Canadian Things

Hey, we're just a bunch of students from the University of Ottawa creating this tumblr to help those who have any questions about Canada, whether it be about our culture, the language and the way we use it, or anything really. Any images we use on this site do not belong to us unless stated otherwise.

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Body Language

For job interviews, business meetings and pitches, etc, body language is very important. Here are some examples of how to hold yourself in those situations. 

Posture When standing, keeping your shoulders back and your head up gives you an air of confidence in yourself and in the situation. You want to seem open and approachable. Slouching, putting your hands in your pockets, not paying attention, crossing your arms over your chest and so on all signal unease or being closed off/angry.

Sitting  Sit upright and stay alert. Again, slouching is to be avoided, it signals disinterest and can even be considered impolite. Legs should be in front of you and together, they can be crossed at the knee or the ankle. Avoid bouncing your leg. It can be a sign or nervousness or just generally be annoying to the people sitting nearby.

Handshake Handshakes are very common when meeting someone new, especially when meeting a potential new employer, business partner, etc. Both men and women shake hands. Make sure your hands are dry, and your handshake is firm. You want to shake web-to-web MAXIMUM 3 times, smile and look the other person in the eyes.  WARNING - Do not crush their hand, and do not give them a limp hand to shake. It is preferable not to use both your hands to cover theirs.

Eye Contact Being able to keep eye contact is a sign of respect. When other people are talking, keep eye contact with them, and when speaking to a group try to keep eye contact with everyone. You want to keep eye contact for roughly 80-90% of the time. Less than that can mean disinterest or boredom, and staring at someone can make them feel uncomfortable, even seem a little like intimidation.

Smile! Smiling is important. It shows your interest, presents you as a friendly, approachable and open person. It invites others to interact with you. WARNING - Do not overdo it, fake smiles are not appreciated and giggling constantly may make a person seem a little unprofessional.

Introductions and partings are the most important, one defines your first impression and the other leaves a lasting impression. When meeting someone new, especially in a business context, it is important to properly introduce yourself with a nice handshake, a smile and eye contact. When parting, do not forget to thank them for the opportunity, give another handshake with a smile and eye contact.

A Little Extra

Personal Space Canada is a very individualistic society, and people value their personal space or “bubble”. Besides the handshakes, it is customary to remain roughly at an arms’ length from others. Standing farther apart may seem like you are uninterested, but standing closer feels invasive.

Greetings/Physical contact with friends Although people tend to stay in their own space, between friends it is fairly common to hug each other upon meeting and right before leaving. This is more common among French-Canadians, but do not be surprised if someone leans in for cheek kisses. This is another way to greet friends or relatives. Not everyone uses this or feels comfortable with it, which is perfectly alright, but it is a greeting form some people practice. 

For more information on body language and workplace culture, click here. and for more information on Canadian mannerisms you can click here.

Be confident, be yourself and good luck! =)

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Public school VS Private school

Cost

Public Public schools are publicly funded through taxes, and generally do not require a fee for registration or materials or activities related to day-school basic necessities to meet the learning expectations. Bus services are included in the public school system, but after school supervision for primary schools require parents to pay a fee. 

Private Private schools are pretty pricey. They require a registration fee (which does not guarantee a child’s acceptance), and then annual fees to keep them enrolled. Bus services and after school supervision may also need to be accounted in the extra fees as they may not be included in the tuition fee.

Class Size

Public Everyone is allowed to attend public school, and classes tend to be a little bit bigger (roughly 25-32 students). Private The teacher-student ratio in the private sector is generally smaller. Classes tend to be smaller (roughly 15-20), which gives children more of an opportunity to interact with the teacher. 

Availability and Choice of School

Public Public schools are for everyone and there will always be room for a child. Schools in the public sector are assigned according to the geographic area the child resides in. However, if a parent would prefer their child attend a school in a different district, depending on how many students are enrolled that specific year, there is a possibility to apply to switch schools. Private The private sector is highly competitive. Parents must submit application forms and may stand the chance of their child being declined admission. However, these schools are not run by districts, and therefore parents have a larger liberty with choosing where they would like to enroll their child. 

Diversity Public Because the public sector is open to everyone, children will be exposed to a more realistic representation of their society. Not every student comes from the same background, have the same opportunity or resources and therefore it helps them understand how society works, forces them to understand and accept diversity. Private In the private sector, most students come from a privileged background. Their parents all have similar interests and often times children will be surrounded with other children just like them. Apart from the international students, their natural exposure to diversity in school is less significant.

Teacher Qualifications

Public In the public sector, teachers are required to be certified, and have a degree in education.

