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BB NEWS ESL STUDENTS DISCUSS STRUGGLES, EXPERIENCES IN NEW BOOK DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com as a second lan- ane Gan students at Oakville's T.A. Blakelock High School have written a book, which shares their stories of being newcomers da. Canada. The book, "Finding My- self: Far Away From Home,” was officially launched dur- ing a presentation at the school on Wednesday, April " "We came from different ethnicities and cultures, but one thing that unites us is the need to learn a second ,” sai ina Me- dianyk, ESL student. "We all came together to make a book that showcases our struggles. Through this book, other newcomers can feel that they are not alone." ESL student Qiaochen Wong said some students wrote about their homeland and things that are similar or different in Other students, he said, ences and their fe about being in such a new lace. Inher story, ESL student Amy Linoted that while she was excited to learn about Canadian culture, she also felt torn about leaving fami- ly members behind. 'I was worried about my mom," she said. “After all, my mom and I depend on each other. I was with my mom until I was ready to go abroad so I ‘was worried about how she was feeling.” Another ESL student, Harry Pei, wrote about an expression from China that he learned when he was young, which states that "if the mountain is still there, we won't worry about fire- ood running out woe said the Sooper mean- FINDING MYsEe FAR AWAY ROM Hol David Lea/Metroland T.A. Blakelock High School ESL student Vicky Feng participates in the launch of "Finding Myself: Far Away From Home," a book written by ESL students, which details their struggles and experiences of settling in Canada. ing of this expression is that although you have encoun- tered a great setback, you are alive and can still suc- "This is important to me iuse it gives me hope when I fail,” said Harry. Another student noted school in a new country, gradually faded away as time passed and they met more people, including sev- eral with the same Filipino background. ther students wrote about the sights, sounds and even smells of their home- land. Aqsa Nagshbandi said another section of the book START PLANNING YOUR VISIT! Visit features resources for new- comers. For example, for Muslim individuals, the book pro- vides information on where they can locally purchase halal meat or find a mosque. Links to resources that will help newcomers find Blakelock's ESL/En- glish department head Ka- tie Attwell said the depart- ment had been looking for amore communicative and cided to have students tell their stories in a book that could also help others in e ways, it's for newcomers just to say that all of the feelings and emo- N tions and all of the things 2 you are going through, yor are not alone.” ® Attwell said those who are not newcomers can also also § benefit from reading the a book because it shows what £ people in their community & & experiencingas they set- = tle into a new place. The ESL department © > head says she's hopeful her 8 students will take more * than just a grade away from this writing experience. “Tm hoping they see that their are valued end t that who they are is impor and hittps://hdsb.schoolcashon- line.com/Fee/De- tails/96736/181/False/True. Proceeds from book sales will go to the Blakelock An- gel Fund, which provides assistance to students in need in the Blakelock com- munity. r tickets! woo'uo}}eyepisul