2003 SfC in the News: Toronto Star (March 22)

SfC In The News


March 22, 2004

Teen a vocabulary visionary
Awarded for grasp of languages

Immigrant now tutors her peers

by Nicholas Keung
Immigration/Diversity Reporter

Shirley Zeng's first English lesson was in the summer of 1997 on board a flight with her mother from China to Canada.
Anxious to fit into a whole new world, the then 11-year-old knew she had to pick up the English language as soon as possible and struggled to get the order of the 26 letters right. When she stepped into Pauline Public School in Toronto, Zeng could hardly speak any English, not to mention French, the other language that she needed to master in the grade school. Today, the Grade 12 student at North Toronto Collegiate Institute not only can speak Canada's both official languages comfortably but is also proficient in Spanish as the president of her school's Hispanic Club. While many newcomers feel ostracized in a new environment, Zeng does not. "A lot of immigrants are afraid to open themselves up and isolate themselves from others," said the 17-year-old, who is hoping to study business at university in the fall. "I think the key for new immigrants to succeed is never be afraid to ask for help. There's no stupid question." When she first arrived in Toronto with her single mother, a former university professor in biology from the Hubei province in China, she spent a lot of time watching television to learn vocabulary from captions and "imitate" the English sounds. Zeng also immersed herself in the English language by visiting libraries near her Eglinton Ave. and Yonge St. neighbourhood to "read as much as she could," not just to pick up the language, but Western culture. The young girl would repeat a sentence by rote to perfect her pronunciation and accent. The one she still remembers vividly is "My English is very poor. I don't understand you." After all, it's one of the sentences she used so often during her early days in Canada. Zeng, who has been named a New Pioneers award winner for her school achievements, believes that one will be rewarded by treating others with their heart. She says her mother has always been an inspiration in her life. "Like other new immigrants, my mother can't get back to teaching and has done a lot of odd jobs, labour work. But she never expresses any sadness or complains about it," she noted. "I know I have to work very hard and, like her, focus my energy on the positive things in life and have a positive attitude." Zeng tutors English-as-a-second-language students in English and math through her school's "buddy" programs, and is a member of the school's marching and symphonic bands. She also volunteers at the Woodgreen Community Centre as the editor of the Volunteers' newsletter and is a helper at its day-care centre.