Student Stories
Chiffon's story
"It feels like home"!
Minnie's Story
I emailed Laurie in February 2022 asking to join the TLG/ESU program. At the time, I had few opportunities to use English, so I was worried about the conversation that was not improving at all, and I got to know TLG through Ana's introduction. Through Customer Service Training, I use English better than before, and later enrolled in the Grammar Boot Camp and Writing for Success programs, which gave me confidence in using English. In particular, Lillian from the Writing for Success program helped me a lot to complete my unsatisfactory poem and gave me lots of encouragement.
Even though I know I still have a lot to work on, I will show you my poetry with a feeling of gratitude for her and the many people who have helped me adapt well to life in Canada so far.
Thank you.
~Min Kyung Choi
Minnie's Poems Written in Korean and translated to English
Miss you in every way
Under the sun bearing all the lives,
When the season of flowers leaves,
heard of your leaving
Holding a phone full of numbers that can't be pressed
Your name rushes up the throat like a tide
Unable to be voiced.
Never missed you enough to say I miss you,
Never had sweet memories enough to say I love you,
So I ripped out my sinking heart
Embarrassingly small to pour out the rushing emotions
Even in the shock of being swept away
I could not call your name
All I wanted was to tell you
Leave the heavy stone and go lightly
Ride on the rose scent breeze and fly lightly
But a strong wind blows… a strong sorrow flows
Time
Hope bursts into despair sharp as a knife
Under the deep blue sky, a rainbow is barely visible
People looking at different places in the same space, telling unknown stories
Living at the same time, walking at different speeds
By the same name
But with many faces
Time always lies
to you and to me
Zakary's Story
Zakary is a recent graduate of our Customer Service Excellence program.
"I believe it is going to help me get a job."
Gona's Story
Gona has worked very hard in our English language program and has made significant progress. Recently, her tutor reported that in the past few weeks, Gona's writing has improved dramatically in cohesiveness and flow. Gona says she has begun to think in English while she writes, instead of needing to translate from Arabic to English. Well done, Gona!
“I used to not like writing before I joined TLG because it was difficult for me to put my thoughts on paper. They provided me with writing classes and a tutor that helped me improve my writing.”
Tammy's story
“I learned a lot. If I didn't do it, I wouldn't have been as successful.“
Catherine MacDonald recently took our Computer and Basic Skills program.
Changed my life
I recently moved to Kitchener and my first priority was finding a job to help with rent and living expenses.
I had awesome jobs over the years working on the companies’ computers and using their work programs. I never realized I knew nothing about the Internet itself. What a wake-up call. All job posts were online and I felt lost. How could I do this with so little knowledge?
The work centres are great with updating my resume and forwarding it to employers but they are not teachers.
Then my daughter made the ultimate statement: “not knowing the Internet is like not knowing how to read.” I was always an avid reader and to not know how to read is unthinkable.
Panic set in as I tried hours and hours to learn it myself. Then someone I met referred me to The Literacy Group and it changed my life. The best decision I ever made was to give them a call.
Not only was I learning, but when a problem arose, I could always contact my teacher, Wendy, and she would help me out. I finally had someone to rely on.
An example of that, when my first interview was “Zoom”, I did not know what that was let alone how to do it. But with help I did it!
After a lot of help and trying I not only got a job, but the one I wanted.
I now work at a seniors’ residence as a server and making the residents feel at home. They are now training me for other positions so I am continually learning there.
I am also keeping up with my computer classes thanks to so many generous donors.
Full confidence is back, I am handling my bills, and now I feel part of the community.
Thank you all and God bless!
~Catherine M
You Can Move Mountains
I was home with my kids during Covid and decided I wanted to change careers.
My employment coordinator referred me to TLG.
I was looking for computer courses because I wanted to work from home.
I took a computer course and my tutor Rick was very supportive.
After this I gained confidence in myself again. Once you find that in yourself you can move mountains.
Now I am back at TLG as a volunteer, I have never met such a great, down to earth group of people in an
office setting.
~Elisha
Laura's Story
Believe in yourself and you will do it!
First of all, I have to say that the teacher, John, was amazing. He knows a lot about customer service. I learned a lot about different models of customer service from listening to negotiations. The most important thing I learned is to build long-term relationships. I learned a lot about the experience of the customer during their journey and to be flexible and to listen carefully. This course gives you the tools to be a better customer service representative. ~MB
Chris' Story
It's okay to make mistakes; it's a part of growing up and learning.
I have excellent news! I've been working part-time at a local food market as a cleaner and a position came up for full-time cashier. The customer service skills I learned in TLG's Customer Service Excellence program were the reason for my success. I was confident enough to apply for the cashier job and my manager had noticed my hard work and attitude. The certificates also really helped cap my readiness for the new role when I had the interview. ~ Judy B
Christian's Story
I've gained skills that I didn't think were possible.
