LDSS students develop ESL Cafe to promote learning, friendship

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — The Leamington District Secondary School International Baccalaureate students continue to outline their projects as they make their way through their Grade 12 year.

The students are encouraged to consider the United Nations sustainability Goals when looking at global issues for the IB-CAS projects. The LDSS goal is to develop well-rounded, confident learners, who make positive contributions to the world.

Isabel Unger, Anouk Weber and Sabina Tillinger got together as a group and tackled an issue that was very important to them. They connect with goal number 4 on the U.N. sustainability list — Quality Education — that considers inclusive and equitable education.

The trio discovered that they can make a difference in the world by taking action in their own community.

Isabel, Anouk and Sabina formed an ESL (English as a second language) Café, where they held gatherings of students in an informal space for friendship, community and to help improve their English skills.

LDSS students Sabina Tillinger, Anouk Weber and Isabel Unger developed a special meeting place where students with English as a Second Language (ESL) could learn and share friendship.

The ESL Café began last October and ran until the Christmas Break, but hadn’t yet resumed when the COVID crisis shut down Ontario schools.

Yet, the trio felt they gained so much from the experience in a short amount of time.

“We feel like we’ve experienced a lot of growth,” said Anouk. “For me, I was able to gain confidence talking in front of a group and it really forced me out of my comfort zone.”

Isabel agreed with her partner. “It was a very understanding, very positive space,” she said.

The students who participated gained valuable skills and met new friends that they may not have normally had contact with at the school. About 20 students regularly attended the café, but sometimes, it was standing room only.

“We had up to 50 people at certain times last school year,” said Sabina.

The trio felt that the café was well received and really needed, especially for new Canadians.

“It benefited everyone,” said Isabel. “We got to know people who we could now say hi to in the hallway. It bridged a divide.”

The students hope that eventually, they’ll be able to resume the café, but COVID restrictions currently prevent that from happening.