This week, 52 youth from 11 different countries will arrive in Powell River to attend Brooks Secondary School. The hope is they will improve their English, learn a different culture and make some great friends, said School District 47 International Student Program district principal Shannon Behan.
Young visitors in grades nine to 12 hail from Taiwan, Australia, Switzerland, Mexico and French Ghana, among other countries. Newcomers will be paired up with a local student or an international student who has been part of the program longer.
Relative newcomer Alexander Sennst arrived from Madgeburg, Germany, last September and is helping new students integrate at the school. He is assisting program participant Liam Roos, from Zurich, Switzerland, who said it is nice to have another German speaker nearby.
Roos said he is excited to be in Powell River, and hopeful to learn and have fun.
“I can speak English but would like to speak good English,” said Roos, “and also meet some friends and have a nice time.”
Sennst said he told Roos the skiing in BC rivals anything in the Alps.
“I went to Fernie and the snow was better than Switzerland,” said Sennst.
International student Eugene Chen came to Powell River from Haikou, China.
“I have been in this city just two days,” said Chen. “I would like to make friends and improve my speaking.”
International students stay with local families, which adds to their experience as part of the community, said Behan. She said she believes civic involvement is a vital part of the program’s success.
“We put the students on an academic program and each one has to do 30 hours of volunteer service throughout their year,” said Behan. “They can do it in any way, through sports, student council or service in the community. It gets them out engaging in the community, meeting people and practising English.”
Behan said she believes a unique benefit for students coming to Powell River is that it is a small town where people know one another and care.
“The community responds brilliantly to welcoming the students everywhere,” she said. “People really look out for them.”
So far, Sennst said he loves Powell River.
“It’s a bit rainy now, but in the summertime it’s so nice here,” he said. “You can go to Texada for cliff jumping.”
