In Memory Of Don Cowan

In Memory Of Don Cowan

Don Cowan was one of my volunteer English teachers at the church. I was so sad when I heard that Don Cowan passed away on Dec 26 in 2014. I took part in his service celebrating life on Dec 31.

Don was a Canadian and a Christian. He was over 80 years old, and was about 180 cm tall, sort of thin, with short white hair. He wore glasses and always had a smile on his face.

Don and his wife, Norma organized an ELS conversation class at Donway Covenant United Church to help immigrants people who wanted to practice English. This ELS class is taught once a week and has been kept for over 10 years. Currently, there are about twenty students and ten volunteer teachers in the class. On the last class of every term, all the students would be invited to Don’s home to attend a potluck party. At the party you would learn more about Canada’s culture.

I met Don for the first time at the ELS class at the church on Jan 8/2014. This was my first time to meet so many Canadians. My English was very bad and I just could speak very simple English. I was shy and did not know how to talk to people. Don was very nice and patient. He smiled and asked me some questions slowly. Such as what is your name? Where are you living? How long have you been in Canada? He encouraged me to open my mouth to speak English. At first I was very nervous, I felt my back sweating. Slowly I got more comfortable. I have been attending the church ELS class every week since then. I have a lot of good time there and feel it as a family.

Thank Don for your help. At the church, my English has improved so much, and I know what is a real volunteer in Canada. I’ll miss you forever. 
                                                                       John Chen
                                                                      Jan 1,2015   

new year

On the first day in 2015, what I want to say to my family and friends are happy new year and having a healthy life, and thank you for your help. What I want to say to myself are keeping a young heart and facing all challenges of life.

Field Trip : National Job Fair

accesemployment.ca

Xiaoying the Vacation

Today is the first day of the new term. Xiaoying told me about her vacation.
Xiaoying was at home almost of the first week of her vacation because her son is just 4 years old and her husband is in China. So she had to stay at home to take care of her son. She made food for him and played with him every day.
On the second week of the vacation, her son went to  kindergarten. So she was free and went shopping. She went to Outlets Malls with LINC classmate Niki and to Yorkdale with another of her friends. She enjoyed shopping because she didn't need to take care of her son. She bought many things. She bought three coats, a bag, a pair of sunglasses for herself, three jackets for her son, but nothing for her husband.

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http://vocaroo.com/i/s1oNkLCXy5tP


Today is the first day of new term. Xiaoying told me about her vacation.
Xiaoying almost was at home in the first week of vacation. Because her son just is 4 years old and her husband is in China. So she had to stay at home to take care the kid. She made food for the kid and played with the kid every day.
In the second week of the vacation, the kid went to the kindergarten. She was free and went shopping. She went to Outlets with LINC classmate Niki and Yorkdale with her friend. She enjoyed shopping because she didn't need to take care the kid. She bought many things, She bought  three coats, a bag, a sunglass for herself, three jackets for the kid, but nothing for her husband.

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0YqAQMAtv0u

Field Trip : Cherry Beach

Today our school had a field trip to go to Cherry Beach. Most of classmates took part in this activity. Some classmates went to there with their children or friends.

Cherry Beach is located at southern of Toronto by the Ontario Lake, It is close the Centre Island. The traffic is convenient, you can go to there by car or bus(172). There is a big sand beach by the lake, the sand is small and smooth. It is good place to lie down to enjoy sunshine or just play with the sand. The beach is long, the west of beach is the area for dogs.

We were lucky! It was said it would rain today, but it didn't have any rain when we were at the beach. We arrived the beach around 11 a.m.. First we walked along the beach. Today is not weekend, there were a few people at the beach, most of people at in the beach were our classmates. The sky was blue with white clouds, the gentle wind came from the clear lake, the seagulls free walked on the beach and fly over the lake. It is good place to walk with good friends. At the beach, I met a staff of beach and asked him why this beach is called Cherry Beach, He said sorry to me he didn't know that.

In noon we enjoyed the food came from different countries, the SuShi made by Silvia and Max's wife were very delicious. After the lunch the classmates played games. One of games is throwing the water balls, the ball is a balloon filled with water. People are divided many groups, one group is two people. one person throws the water ball and another catches the ball. If the ball cannot be caught and falls down and broken, this group game is over. The winner is the last group. Some classmates swam in the lake, I didn't swim because the lake water is too cold to swim for me. We took many beautiful pictures there.

Today I had a good time in Cherry Beach, Thanks LINC teachers and classmates.


            happy time

                  throwing the water balls

                crazy teachers


     Funny teacher Joseph, What is he doing?





 my LINC school classmates

ESL Podcast 559 – Ending a Restaurant Meal

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0d2mUcAB6ou

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0oOWF8lET4I
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kE9Nb2bpuh

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=8382151

Filed Trip - Farintosh Farms

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0cUQMrOEZj6

My teachers and classmates went to Farintosh Farms this morning. The Farintosh Farms is located in Stouffville Rd and Warden Ave, north of Toronto, It is more than twenty kilometers from our LINC school and takes about twenty minutes by car  from school.
The farm is a small. They plant various vegetables, such corn, beans, squash,etc. There is only a house at the farm. An old tractor is in front of the house, and it is the oldest tractor I have ever seen, many classmates liked it and took a picture with it. The farmers sell their vegetables in the house, you can buy the vegetables at there or pick vegetables up in farm field by yourself. It is cheaper to pick vegetables by yourself.
Today only corn and beans could be picked by yourself. There are three kinds of bean, one is green, one is yellow and one is bit red. There are several kinds of corn, the owner introduced the sweet corn to us. I ate the fresh corn in field, its taste was very good. I picked twelve bars of corn, one dollar for 4, it is cheap. Wendy picked more than forty bars of corn, she said she would share these corn with her friends. How nice she is!
We were all happy and went home with a lots of beans and corns. It is good today! Thank LINC's teachers for this trip!

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Qg2Fcaal0q
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xpcGCc5hTU