By Stacey Weeks (*)Mennonite Brethren Herald
Conversation laced with various accents trickles into the basement hallway of Fairview MB Church in St. Catharines, Ont. The multi-purpose room dubbed English Café buzzes as people of all ages and nationalities converse under the direction of Virginia Dueck, a retired teacher of English as an Additional Language.
Approximately six years ago, Fairview MB Church began teaching immigrants conversational English. A group of volunteers composed of retired professionals and tradespersons meet with learners every other Friday evening from 7–9 p.m. Volunteer coordinator Rudy Siemens strives for a ratio of one volunteer to one newcomer. Dueck uses interesting discussion topics to prompt participants of all ages to engage in dialogue with their volunteer partners.
This diverse group of students includes doctors, teachers, engineers, journalists, accountants, children, university students, and salespeople. Seven different cultures are represented.
Complimentary Bibles are available on the sign-in table, and during Christmas and Easter Scripture is read as part of the teaching on Canadian traditions and customs. However, Dueck does not present the gospel in the classroom setting.
Despite the limited exposure to Christianity, God is moving in the English Café. Volunteers like Siemens take the interaction beyond Friday and aid in the adjustment to Canadian culture by assisting with housing, car purchases, insurance coverage, job searches, and more. They offer assistance in the form of community contacts. “I came to Canada as an immigrant,” says Siemens, “and I understand the stresses they go through in a new setting.”
Dueck and her volunteers invite participants into their lives, “the friendships we develop have led them to show interest in our motivation, our faith, and our church,” says Siemens. “Our interest is to be a friend, a parent, or grandparent figure to them. This happens not only at the English Café but in our homes.”
Volunteers also contribute to a blog at fairviewmbenglishcafe.blogspot.com to extend learning beyond the classroom.
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(*) Stacey Weeks is a member of Orchard Park Bible Church, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
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