Newcomer Voices - LINC College Preparation a grateful experience

By Maria Becerra

When I decided to go to college, I was confident. I thought my English skills were good enough until I was assessed by an advisor at the college when I went for the tour. I was told there was a requirement benchmark of 7 before submitting my application to the Paralegal Program. I had 6 in writing and listening in my assessment.

I could not understand why I needed to improve my English skills when I thought they have always been good enough in my life in Canada, which had been several years.

In the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) College Preparation program, I improved my English communications skills. I learned the importance of following instructions in rubrics, due dates and how to submit my assignments online. I learned critical reading and writing, which have been crucial since the beginning of my career. I learned that listening does not mean only understanding what has been said but paying attention to details and retaining the information. And when speaking, I corrected many bad habits that I didn't realize I had before taking the program and that sounded bad.

All in all, in LINC College Preparation, I was taught a lot of methods of study and lifelong learning. At the end of the course, I got the improvements I needed to be admitted into the Paralegal program. It was explained to me remarkably what college instructors would be like, so when I started college, even though I was challenged, I was not surprised.

I am so glad I enrolled in the LINC class; without it, I would not know how to follow instructions properly and organize my assignments and studies.

I now am a happy college graduate, and I could not be more thankful for taking LINC College Preparation. It had everything to do for me to succeed in the Paralegal Program.