East and West Learning Connections
My Dialogue with CBC
By Yang Wang
December 31, 2020
Recently, I had several emails with the CBC, exchanging our opinions on a piece of news aired on their radio. I’d like to share with friends the key parts of the correspondences which are pretty self-explanatory as follows. Thanks to my friends for helping me find the contact information, and for their feedback during our chats!
Notes from the EAWLC Personal Communications Training for Members
Notes from the Personal Communications Workshop
For The East and West Learning Club on 21 November, 2020
Practical, Helpful, and Useable Skills
We’re here for about something really important. Something that, if you pay
attention, will make a positive difference to how things work for you. I
learned this through experience and it changed the way I approach
everything. Continue reading “Notes from the EAWLC Personal Communications Training for Members”
Let’s Build the Bridge
By Yang Wang
September 30, 2020
Dear Hon. Ford,
Thank you for your hard work leading Ontario to fight against COVID-19.
Your recognition of the contributions of the Chinese community in this
battle is very encouraging. In response to your call for details of
organizations and individuals who have worked hard in the battle, I am
writing you to tell the story of a volunteer group.
The Chinese Canadian Volunteers Fighting Coronavirus is a grass-roots group Continue reading “Telling the Story: A Letter in Response to Call from Ontario Premier”
I’d like to share with our members and friends an opportunity to learn about
the experience and opinions of the black community in Canada on racism. The
first part below is the invitation to the live online audio program from one
of the hosts. I sent her a message, giving my thoughts on the Black Lives
Matter movement, which was attached at the end of this post.
Continue reading “Fwd: Black Lives Matter: Let’s Listen, Empathize, and Learn”
5月25日美国黑人George Floyd在双手被铐住的情况下，
On Racism: Dialogue with Derek Sloan
By Yang Wang
May 12, 2020
Like many other Chinese Canadian volunteers who have tried to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Canada, I have witnessed the ups and downs of the battle against the virus since the end of January. {1} The early intervention by the Chinese community through the implementation of self-quarantine among travellers from China has a very positive outcome. Provincial data has shown that Canada’s early cases came mostly from travellers from the US and other hot spots like European countries, while very few were from China. {2} However, as the pandemic continues, its devastating impact has pushed people’s fears and frustrations to a new high. Some people let out their angers onto Chinese and other Asians. A poll shows 20% Canadians feel unsafe if sitting next to an Asian on the bus, and there has been a notable rise of racism and hate crimes against Asians across the world, including Canada. {3} It casts a shadow on my sense of security and the outlook of the future. My big boy, who is in Grade 12 and drives now, volunteers to deliver groceries for my friends who have underline diseases, and send protective caps sewn by other volunteers to nurses. As a mom I’m so proud of him, but I hesitate to let him go to areas like downtown Toronto, where a couple of assaults on Chinese were on the news in April alone. {4} My kids have developed a firm belief in Canadian values of tolerance and diversity. My heart aches when I think of the very likelihood that one day when they experience discrimination, how that will break their hearts, and shatter the beloved image on their young minds of this place we call our home now.
Continue reading “On Racism: Dialogue with Derek Sloan / 关于种族主义：与德里克·斯隆的对话”
The Chinese communities across Canada have spontaneously taken precautious measures to help prevent a potential spread of Coronavirus in the country: people coming back from China (not only from Wuhan City or Hubei Province, the epidemic centre in China) conduct 2-week self-quarantines even nobody asks them to do so, and hundreds of volunteers help with airport pick-ups and daily supply deliveries to support the self-quarantine effort. The letters below, which were written by a member of our club, show why and how the Chinese community is doing this, together with their concerns, and problems they wish the government could act to solve.
Continue reading “On Preventing Coronavirus Outbreak in Canada”
The following is an excerpt from a workshop entitled Personal Communication in Canada for the East and West Learning Club held on October 29, 2019. Written
and presented by Eleanor James, to focus on personal communication – what we say to each other and how we say it – within a Canadian cultural context.
Continue reading “EAWLC Personal Communication In Canada Workshop Excerpt by Eleanor James”
We cordially invite you to join the East And West Learning Club as a member! It is free, and open to everyone who loves to learn about eastern and western cultures and improve public speech and communication skills, whether you are a professional, a student or a home-maker. We are a non-profit cultural group based in Scarborough of Toronto (see www.eawlc.org for details). Our weekly meetings are conducted in English. As long as you agree to take turns with other members to host club meetings, and treat all other members with respect and friendliness, you can become a member, and enjoy a wealth of learning and communicating opportunities for free. Your beloved ones will benefit, too! Please see below for membership obligations and benefits in details. Continue reading “Become A Member/欢迎成为学东西俱乐部的会员”