Life-Long Learning = Life-Long Competency
Most cities have Multicultural non-profit organizations that volunteer to come into schools and present to staff and students.
It needs to be year round and it needs to be intertwined in the everyday life of being at the school so that it comes to a point
where it is no longer an issue that even needs to be addressed.
There are events held in the GTA such as the Carassauga Festival of Cultures.
It occurs every year in the Mississauga/Brampton area and is one that students, their families and teachers can all get
involved in.
You must to continue your learning outside the school and so you have experiences and stories to share and talk about with all
your students.
Doing activities, such as these, make learning fun and have a longer-lasting effect than simply participating in PD sessions
once in a while.
Local malls also celebrate special occasions from many different backgrounds that usually reflect those of the community they
are in such as Chinese New Year.
Travelling also provides an opportunity for learning so, the next time you are planning a family vacation, think about the local
history of the place you plan on visiting and try to incorporate some learning fun into your vacation!
For those of you who want to provide families of ESL/ELL students with contacts and resources in the community, here are
some links to local agencies:
India Rainbow helps newcomers settle into Ontario, provides access to LINC language and Job Search centres (located in
Brampton, Ontario.)
The link below has contacts of Multicultural Associations ranging from: Muslim, French, Caribbean, and Chinese to Ukrainian.
http://www.heritagetoronto.org/find-out-more/heritage-community/ethnic-organizations
