Click below to read a short interview from a recent Adult Education student or Alumni:

Leticia Aguilar, TESL Student
Christopher Bates, Adult Education BA Student
Don Duthie, Adult Education BA Student

Leticia Aguilar, TESL Student

Who are you? My name is Leticia and I'm originally from Mexico. 

What do you do for work? I'm currently working at Archway Community Services as a Teacher Assistant where I support immigrant students to achieve their language learning goals in a CLB setting.

What is your education and professional background? I completed the Community Support Worker Certificate at the UFV about three years ago, I did my practicum and tried to work at the School District as an Education Assistant, however; I realized that teaching a young learner was not my passion.  

What motivates you about your work? Some of the things that I most enjoy about this job are:

• to help adult students to understand Canadian culture
• to teach them how to use English in a more casual and natural way
• to use my intercultural skills to promote inclusion and diversity.

I should also say that I love to share my own story, so they can see the endless opportunities we have in our new home country! 

How did you end up in Adult Education at UFV? I was drawn to the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) program because I wanted to pursue a career as an ESL teacher and help new immigrants in Canada. I feel a strong connection with newcomers, maybe because I'm an immigrant myself, especially mature adults who come back to school to further their education. I feel that I understand their challenges and dreams. 

What did you enjoy about the TESL program? I definitely have enjoyed having excellent instructors in all my classes. I have seen good changes in the program and a lot of effort to make the TESL online/hybrid courses more efficient. I liked learning about trauma, and how to support students in a safer and friendlier environment. My practicum course was the best an eye-opener experience in TESL, and it opened me the door to get my current job. 

How has the TESL program impacted your career? The TESL program has been for me the bridge that I needed to full fill my goals and advance in my career dreams because now, I can combine previous teaching experience with my multicultural background and help others while working.

Did you find the program challenging? I can mention many challenges that I have overcome, such as family situations or to study while having two jobs, but the biggest challenge for me was to come back to school in my mature adulthood and seat with young, native speaker students who were more technology-oriented and intelligent than me. Learning a language when you are in your 40s or 50s, and then to try to teach it, is a huge challenge itself!

What are your plans after graduation? I'm now looking for my next challenge in life and that will be to complete the Bachelor's of General Studies at the UFV as a second degree and be able to support immigrants with employment, growth, career goals and life skills. 

Christopher Bates, Adult Education BA Student

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What is your education and professional background? I have broad experience in adult instruction and have been teaching adults in various capacities for over a decade.

What do you do for work? My current position is the General Mine Safety Awareness instructor for Saskatchewan Polytechnic. I have also taught on-site safety training and scaffolder and carpenter apprenticeship programs. 

How did you end up in Adult Education at UFV? I began my academic journey with the completion of the Faculty Certification Program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. I decided to continue my journey working towards my Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education at UFV, applying my credits from Saskatchewan Polytechnic to my degree.

What motivates you about your work? I get great satisfaction from helping students reach their potential and meet their goals.

How has the Adult Education program impacted your career? UFV has enabled me to gain an understanding and skills that I can implement in my practice to increase the chances of success of my students. Learning with other educators has allowed me the opportunity to develop and grow as an instructor. I appreciate and value the rich learning environment the Adult Education program at UFV provides.

Don Duthie, Adult Education BA Student

What do you do for work? I work with WorkBC as an Employment Skills Facilitator. I teach people how to write, resume, cover letters & reference sheets. 

What motivates you in your work? My primary motivation is to help and teach people the skills they need to further their careers.

How has your time in Adult Education program advanced your career? Without the Workplace Educational Certificate (WEC) I would have never acquired my current position. 

How did you end up in Adult Education at UFV? I decided to come back to UFV in Jan 2017. I first was planning to get a science degree, but I realize it was going to take a lot longer than I expected, so I needed something tangible, and I saw the Workplace Educational Certificate. Here was a certificate I could get within one year, and that could be my exit plan out of trades. On the first day of my adult education course, I knew I was in the right class, and I immediately switched from the science program to the Adult Education program.

Did you leave science behind? I volunteer with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, which involves public outreach and informal education. While I don’t have my science degree, my Adult Education degree will add to my creditability as an amateur astronomer.

Have you found the degree challenging? The most significant challenges I have had to overcome are time management and financial pressures. A career change later in life is tough with many barriers, but it is the sheer determination not to go back into construction that has kept me motivated, and I can’t overstate enough that I couldn’t have accomplished this much and in this short of time, without the support of my family.