'These people have big hearts': Displaced Ukrainians in Saskatoon thankful for English classes
With thousands of displaced Ukrainians now calling Saskatchewan home, individuals in the community are mobilizing to help them learn English.
Olena Bodnarenko fled the Russian invasion in May. She left her husband behind in Kyiv.
Bodnarenko didn’t want to leave, but an injury made it necessary.
“I have broken leg. I broke it in Ukraine before the war,” she told CTV News.
Because of that injury, she says she didn’t want to risk being a liability if a quick evacuation to a bomb shelter was necessary. She left with her daughter and came to Saskatoon.
“It’s very hard for me to be in Canada when my native people stay in Ukraine,” she says.
Now Bodnarenko is trying to make the best of her circumstances, learning more English to help her get by in her new home.
“I try to speak because I can understand most of all, but I can’t speak,” she said.
She’s in one of four classes, all at different levels being offered free of charge for newcomers.
Stream of Hopes Aid for Ukraine, UCC Saskatoon and St. George’s Cathedral helped create the initiative.
“We have gone from not being able to introduce yourself to be able to say this is my name, this is where I’m from. Today we talked about more professions and learned more words,” Olesya Hursky, volunteer instructor told CTV News.
Hursky and the other instructor Laurianne Gabruch came up with the idea to help Ukrainians adjust.
They and other volunteers give up their Saturdays and Tuesdays to help out and the effort is not lost on these students.
“These people have big hearts. It’s very hard work but they make the process as easy as possible,” Bodnarenko said.
Olena Bodnarenko
It’s not always easy thanks to the many silent letters in English words, which Bodnarenko admits are the most difficult concept to grasp.
“It is not clear why there are letters in some words that are not pronounced. I don’t understand this.”
She says the Ukrainian language is very phonetic where all letters in words are heard so the idiosyncrasies of English are a big adjustment for the group.
Many of the roughly 50 newcomers taking the classes hope to learn English well enough so they can get a job and support themselves as they navigate their new homes.
“It’s nice to see them opening up and relaxing and be able to say what they want to say and not having to worry about how you’re being perceived and whether you’re saying it correctly or not,” Hursky said.
Bodnarenko is happy that her English has improved in the six weeks she’s been taking the class, but her sights are still set on returning to her husband as soon as possible.
“I hope the war stops in my country and I really want to go home.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.