Language is an essential part of our individual and community lives. Newcomers to Canada learn English to contribute to their capacity to interact with other cultures and participate in the social and economic life in Canada. We as teachers, support many students as they begin to weave into the Canadian social fabric. We teach not only English but life skills, social cohesion, and community connections. We celebrate our students’ perseverance and resilience every day they show up in our classes to learn and engage with us in their new community.

This 2018 webinar helped educators and other practitioners in the settlement sector to understand how trauma affects learning and how trauma can be a common barrier for students in the classroom. Participants in the webinar learned practical tools to address trauma, along with important guidelines for self-care.