Lisa is now reading to her 3-year-old son, which she never did before. That will help him be ready for Junior Kindergarten in September.
Fran's Story
Before TLG, I didn't really feel like I had a purpose.
"It was very hard to make a living and manage without being able to read" Sarah and her husband had recently moved to Canada. They had not had the opportunity to learn to read, write and they struggled with their math skills. "It was because of her (my tutor) that our lives changed...I am very proud of myself" ~Sarah, Professional Baker and now new employee Trainer
Laurie's Story
My number one job goal is Customer Service and that's why I'm here.
After months of hard work on reading and writing, CT was able to complete a food service worker program at Conestoga College and get a job in her desired field.
Norticea's Story
If you want to feel less trapped and feel different....you have to come here.
Laura's advice? Never give up on your dreams!
When I received my Private Security License it was an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. I am so proud of myself. But honestly, I wouldn’t of done any of this if it weren’t for TLG, because I had absolutely no self-confidence . They gave me the confidence I needed to get this done and cheered me on the entire time and now, because they gave me the push I needed, I am now a licensed security guard! The love and support I have received from the staff at TLG is absolutely amazing and I am so thankful for them !
I'm now working full time at Sunlife Financial. The Customer Service course has helped in my new job- It helped me find the job and made me feel more confident about myself. ~ T
Using his skills to move up at work, Floyd has his sights on a Lead Hand position in 2020.
Give yourself a Second chance- and try!
On my first day, the motivation I got...you made me feel at home. My biggest fear coming here (to TLG) was the embarrassment. But you guys never once made me feel uncomfortable. And if you are comfortable, you will learn-at least that's how it is for me. When I came here, within three months, I could see the difference. When I go out on the street, or to the grocery store or the bank, or onto the web, I could see myself feeling "lifted".
Floyd didn't have a lot of self-confidence, he avoided opportunities for advancement at work because he was worried about his skills. After a few months of working with April he was feeling much more confident and moved up to a Line Operator position. Better still, Floyd is the guy at work who challenges his workmates with new trivia he has learned through his reading. He is so proud about being able to tell them to "go look it up" when he stumps them.
We asked Floyd what he would say to someone who said "I don't think I could go back to school again" or "I hated school before".
I would tell them to think it over again and give yourself a second chance...and try. If I saw someone in my situation who said "I messed up in school when I was younger" I would tell them this is the perfect place to go or to be. This is where you have the best opportunity as an adult to come and learn. Because every day that you walk into this room you are guaranteed leaving with something in your brain. Every day I come here, I learn something. Not just one thing , but a lot of key stuff that I never knew before. I would tell them, never give up.
Dear Literacy Group
I just want to say thank you to Lisa and Lynn, the course trainers, for their work with computer classes. Lynn does an unbelievable job in making the course easy and fun even if you have never worked with a computer before. She makes the hard job of understanding computers very easy. I recommend anyone to take this course who doesn't think that they can ever learn computers. Also a big shout out for Lisa for putting it all together for me. I really enjoyed it. I now feel comfortable using a computer for my new job. Keep up the great work girls.
Yours Sincerely,
Karen R
Diane and her TLG tutor Michael
You can find Diane's work through:
Amazon and Blueprint Magazine; pages 15 & 31.
Confidence, poetry and more
I had first seen the poster for The Literacy Group (TLG) up at The Working Centre in Kitchener. I was curious. I had just started with the community based “Access to University” (A2U) at Laurier in Waterloo and had recently finished an academic writing course on campus. I felt I was still lacking in some skills and, more importantly, the confidence I needed to move forward with my academic career at Laurier and my own personal creative writing goals. At first the poster seemed like a repeat of what I had just taken at Laurier, yet I was still drawn to the experience. I ended up in a very diverse group of individuals and loved it. The instructor Michael made us all feel very comfortable and confident. I can’t speak more highly of my experience with The Literacy Group and ended up recommending the next group coming through the A2U program. I was sure if they did this workshop before taking the academic writing course at Laurier, they would have the confidence they would need to not feel overwhelmed and out of place once it came to lecture time on campus. More recently I’ve had the honour of having a picture of my very first painting and another poem published in the local Blueprint Magazine this past March 2019. Blueprint is a global creative arts magazine, published by Laurier University. The poem “Dating” is going to be a part of my own collection I’m hoping to publish in the next few years which is a lead up to my own memoir. I now have the honour of working for Blueprint over the upcoming school year of 2020.
"No matter what your age is or where in your life you are, don't be afraid to start again, to move on to better things. It's not where you start the race, it's where you finish the race."~ Chris, TLG alumnus