Essential Skills training is offered in many ways to people living in Canada, but what about training for immigrants who are about to arrive? Conestoga College participated in the Essential Skills for Immigrants project led by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. We delivered online Essential Skills coaching to students from China, India and the Philippines while they were preparing to immigrate to Canada, helping them to prepare for the challenges of living and working in a new country.
Essential Skills became a framework for learning about Canadian culture in the workplace, making sure that they were prepared for their move, and helping them prepare for job seeking when they arrived. We all learned how far the rewards of building Essential Skills can reach!
Ruth Zhou - my student from China said:
"The Essential Skills online coaching gave me a clearer idea about what the Essential Skills are and helped me to recognize many skills I already have yet didn't know myself. They are transferable skills I can use in new fields of work."
Jennifer Hutter - Essential Skills Coach, "Essential Skills for Immigrants Project"