Here's some really great news from our student Farzana Shammi:
LINC graduate’s documentary airs on national television
On her first day of Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) class, Farzana Shammi remembers being terrified when her teacher asked her to introduce herself to the other students.
“My LINC teacher really pushed me to overcome my fears,” said the 33-year-old native of Bangladesh who was sponsored by her husband in September 2008. “For me, LINC class wasn’t just about learning how to improve my grammar and writing; it gave me the confidence to pitch my ideas and follow my dream of becoming a filmmaker.”
Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the LINC Program is designed to provide English and French language courses to adult newcomers like Farzana.
After graduating from Level 7/8 at Danforth LINC in Toronto, Farzana enrolled in Centennial College’s Broadcasting and Film program.
While at Centennial, Farzana produced a short documentary entitled, “Sneha: Get Involved” with her classmate Adam Rizvi. The documentary highlights the Sneha Foundation, a non-profit organization created to support disadvantaged students in Bangladesh by providing them with shelter and scholarships. At the end of the school term, Farzana and Adam’s documentary was selected to air on TVO’s "Get Involved” television program.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found out that TVO chose my video,” says Farzana, who has volunteered for the Hot Docs International Film Festival and is currently directing a show that features documentaries produced by students that will air on Rogers Television. “When I was moving to Canada, everyone told me it would be next to impossible to break into the film industry and it was so disheartening.”
“But from the beginning, I knew I had to work hard because I was new to Canada,” she said. “Even though English is not my first language, I knew I had to overcome the initial language barrier to pitch movie concepts and interview experts for my documentaries,” she said.
According to Barbara Carter, Farazana’s LINC instructor who supported and encouraged her along the way, Farzana’s success is a result of her willingness to take risks and focus on self-improvement. “She showed up to LINC class every night and was willing to work hard, so I encouraged her to go for it and apply to college.”
Farzana, who has a master’s degree in mass communication and journalism from Dhaka University in Bangladesh, says all newcomers should take advantage of LINC classes funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. “Language classes are the greatest welcome gift from Canada,” she says. “They gave me the confidence I needed so I wouldn’t have to leave my dreams behind in Bangladesh.”
To find the nearest language assessment centre and/or LINC class near you, visit:
www.settlement.org/findhelp/
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