National Adult Literacy Database

July 18, 2005

Stephen is in the Basic Education program of the Academic Foundations department at Bow Valley College. This program allows students to improve their reading and writing skills to prepare themselves for high school classes, skills training programs, or direct employment.

 

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My arrival in Calgary in 2001

by Stephen M. Acut

My experience about learning in Bow Valley College gave me many benefits, both at work and personally. These benefits can be summarized as an economic improvement and personal enjoyment. First of all, I found graduates from Bow Valley College working in good places like Marlborough Mall. For example, the Human Resources Manager at the Mall is a graduate from Bow Valley College. She provides training to students from Bow Valley in a Work Experience Programme. Secondly, I obtained good knowledge in my field as a security guard. Before that, I did not know how to find addresses in the White and Yellow Pages, to write a resume, an accident report or an incident report. Next, I learned how to read labels, documents, information on merchandise, my own home bills, medicine containers for children, and a job application form.

By this, it means literacy is decreasing in the province, and in the entire country. Finally, in my experience in Bow Valley College, learning is promoting relationships between students, teachers, career advisors, the administration, and everybody in the College. I will work hard to compensate for what I missed back in my original home, Sudan. Everybody knows Sudan was in continual wars. As a result, people of my age did not go to school. Some went to school, but did not complete the high school syllabus. In conclusion, learning has helped me personally to earn my living and enjoy my life.