TESL Canada Learners’ Conference Report
Report on Moncton Learners’ Conference
Arnaldo Perez
I can use many adjectives, but I prefer to describe the recent learners’ conference in Moncton like something really amazing. I found many unexpected things in only one day and a half. It felt like family with the conference’s staff. They were very nice, helpful and were attentive to every detail. Their sense of humor and skills to facilitate the sessions impress me a lot.
The way used to reflect on relevant issues for newcomers was effective. Sharing experiences is always more useful than the typical situation where someone tells the other the best way to do something.
The issues chosen to be discussed was another point in favour of the conference. I think that all of them are relevant in the social integration process of emigrants. We talked about networking, owning a business, portfolios, the job market, benchmarks, information etc. The comments about networking had a special importance to us, because most of the time the networks are the ways that match people and opportunities or people and available resources.
Two people gave testimonies about their settlement process in Canada and this impacted me in many senses. After I heard them, I realized that there is no easy way to get what most of us aspire when we arrive in this country. As one of them told us, “Canada offers many opportunities, but only for those who work hard, well and every day.” For the rest, Canada can become an unreachable dream.
These testimonies showed me that we have the principal responsibility for our future in Canada. The success depends on us more than any other factor.
I guess the principal value of Moncton’s conference was precisely; who is responsible for the success of immigrants and what are the most important things they should take into account.