Now it's the new year. 2011. Time to make some resolutions. Study harder, exercise more, practice English. Those are all pretty usual promises that are easy to make but hard to continue. How about make your goal this year to meet Canadians?
Making friends with Canadians is a great way to improve your English. It can also help you understand Canadian culture and make Vancouver life more interesting.
Many of you have asked this question but it is not an easy answer. Because of culture, language, and personality, it is difficult to know how to approach Canadians.
Here are some easy pointers for you to get you started.
1. Do something that Canadians like to do. This includes joining a Canadian activity club, yoga class or community centre. If you try to do an activity that has many Canadian participants, it won't be long before you start up a conversation with someone.
2. Volunteer at a Canadian organization or non-profit society. There are thousands of volunteer opportunities in Vancouver. If you volunteer you can get a chance to talk with Canadians and meet some people who have similar interests.
3. Join drop-in sports games and the community centres. There are many community centres in Vancouver. Most centres have drop-in sports games like volleyball, basketball and badminton. You can not only get a workout but also meet people are into sports.
4. Enjoy Vancouver's nightlife. Vancouver has various clubs, pubs, live shows and performances. Canadians love to go out especially on the weekend. Go somewhere out of downtown that doesn't have a large ESL population. Once you find a good spot that you can enjoy, don't be afraid to start a conversation with someone. Canadians love small talk especially when out on the town.
Check out the web list on the right for links.