Private Not all private schools require a certification or a degree in education from their teachers. However, these schools mostly run on word to mouth and reputation, and it would be beneficial for them to have qualified teachers. The best way to find our about their teacher’s qualifications is to ask the school.

Education Standards and Motivation

Public Because it is required by law that children under the age of 16-18, depending on the province, attend school, and everyone is accepted in the public system, there are some students who inevitably do not want to be there and do not care all that much about good grades. Students are encouraged to push themselves to achieve good results, and the quality of education does not lessen. Although teachers do their best to motivate and encourage their students, not all students are as motivated to succeed as they could be. 

Private The private sector is extremely competitive. Schools strive on being able to say that their students’ college and university acceptance rate is 100%. Private school’s academic standards are generally higher. They have college and university in sight, and students are expected to work hard and achieve good results in every subject. Students should expect a higher workload in the private sector and a higher difficulty in obtaining high grades. 

Extracurricular Activities

Public After school students can choose to enroll in a variety of different extracurricular activities like sports, science, drama, music, art, etc. Those activities are often run by some of the teachers themselves.

Private Some private schools are founded with a certain activity in mind, a specialization for students. Some sports, arts, music, etc. Students will have the possibility to really develop their skills in a certain activity. There is also a larger possibility for funding, and therefore sometimes students may benefit from more field trips.

Final Note

Both the private and public sectors have their advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing to enroll a child in either program it is important to do some research, make sure the schools are right for the child and their learning ability. As a person who went through the public system, I would like to say that I turned out fine, and am pursuing a university degree at the moment. Just make sure the choice is the right one for you and your family, not by feeling pressured. Here is a link on schools in Canada for more in depth information (http://www.educationau-incanada.ca/educationau-incanada/study-etudes/index.aspx?lang=eng)

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Cultural Activities in Ottawa-Gatineau

If you are ever planning on staying in the Ottawa-Gatineau region or even visiting for a short period of time, there are many activities you can do and many places you can visit during the different seasons of the year. Ottawa-Gatineau is a region where there are many outdoor and indoor activities that you can do either with friends and family.

Winter Activities

One of the most popular and must do activities in Ottawa would be ice skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway. You can usually ice skate there from January to March, when the weather is adequate, and it is free. If the Canal is not open yet for ice skating, you can go ice skating in front of Ottawa’s City Hall, which opens from November to March, also depending on the weather.  If you even want to learn how to ice skate, you can also go to Lansdowne’s Skating court. Make sure that you have your own ice skates, or here is where to go for renting them.

Other activities that are also popular are cross-country skiing and downhill skiing or snowboarding. Gatineau Park is a perfect place to go cross-country skiing, if you want to get a good work out or just to relax and enjoy the view as you ski. If downhill skiing or snowboarding is what you are looking on trying, I would suggest to go to Camp Fortune or Mont Cascade. You can rent the equipment at these places for downhill skiing and snowboarding, or you can also rent your own here. Don’t forget to rent your own skis for cross-country skiing!

There is also an annual winter festival called Winterlude in both Ottawa and in Gatineau, where you can enjoy an International Ice Carving Competition at the Confederation Park and where you can slide on snow slides at Jacques Cartier Park. The one in Gatineau is more of a family oriented event, but you can still go and enjoy the different activities at the event.

For more information about winter activities, please click here.

Fall Activities

When it comes to fall, Gatineau Park is one of the places where you should go walk to see the beautiful fall colours and sceneries. It is a good way to spend time with friends and family, or to simply go jogging, walk to maintain your health, to roller blade, or even to bike. Don’t forget to also visit Gatineau Park during the winter for cross-country skiing!

If you are a bit more adventurous and brave, another activity which involves the fall season would be haunted activities to celebrate Halloween. The first place you might want to go would be Saunders Farm. There is maze, a haunted house and even a haunted hayride! Although this place is known for the fall season, it is also open during other times in the year. For more information, click here.

For more information about fall and outdoor activities please click here.

For those who do not like doing these kinds of activities, there are always other options! :) 

Indoor Year-round activities

If you prefer staying indoors, do not worry because there are also plenty of activities and places to go visit. There are museums, such as the Canadian Museum of History, the Museum of Nature, the War Museum and the National Arts Gallery.

If you are looking to have fun with some friends or family, you can always go to escape rooms. These are rooms where you and your friends and or family will have to find clues, so that you can all escape the room that you are all in. Click here to choose which escape rooms you would like to try! 

Festivals and Events

There is a bit of everything for everyone in Ottawa. If you are into festivals and events, this section is for you! Ottawa has major festivals such as Canadian Tulip Festival, Maple SugarFest, Ottawa’s Ribfest, Ottawa’s Jazz Festival, Busker Festival, and much more. Events such as Comicon, Bytown Days and the Sound of Lights events are also things that you should visit! For more festivals and events, click here.

