About Us

We are a group of 6 First Year Global Development Studies students from Queens’ University in Kingston, ON. In our lectures and course readings, we investigated the idea of Canada as a society divided by the idea of the immigrant other, with a focus on discrepancies between those who portray characteristics of ‘whiteness’ and other races. We also explored the false idea of multiculturalism and its effects on immigration policies and practices, the wrongs in the Canadian immigration system and gendered immigration practices. As a group, we chose to investigate the various discriminatory practices and biases embedded within Canada’s current immigration policies and guidelines. Issues of immigration relate to the ‘real world’ as they affect the structure of Canadian society as a diverse nation composed of a spectrum of immigrants and settlers from a multitude of different countries. The immigration policies existing in Canada are relevant not just to those who wish to immigrate into the country, but also to those who are already settled, as they ultimately establish the future of the country by determining who will and will not be allowed entry.

Monday, 25 March 2013

ESL Education - What to do?


          English as a Second Language is a program that requires community involvement. Instead of just providing them with this service, it may be prescribed that governments issue a program that provides a volunteer environment, free of charge to aid the learning experience and benefit the community at the same time. ESL programs that are specifically designed for a language or culture allow the transition from one culture to another to be a lot smoother. It is key for the process of immigration to instill proper language skills that translate into a fluent population with the ability to communicate with one another.
         For example, if an immigrant were to achieve landed status in Canada, it would be crucial for them to develop the communication skills that would allow them to flourish in both work and community environments. Such skills would allow for the immigrant to be perceived as an equal to other Canadian citizens who may possess long-time English skills. Coming from a personal standpoint, I believe that ESL programs allow for equality within Canada’s borders. Such programs provide the initiative that puts forth Canada as a welcoming environment. This warm image has placed Canada among priority of choices for many immigrants who view the nation as a place to start over.
          ESL programs also provide one form of cultural assimilation that guarantees access to immigrants of various Canadian programs. As spoken of in other posts, community programs can only serve so many purposes, and a basic understanding of the English program allows for the participation of immigrants in outreach programs nation-wide. 
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