ESC Student Success Story- Reinaldo Gonzalez Garcia

Venezuelan student Reinaldo Gonzalez Garcia arrived in Canada in the winter of 2008. He was nervous to live in a new country, but excited to learn English and for his big adventure. Although he knew very little English, Reinaldo set out on a mission to make the most of his time in Canada – and did just that!

“When I arrived in Canada, the country, the language, and the weather were such a change. People would talk to me and I wouldn’t understand much,” he remembers. Despite these challenges, Reinaldo was determined to succeed at the English School of Canada. “At ESC, I started at level 4. But soon, with the help of my amazing teachers and the hard work I was doing at school and at home, my English level improved very fast.” Within one month, Reinaldo advanced to level 5. One short month later, Reinaldo’s hard work paid off, as he scored high enough to improve to level 7!

“I had planned to go the U.S. eventually,” Reinaldo says, “but I really liked ESC and the Canadian people so much, I decided to stay. My counsellor told me about the College Transfer Program at ESC that would allow me to enter a number of different colleges in Canada.” In order to enter the College Transfer Program, Reinaldo required a level 8 and a passing score on the CTP test. With the support of his counsellors and teachers, Reinaldo achieved the high standards and was admitted into CTP in the spring of 2009. “While in CTP, my speaking, presentation skills, and most importantly, my writing, were greatly improved. I completed 3 months of CTP and was accepted into my desired program at Centennial College – Mechanical Engineering Technology.”

When asked about how prepared he was to enter a Canadian college, Reinaldo states, “with my education from ESC, I am able to understand everything the professors and my classmates say. The presenting skills I learned in CTP are even more advanced than what I’m learning in college now!”

When asked about his time so far in Canada and at ESC, Reinaldo smiles and says, “I love Canada because it has opened so many doors for me. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, your religion or beliefs – you can live the way you like. ESC was my first home in Canada!”