I hope that you enjoy exploring the Ottawa-Gatineau region! :) 

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IELTS Test

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English proficiency test that you can take for higher education and global migration, and one of the most acceptable proficiency tests accepted in Canada.

It also assesses your English skills, such as reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, to see how you will use English to study and work in a new country where English is the language of communication, and in this case, in Canada. This test is not only accepted in Canada, but also accepted and recognized in 9,000 organizations worldwide, which includes schools, universities, employers, immigration authorities and professional organizations. You can either take an IELTS Academic test (for studying at a university or for working at a professional association) or an IELTS General test (for an Express Entry or any other immigration program to establish anywhere in Canada).

This test is the most widely accepted English test that uses one-on-one speaking test to evaluate and asses your English communication skills. In other words, you will be having a real-life conversation with a person in front of you, and that will be your speaking assessment.  

For more information about this test and if the IELTS is right for you, click here and here.

According to the IELTS, this is what they will require you do to for each skill.

Listening: It is a 30 minute long listening test where you will be listening to four recorded monologues and conversations.

Reading: It is a 60 minute long reading test, where you will need to answer 40 questions. The texts used for this test are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. These are the various forms the questions may consist of: multiple choice, identifying information, matching information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completions, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, and short-answer questions.

Writing: There are two parts to this test, one writing task of 150 words, and the other consists of 250 words. You will have 60 minutes to complete the test. The first task you will be asked to write a description of some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and you will have to describe it in your own words. You will have 20 minutes to write this first task. In the second task, you will be asked to write 250 words in 40 minutes about a point of view or argument or problem.

Speaking: For this last test, you will be tested by a certified Examiner with whom you will have an interactive conversation in a near real-life situation. This test will last for 11 to 14 minutes, and it is divided into three sections: In Part 1, you will be answering questions about yourself and your family. In part 2, you will have to speak about a topic. In Part 3, you will have a longer discussion about the topic. These three parts of the test will be assessing you in your interactive pattern, in your task input and output. For more information on the tests, click here.   

After being tested, you will be given a mark. You cannot fail a test, but this score will decide whether you are able to work or study in the Canadian government, professional association or institute that you have applied. It is important to verify the minimum IELTS score required according to the province that you will be working or studying in. Here is table to give you an idea of the levels and the scoring. This is the table which is used to convert IELTS test results into Canadian language benchmarks (CLB):

To put it in perspective, these are the results needed to work in the nursing profession:

For more information on the Canadian Language Benchmarks, click here.

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School System

By law, children in Canada have to start going to school from ages 5-6, until they reach the age of 16-18 depending on the province or territory they are enrolled in. 

The school year starts around the end of August and ends in June. Children go to school Monday through Friday, with the exception of holidays.

Canada is a bilingual Country, therefore, even if one language is not the primary language of the province, parents should have the option to choose to enroll their children in either French-language schools or English-language schools. 

Parents can choose to enroll their children in free public school, or pay to send them to private school. Parents can also choose to home school their children.

Generally speaking, students have one year of kindergarten, then grades 1-12. Grade 6-8 is normally where students switch from primary school to high school. When high school is successfully completed, students can choose to apply and enroll in post-secondary education.

For more information on province specific elementary and secondary school systems, click here.

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Canadian Holidays and Celebrations

Canada celebrates many western holidays but there are some that are unique to Canada as well. This section will focus on the official and unofficial holidays and celebrations Canada.

New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve*

Canada celebrates its new year on the first of January. This day is followed by the 31st of December, known as New Year’s Eve. Like many other countries, there is a big celebration for New Year’s Eve, and many people enjoy throwing parties for this celebration. On New Year’s Day, many individuals make a “new year resolution” as a goal for the New Year.

Valentine’s Day*

This celebration is a day to show your love to the people around you and is held on February 14th every year. Although it is an unofficial holiday, it is a common practice among Canadians that cards, flowers, chocolates, and/or other gifts are given to their loved ones.

Family Day

This is a more recent holiday established in Canada and is celebrated on the third Monday in February. It is also known as “Islander Day” in Prince Edward Island and “Louis Riel Day” in Manitoba. This holiday is to “celebrate families” by giving workers a day off to spend time with their families.

Easter and Good Friday

These two holidays are some of the more holy days in the calendar year, aside from Christmas. Good Friday is held on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday and is celebrated to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday is held in March or April; the day varies, and is celebrated to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many Canadians identify themselves as Christian. Some Christians, including those who do not regularly attend church, will attend church services on Easter Sunday.

