VanWest College in Kelowna for International Students: Peggy’s Kelowna College Experience

Peggy, an international student from Taiwan, studied English for Academic Purposes (EAP 300) at our College’s Kelowna location before continuing her studies in the Business Management Co-op Diploma program in Vancouver. Her Kelowna experience included academic English classes, speaking practice, homestay life, international friendships and support from our teachers.

For international students considering a college in Kelowna, Peggy’s experience at our College provides a first-hand look at studying English, living with a homestay family and becoming part of an international student community in British Columbia. Peggy came from Taiwan and studied EAP 300 at our Kelowna location. She particularly valued her academic English classes, speaking and listening practice, teacher support, friendships with students from other countries and everyday opportunities to use English outside the classroom. Her story provides a personal view of the college experience here at VanWest Kelowna.

Why Choose VanWest College?

Compared to pursuing graduate studies, VanWest’s co-op program allows me to gain real-world work experience abroad, which is more suitable for my future career plans. I hope to experience different jobs during this time and discover something I’m interested in!

Why Choose the Kelowna Location?

Compared to the Vancouver location, the Kelowna location has fewer Chinese residents and more locals. It forces me to speak English and avoid speaking Chinese, which is great since I’ll be in Canada for over 18 months. I want to experience life in different places, haha!

How was your experience in Kelowna as a student, and how it differs from Taiwan

Taiwan is small, making it easy to get around. In contrast, buses in Kelowna run infrequently. If we miss the morning bus, we’re guaranteed to be late, having to wait at least half an hour. It took some getting used to at first; if we got on the wrong bus, it would take twice as long to get home. But because of this, I often see different scenery and meet different people on the bus, making each day feel like an adventure. I love the living environment here; the sky is blue and clean, the air is fresh, and everyone’s pace of life isn’t too rushed. We often go for walks and explore the neighborhood after dinner. Although there aren’t many leisure activities on weekends, as long as you’re with the right people, anywhere is fun!

Peggy’s Homestay Experience as an International Student in Kelowna

At first, my host family and I had some differences in lifestyle and some friction, but as we spent more time together, we came to understand each other’s personalities and became more and more like a family. When I had a cold, they made me a special lemonade; when they had time, they would take us out; and before I left, they decorated the Christmas tree together for me. We always shared our daily lives at dinner-relationships, school, work, even arguments. I loved chatting with them during meals; besides practicing English, I absorbed a lot of knowledge beyond what I learned in the classroom! I was very lucky that my Brazilian, Japanese, and Taiwanese roommates were all easy to get along with. We never went out alone, even though we were in different classes; we would always make plans to meet each other’s friends. Even once when we went to a nightclub, one of us got tired and went home early, and the host family came over to check on us, thinking we had argued, haha! I never imagined I could make friends outside of Taiwan, even as far as Brazil, and be as close as best friends! My host family had two children, and we always played together. Even when there was no bus home, the younger brother would drive us. It was as if it were destined; our whole family was on the same wavelength, and no one ever felt isolated. On the day I left, they gave me a card and a bracelet with a crown on it, and said: You will always be our little princess. ❤️

What was your favorite part of the course? What areas did you improve upon during this period? What was your biggest takeaway?

EAP300 was the most difficult, but it was my favorite part of the course! Even knowing my limitations, the teachers at Kelowna consistently gave us positive feedback, greatly boosting our confidence and willingness to express ourselves. Living in an Asian country, we tend to passively absorb knowledge from our teachers, reducing critical thinking. I really like my teacher, Kimberley, who not only teaches us how to write academic papers, but also significantly improves my speaking skills through weekly presentations! She also shares many life perspectives with us, and I look forward to going to class every day!

Most recommended courses (morning and afternoon) / why?

Besides academic courses, my favorite afternoon electives are speaking and listening classes. Sometimes we have debates in class, which not only trains our speaking skills but also our logical thinking. The teachers also occasionally let us play games-all sorts of games that make learning fun and increase interaction with classmates.

Describe your school life (teachers, students, staff, classmates) / How your teachers and staff helped you.

I was frustrated when I started EAP300. There was so much homework, and it took me a long time to finish. Plus, I was the only Taiwanese student in my class, so it was difficult to fully understand when I asked classmates questions. For the first five weeks, there were countless mishaps, like submitting assignments incorrectly, misunderstanding the teacher’s instructions, and writing the wrong answers. Once, I wrote the wrong essay topic, and although the teacher said I didn’t have to rewrite it, but the grade would be lower, I still chose to rewrite it! Even though I spent more time on my studies than others, rewriting was still a form of learning. The teacher always encouraged us and spent a lot of time explaining things to us. She also suggested we “speak for 15 minutes every day,” which really helped us improve our pronunciation and vocabulary.

School environment and atmosphere

There’s so much I want to say, it’s hard to put into words. I love the atmosphere at the Kelowna campus. Students always care about each other. Even if we’re not in the same class, we greet each other, and the teachers at the counter say good morning to us every day. I look forward to going to school every day to learn and make new friends! I feel like this is a family, not just a school. The campus may be small, but that brings us very close.

Peggy’s Advice for International Students Studying in Kelowna

Although you might have to stay up late doing homework, you’ll find you’re not alone; everyone is working hard alongside you. “Try to make as many friends as possible from other countries, because they’ll force you to speak English.” I can feel this from my Brazilian roommate. When we first met, we often had a lot of misunderstandings. Not arguments, but due to language barriers and cultural differences, she couldn’t express herself in English at first, but later she was able to use the vocabulary she had learned to let us understand her thoughts. It’s been a huge improvement compared to the beginning! Even with a lot of homework, you still need to make time to go out with your classmates and roommates! I think the fastest way to learn a language is to talk more! Make the most of your time at language school and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air of Kelowna!

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