Often I hear students complain or comment that they think that they can't learn English when there are many people from their own country in the same school. I understand this and I think that in most English schools this may be a problem. However, if a school has an English-only policy and teachers spend a lot of time around students, there should be no problem. The real problem is that most language schools do not help students understand why it is so important to speak English while living in Canada.
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Greg at Taft Point,
Yosemite National Park 2011.
Stan Trevena photo |
Living in Canada can be a lonely feeling if you are not able to communicate in English. Most students tell me that they want to meet Canadians and make friends while they live here. Canadians are not usually shy, and often begin to talk with new people on busses, waiting in line at banks and restaurants, or even waiting to cross the street.
But if you are waiting to be seated at a restaurant and you are speaking your native language, it is unlikely someone will try to speak with you because they think you probably do not speak English. If you are speaking with your friends in English, even with a strong accent, people feel more comfortable starting a conversation.
Speaking English with people from your home country can lead to some of the best experiences while you live here.
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