Adult literacy program helps Port Hardy newcomer prepare for college

Adult literacy programs change lives.

Christina H. came to Port Hardy with her family in 2023, after a winter in Winnipeg. She came to Canada from South Korea a year earlier, and is a certified Early Childhood Educator (ECE). Last February, the Immigrant Welcome Centre, which helps newcomers settle through services and programs, referred Christina to Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society’s (MWFLS) community adult literacy program (CALP). 

“When I first met Christina, she couldn’t speak English at all,” said Stephanie Coe, Adult Literacy Coordinator at MWFLS. “Her husband had to translate basic questions, like ‘when is your birthday’, she couldn’t form a sentence.”

But she was determined to learn English. In March 2023, she started attending the free Adult Reading-Writing-Internet Practice drop-in program twice a week in Port Hardy. She worked hard on her English, practicing her conversation skills with Stephanie, and at home she worked on her reading, watched TED Talks and Mr. Rogers Neighbourhood.

She started working as a casual education assistant at a local elementary school, and so she had to use English every day. 

One year later she came to the drop-in program with big news.

“I took the English exam at North Island College, and I got the result today,” Christina said with excitement.  “They said I can start English 11! I’m so happy right now! Actually, I thought my English skills were too low, so I would have to start with fundamental English. I’m truly grateful to you for being my teacher.”  

Christina’s goal is to get her teaching certificate. 

“It’s so rewarding to watch someone improve week to week and know that I’ve made a difference in their life,” said Stephanie.

The adult literacy program offers reading, writing and internet practice sessions twice a week in Port Hardy and Port McNeill. There are also monthly conversation clubs, and special events and workshops on financial literacy, food literacy, computer literacy and more. 

MWFLS is looking for volunteer tutors to help adult learners in the community with reading, writing, math, or computers.

For more information, contact Stephanie Coe at: adultliteracy@mwfamilyliteracy.org, or follow the MWFLS Facebook page: @mwfamilyliteracy. 

About Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society

The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society supports literacy and learning on North Vancouver Island through free programs for people of all ages, in partnership with local communities, schools, and organizations.