Echo Wang’s favourite book is Lord of the Flies. She has even gotten her husband to start reading the Chinese translation of it and she is hoping to watch the movie this summer.
The classic English novel about a group of young boys on a deserted island during World War II was introduced to Wang in her English 12 class at Richmond School District’s Adult Education Centre, nestled in Rideau Park in central Richmond.
Wang has been taking English classes at the centre for a couple of years, working her way through English 10, 11 and 12. Her motivation has been to integrate better into her adopted country of Canada by improving her English and learning about Canadian culture.
Not only has her English improved, but she has been introduced to current affairs and civic life.
“It’s not only about the language, not only about the vocabulary – of course, I learned some big words – but also the ideas, the culture, the history,” Wang said. “I need to learn that – this is my home.”
While Richmond’s secondary schools were holding their graduation ceremonies with pomp and circumstance last month, and Grade 12s prepare for the next phase in life, many students at the Adult Education Centre are quietly completing their graduation requirements.
The type of student taking adult education classes ranges widely, explained Jason Higo, district administrator with the Continuing Education department. Some are just finishing a few courses to get their Dogwood (high school) diploma, others are upgrading courses because they want to get into a specific post-secondary program – some just want to learn, like Wang.
Adult education allows for flexibility in learning with some courses in the evening, some during the day and with courses offered at different times of the year. This gives a wide variety of options to fit different people’s schedules and learning styles, Higo explained.
“The difference is here (compared to high school) you have different pathways that students are on,” he added.
Jarod Heinze is currently working to improve his English 12 mark so he can go to Langara College after graduating from Clayton Heights secondary in Surrey in 2012 and dabbling in post-secondary. While in high school, he always felt he was slipping through the cracks, not really performing to his potential or finding direction.
Since studying English at the adult education centre, he has felt more engaged in his learning and has enjoyed being in a class where it’s possible to have open discussions and debate ideas, unlike in high school or university.
“Everyone wants to learn so we’re all bouncing ideas off of each other, asking questions – there’s a lot of group discussion compared to university where everyone just keeps to themselves and listens to the prof,” Heinze said.
Part of his thirst to learn he chalks up to maturity, but he appreciates the environment at the adult education centre, a stepping stone in his career path. He said he finally feels like he’s pursing his passion of literature and reading.
There are many reasons why people don’t graduate with their peers and return to an adult education setting, Higo said. It might be because students need to help out financially at home, sometimes it’s just a lack of motivation to attend school. Adult education is in place to help people with their education, no matter the reasons. All courses that lead to graduation are free of charge for British Columbians who are permanent residents or Canadian citizens.
Serena Ho, 18, finished high school last year, but didn’t complete her English 12 class, and that’s all she needs to get her Dogwood and start studying marketing at Kwantlen Polytechnic. While part of her motivation to complete her English is to get into post-secondary, it feels “great” to finally get her Dogwood, she said, adding she felt bad last year when she didn’t complete it.
In adult education, she can focus on one class at a time, and she isn’t distracted by the high school scene.
“I actually like it a lot more (than high school) maybe because everyone here is an adult and they’re a lot more mature,” Ho said.
