language skills

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Fluent success: How a free, flexible online program motivated Hurakhsh to improve her French language skills

Hurakhsh came to Canada from Afghanistan to be reunited with her husband. Here, she is able to put down roots and work towards getting the qualifications that will enable her to make a difference in Canadian society. For her, that includes a willingness to learn French in Canada, alongside a master’s degree in social justice at Brock University. 

In this article, Hurakhsh, who has signed up for the CLIC Adapté course at Collège Boréal, shares her experience and how newcomers who learn French in Canada can unlock better opportunities for themselves.

  • Name: Hurakhsh Hazheer
  • Country of origin: Afghanistan
  • Arrival in Canada: January 2022
  • Currently lives in St. Catherines, Ontario
  • Occupation: Full-time master’s student and part-time teaching assistant

Share the highlights of your immigration journey to Ontario. And, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced when you first arrived in Canada?

I immigrated through a family reunification process: My husband was already in Niagara Falls, so during the process of his permanent residency application in 2019, he was able to add me. However, the application process took a long time, and in 2021, due to the situation in Afghanistan, many countries announced that they were giving more humanitarian visas to Afghans. Before I arrived in Canada, I was in Poland so I started contacting the embassy there, asking them to expedite my process … Luckily enough, by the end of December 2021, I was able to get a visa, and I arrived in Canada in January 2022.

In every city that I was in before coming to Canada, I was able to use public transport, or I was able to walk the distance to any services that I needed to use. But here in St. Catherines, it wasn’t possible. Sometimes places would look like they were close on the map, but when I would actually walk through that area, either the pavement would stop, and there would be nowhere for me to cross to the other side where I needed to go in winter, and in the summer, they would be paving crosswalks. 

Even on public transportation, I sometimes needed to take two buses, whereas if I had a car, I had a license, I was able to reach there in 10 minutes. So I realized the first thing I need to do if I want to get an education or a job, is to get a license. Without a car and license, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

What motivated you to enroll in the Adapted LINC/CLIC Adapté program at Collège Boréal?

My background is in international relations, so I wanted to start working in the public sector. I wasn’t able to do that in Poland because of the language barrier. So when I arrived here, I realized that if I were bilingual, my job applications would be in a higher position. However, many of the French courses I found were expensive, and I didn’t want to add another expense to my already tight budget. Then I found that CLIC Adapté had a free program for new immigrants, and also it was online. They also had flexible hours of study. 

How has the program enhanced your confidence in communicating in French in social settings as well as in job interviews or at the workplace?

Before starting with CLIC Adapté, I was learning it myself on an app, because my parents were in France, and I wanted to be able to talk to my siblings in a different language. But I thought I was just a beginner, and I wouldn’t even admit to anybody that was learning French. 

But when I took the test here, I was assigned to the third level and I was told that I was better than most beginners. During the course, my writing skills improved, my speaking skills improved, and I feel more confident to say now in public that I know French. I was once able to guide somebody to a bus stop, in French.

Besides improving your language proficiency, how did the program contribute to your sense of belonging to the local community?

I didn’t know after I arrived in Canada that one needs to get their degree evaluated to be able to get into higher education here. My teacher from CLIC Adapté had degrees from Germany and France herself so she guided me with my application and reassured me that even if it took time, I would eventually get there. 

How did your interactions with program facilitators, coaches/mentors, and learnings during the program prepare you for your integration into Canadian society?

My classes are one-to-one, so it’s only me and my teacher. During the regular classes, we have specific questions to complete across writing, speaking, and listening, and my teacher corrects them. If I need more exercises, she will give me extra links to other exercises that would better my understanding of grammar, speaking, and conversation. My teacher would give us a topic, we would research the topic, and try to find words to discuss them, and then after about 10 to 20 minutes, we would have to speak for another five to 10 minutes about the topic. All of this helped with learning to speak in French in public.

Can you describe a specific moment or lesson that stands out to you as particularly helpful or memorable?

The lesson that stands out to me was learning about imperatives in French. It was really difficult for me, especially concerning which verb I had to change, and where I had to change it and where I didn’t. It took a lot of time, exercises, and many extra videos from YouTube that my teacher kept sending to me to better my understanding.

What insights did you gain about the Canadian workplace, job search or employment in Canada?

I learned that there are French-speaking communities in Niagara, in the Welland region, and even here in St. Catherines. I haven’t looked for jobs yet, because I’m not allowed to work. I’m a full-time student and a part-time teaching assistant. However, I have learned that we have a labour union for teaching assistants.

Then, I learned about francophone festivals here. I attended one last year: they had an area where you could buy food and support the local community, they had French musicians from the community, and they were teaching folk dances to people who were attending the event. It was nice!

What opportunities – professional and/or personal – have come your way as a result of completing the program?

As part of the integration into CLIC Adapté, there was another person who was assigned to help me navigate the system, and she sent me some links for institutes that were offering classes, such as Mohawk College, which was offering classes for people who want to enter community service. Those kinds of programs were sent through to me.

Can you share any advice or tips for newcomers considering enrolling in language programs like Adapted LINC/CLIC Adapté to ease their transition and enhance their language skills?

I would advise them to look for opportunities, anything that is offered for immigrants, either in their area or online. If there’s an institute available in their area, that would be even better for them in terms of integration. Start improving your language skills. It will help you to integrate and learn about your community.

Looking back on your settlement and integration journey, what are you most proud of achieving, and how do you envision continuing to grow in the future?

I am proud that I was able to get into a master’s program in my second year of coming to Canada. I would like to be able to get a job with the community services, public sector, or even the Red Cross, and improve my French language skills further. 

Can you offer any advice or tips for individuals who are considering immigrating to Ontario? What are some mistakes they must avoid or ways they can navigate the integration process more smoothly?

I would ask people to do their research before they come to Canada, and begin planning before they arrive. It will work out for you in the long run. Also, if you have any relatives or friends here, do not go by their advice or their experiences alone: their experiences could be different from the ones you will face because each immigrant faces different challenges when they arrive.

Do not expect that they will do everything for you and that you will land a job easily: you need to do those things for yourself, and while they can help you across some of the ways, ultimately, in Canada, our success is what we make of the opportunities available to us.

If you live in Ontario and want to know more about English or French language classes offered by Collège Boréal, here’s more information. Spread the word!

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