Story of the Week
June 9, 1997
This week, we are presenting poems written by eight learners at Parkland Regional College, in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Parkland Regional College was able to offer LINC (Language Instruction for New Canadians) classes for the first time last year. They started with ten students and at the end of the session they had twenty-one students registered. The session ran from October 1, 1996 to March 31, 1997. They had students from Hong Kong, Serbia, Bosnia, Ukraine, Poland, Russia, Netherland, Croatia, etc. It was an interesting mix of students with international backgrounds, which is not uncommon to an ESL class, but this group of students with their ages varying from seventeen to fifty and with such interesting personalities made a wonderful blend. Their English level varied from basic to intermediate. All through the year they had lots of fun while learning English.
The "Cinquains" were written as a class project. The students wrote one five-line poem together in class and they wrote the other poems individually as homework assignment. The poems written by them were so refreshing, sentimental and moving, that the Literacy Department at Parkland decided to share the poems with everyone.
We hope you will enjoy reading them as much as the class enjoyed writing the "cinquains." Please feel free to e.mail your comments, to : literacy.york@sk.sympatico.ca We will be happy to hear from you.
Cinquains
by Learners at Parkland Regional College
Cinquains are a way of bringing poetry into literacy classes. Using this formal structure students can write expressive poems on familiar topics.
1. Spring time
Sunny, happy
Growing, blooming, singing
Getting ready for the garden
Flower
2. Home
Peaceful, cheerful
Loving, caring, sharing
Helping each other with housework
Family
- Written
by Eugenia Berezniak.
Eugenia came to Canada with her husband and son six years ago from Ukraine. She
lives in Kamsack, Saskatchewan.
1. Mother
Home far away
Missing beautiful face
Silver hair, big eyes, old soft hands
Love you
-Written
by Ksenija Ivan
Ksenija and her husband with their two sons came to Canada four years ago from
Yugoslavia. She lives in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
1. Winter
Cold, snow, frost, rain
Winter Jacket, scarf, mitts
Christmas tree shining crystal white
Dark storm
- Written
by Margreeth ten Have
Margreeth is an exchange student in Yorkton from the Netherlands. She is
attending Yorkton Regional High School.
1. Childhood
Simply, easily
Innocent, carefree, frank
Easy to be very happy
Nice time
- Written
by Josephine Yeung
Josephine came to Canada eight years ago from Hong Kong with her husband and
son. They will be moving to Ontario soon.
1. Spring time
Sunny, warm, birth
People playing outside
Flowers growing in the gardens
Robin
- Written
by Franica Pecanac
Franica Pecanec came to Canada last year from Yugoslavia (Bosnia) with her
husband and son. She lives in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
1. Spring time
Muddy, dirty
Children playing outside
Having fun and making puddles
Joyful
- Written
by Helen Mark and Josephine Yeung
Helen and Josephine came from Hong Kong and they live in Yorkton. They wrote
the poem together in class.
1. Summer
Playful hot days
Swimming, running, biking
Sun tanning on a clear warm day
River
2. Flowers
Golden Tulips
Tulips smell nice
Tulips in vase looking pretty
Spring time
- Zvonimir
Ivan
Zvonimir Ivan came to Canada four years ago with his family. He lives in
Yorkton with his wife and two sons.
1. Tutor
Strict, skilled, noble
Teaching, praising, scolding
Volunteer who teaches me
Kathryn
2.
Students
Foreign, helpless
Eager to learn, read and write
Can discuss, think, spell, debate
Winners
3.
Margreeth
Young, wise, nice, neat
Learns, writes, plays, talks, looks, smiles
Tall gentle Dutch girl like spring bloom
Daisy
- Written
by Lana Petriw
Lana came from Ukraine four years ago. She lives in Canora with her husband
Bill.
[Reference : Literacy Across the Curriculum Winter 1996 - Vol. 11 No.4]
Powered by Drupal
Office of Literacy and Essential Skills.
