Nick at Hillcrest High School
"...from the first day I arrived here it has been just like magic!"
- Nick, International student from Mexico
A Grade 11 student, Nick comes from a village outside of Mexico City. He has been impressed by his whole learning experience in Ottawa and appreciates that the Canadians he has met are friendly and open-minded to people of different cultures. He is very proud of the rapid improvements he has made in his English communication skills. Outside of school, Nick is very involved in sports and often gets together with other international students from all over the world to play soccer and basketball… and recently he enjoyed his first try at skating. His advice to any international student is not to be shy and to get involved at school and with the Homestay family.
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Diane at Young People’s Language School, Albert Street Education Centre
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"...I feel that everyone should try to live and experience life in another country."
- Diane, International student from Cameroon
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Diane is from Cameroon and newly arrived in Canada, having been in Ottawa for six weeks. Coming from an equatorial country, she finds the climate cold, but she quickly notes that the people are friendly and warm. She is attending YPLS to improve her English skills before attending a local high school. She has made lots of friends already and enjoys shopping or going to movies with them. Until a few days ago she had never seen snow, and eagerly looks forward to making a snowman. Diane likes that students in Ontario can select course options. She aims to finish high school in Ottawa and hopes to attend university here to pursue studies in biology.
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Ben at John McCrae Secondary School
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"...you mature by having the experience of studying in another country."
- Ben, International student from Brazil
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Ben appreciates the opportunity to study away from home in Brazil in order to meet new people and experience a new culture in Canada. He came to Ottawa because it is multicultural and has a solid reputation as a safe city. Ben has adjusted to the routines of his new environment and finds the different approaches to learning here are very interesting. Ben feels that his English is much more fluent and his vocabulary has expanded through his efforts to interact with Canadians. He loves playing soccer, and thinks that sports is a shared culture worldwide. Inquisitive by nature, Ben enjoys meeting new people with totally different life experiences.
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