Imagine having to learn a whole new language after moving to a foreign country… in your forties, fifties or even your sixties. This is the reality of many seniors who have immigrated to Canada later in life from non-English speaking countries. The ease of day to day tasks such as filling out medical forms, banking, and ordering food at restaurants is often taken for granted by English speakers. However, for seniors with minimal English speaking and literacy skills, these ordinary tasks appear extremely daunting. When dealing with the outside world, seniors frequently feel nervous and embarrassed for their lack of English. Therefore, The Lighthouse offers a short English lesson within its Hispanic senior program on Fridays to specifically address this need. Weekly, seniors review basics, such as the alphabet, and learn simple English words and phrases to assist them in their day to day life.
