Yanice Guo explains how her work in the English Conversation Program also made her feel more connected in Vancouver.
July 11, 2021
Yanice Guo, former UBC undergrad student (now graduated) and English Conversation Program volunteer facilitator at the Learning Exchange. Photo submitted by Yanice Guo.
Name: Yanice Guo
Faculty: UBC Sauder School of Business
Area of study: Finance
Program: Bachelor of Commerce
Learning Exchange role: ECP volunteer facilitator, 2020
Home town: Hunan, China
Current location: Hunan, China
UBC degree conferred: May 19, 2021
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- How did you hear about or get involved with the Learning Exchange?
I was in the third year of my Finance degree at Sauder. I had just finished volunteering in an after-school program in Coquitlam with S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and started looking for new volunteer opportunities closer to UBC. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is a group that supports newcomers to Canada. I found the Learning Exchange posting through a Sauder job/volunteer website. After researching the Learning Exchange, I found its core values perfectly aligned with mine, with my previous experience with S.U.C.C.E.S.S., with my interests in learning and teaching languages, and working with Chinese seniors in the Downtown Eastside. It seemed like a great fit.
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- What did you do at the Learning Exchange?
In the first term, I worked in the English Conversation Program (ECP) leading, with another student, sessions with 5-6 Mandarin-speaking seniors. In the second term, I led a group of Cantonese-speaking seniors. Cantonese is a second language for me—Mandarin is my first—so it was an opportunity to practice that language, too.
I enjoyed these sessions because they also helped me learn English, and I learned new perspectives on how to teach and learn the language. When I was first learning, for example, grammar was everything. But here, speaking and understanding were the most important things.
As for my academic and career pursuit, I had been thinking about making a transition from commerce to education. My Learning Exchange experience helped me be aware of the information gap when teaching—to listen from the perspectives of the learners. I learned how important it is to learn from and listen to your students. I really liked the Learning Exchange philosophy: “Everyone here is a learner.” I will keep this with me for the rest of my life.
I also really enjoyed bonding with the Chinese seniors. Most came from China, which is where I’m from, and they reminded me of my grandparents. I saw how they might have struggled at times but I also saw how resilient they are. I want to try to be like them in my old age. I enjoyed sharing my perspectives on modern life and they would tell me what times were like when they were young. I loved talking to them and listening to them. When the Learning Exchange announced it was closing due to the COVID-19 restrictions, they wanted to invite me to their morning tea—we had really become friends and family. This meant a lot because I was alone in Canada.
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- How did your experience at the Learning Exchange influence your academic and/or career path?
The Learning Exchange was a pivot point for me. I learned that I loved teaching and learning English more than finance. It gave me first-hand teaching experience and I also saw how important learning a language was for someone new to a country. Even a little bit of knowledge could make one’s life that much easier. The seniors really seemed to appreciate the language skills they were learning.
I recently applied to do my graduate studies in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Thanks to my experience in the Learning Exchange, during which I enhanced my teaching skills and my understanding about education, I have received offers from New York University, Columbia, and Rochester. I think Columbia is my first choice.
Volunteering at the Learning Exchange also helped me connect with people in Vancouver and in the Downtown Eastside. Even though the people I connected with might have some hard times, I was impressed at how they stayed positive and were finding ways to keep learning. When I was volunteering in one of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. campaigns, I was warned by my friends and parents that the Downtown Eastside was scary. At the end of the day, I felt so fulfilled and connected with the community. I worry that there may not be enough support for the Downtown Eastside community, but I also saw so much hope and resilience.
- How do you think the LE was influenced by your involvement? / What unique perspectives do you think you brought to the Learning Exchange?
I think that as an international student from China I was able to make the Chinese seniors feel more connected during their time at the Learning Exchange. And, following the Learning Exchange approach that “We are all learners here,” I think I was able to contribute to that open, inclusive and harmonious atmosphere in the ECP sessions.
Want to explore more student learning opportunities at the UBC Learning Exchange? Learn more here.
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