Anca Zepa joined her husband in Canada, and is adjusting to a new language and society.
News Reporter
With graduation, a marriage in May and a different language, Humber international law clerk student, Anca Zepa, says life in Toronto wasn’t always easy.
Born and raised in Romania and later in Italy with her mother, Zepa completed a Masters in Law and then moved to Toronto in August 2007 to attend Humber’s law clerk program.
Zepa said she was forced to adjust to Canadian life on the fly, referring to the difficulty of speaking and reading English full time.
“We study back in Europe, British English,” Zepa said. “I came in Canada on Aug. 27 and in September school started, so I had not even one week to get used to it – hearing English everyday with this accent. My courses were a disaster.”
Zepa said she learned the language by reading, listening to music and speaking English with her Canadian fiancé David, whom she met in Romania while he was on vacation.
She said she has been lucky to be able to practice English every day with David and his parents because there are a lot of students who don’t have the same opportunity.
“I would think for some of my classmates who go home and they speak Hindu or Chinese, I can see they still have problems,” Zepa said.
Humber ESL teacher Linda Maloney said ESL courses are critical for those with language barriers, and recommends beginning with the level 150 course.
“I prefer to call it a refresher course,” Maloney said. “It’s for students who really still need help with basic issues in their writing.”
The ESL stream continues with level 200, which covers essay and summary writing, and progresses to level 300, where students practice business writing.
Students who take the ESL classes receive equivalent credits for communications classes that are mandatory for all students, said Maloney.
Maloney stressed the importance of learning English to function in society.
“For all immigrants, English is key,” Maloney said. “It’s not the only key, but it’s probably the most important or the first key to their new life in Canada, and to become productive members of society.”