For those who are not Christian, the Easter celebration is known as a celebration for the spring season. Common symbols for Easter will include baby chicks, bunny rabbits, flowers, and the mythical creature - the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny is intended for children to celebrate and “hunt for Easter eggs” for the new spring season.

Victoria Day

Victoria Day is a holiday to remember the Queen Victoria (1819-1901) by creating the day on her birthday, May 24. As Canada was previously a British colony, remembering the late Queen after her death was a symbol of gratitude for the late sovereign when she was in power for her role in the development of Canada. However, Victoria Day serves a different purpose than its original meaning, in memory of Queen Victoria, and is a holiday to celebrate the current Queen’s birthday, despite it not being on the same day. Also, Victoria Day has been changed to the Monday before May 25, rather than May 24 annually.

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day

This day is an annual celebration held on June 24 and is a public holiday exclusive to Québec. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day relates back to European summer festivals and religious feast days for Christian saints, such as Saint John the Baptist. As the French migrated to Québec, influences from these two events were brought together and formed this holiday for French-Canadians to celebrate. Common activities include music festivals, parades, fireworks, family gatherings, picnics, and children’s entertainment.

Canada Day

This is Canada’s national day and celebrates the anniversary of the Constitution Act on July 1, 1867 that marks the day Canada became its own country. Canada Day is a federal statutory holiday and is celebrated across the nation. Many public events are held and people like to celebrate by enjoying parades, fireworks, air shows, barbecues, and festivals.

Labour Day

Labour Day is celebrated to acknowledge the accomplishments of workers.  Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. This holiday originates from the labour union movement, where workers work together to achieve goals related to improving working conditions.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday of October. The origin of Thanksgiving is to give thanks to the blessings of the harvest in the last and upcoming year. During this holiday, many people enjoy each other’s company and have a feast. Common dishes served in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner include a large roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, pumpkin pie and much more.

Halloween*

Although this is not an official holiday, Halloween is a holiday for socializing in Canada and other countries around the world. It is celebrated on October 31 each year and people take part on this event by dressing up in costume, having parties, trick-or-treating, and eating sweets.

Remembrance Day*

Remembrance Day occurs annually on November 11. This day is to honour and in memory of those who fought in World War I. People will show their loyalty by wearing a pin in the shape of a poppy. The poppy is used as a symbol of remembrance because of the poem In Flanders Fields, where poppies bloomed on the battlegrounds from World War I. On this day at 11:00 a.m. there is a moment of silence that occurs in many public places to pay respect for the soldiers who fought in the war.

Christmas

As previously mentioned, Christmas is an important holiday in Canada because of the faith in Christianity. Christmas Day is on December 25 and is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and like Easter, many Christians attend church services. However, people who are not Christian celebrate Christmas as a time for family gatherings. Fictional characters, such as Santa Claus, Santa’s elves, and Frosty the Snowman have been created for children and have become common symbols of Christmas. Also, gift giving is a popular way people celebrate Christmas.

Boxing Day*

Boxing Day is another unofficial holiday but is popular in Canadian society. Boxing Day is on December 26 and is known nationwide as a day to shop. Stores will hold big sales and the discounts are often better than those throughout the year. This day is more of a cultural event for people to enjoy special deals marketed towards consumers.

* - denotes unofficial (non-statutory) holidays

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TOEFL Test

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Test is a highly respected assessment to test non-native speakers’ proficiency in English. Many professional and academic institutions recognize this test. The average proficiency levels of test takers range between intermediate to advanced. TOEFL is also available for people with disabilities and health-related needs. People who might be interested in taking the TOEFL include:

 Students planning to study at a higher education institution

 English-language learning program admissions and exit

 Scholarship and certification candidates

 English-language learners who want to track their progress

 Students and workers applying for visas

(Source: http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/about/)

The scoring of the TOEFL goes as followed:

(Source)

There are two formats for the TOEFL: Online-Internet based testing and the traditional Paper-based testing, which is available in limited areas. Both tests cover the same categories of language: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The test will evaluate one’s ability to perform tasks at a university level and incorporate skills to be used concurrently. Below are brief summaries of what one can expect from each of the four categories.

Reading: This section tests the ability to comprehend English at an academic level. Testers will be given a passage in English and must read and answer questions based on the passage.

Listening: This section will test the ability to understand lectures and conversations in English. Testers will listen to a conversation and lecture and allowed to make notes during the listening portion. Afterwards, testers will be required to answer questions based on the lecture and conversation heard and use their notes taken to help. Notes will not be scored in the test.

Speaking: This section evaluates the tester’s ability to speak about different topics with clear and coherent English. Testers are asked questions or given topics and given prep time (time varies) to prepare their answers. The response times also vary, but generally range from 45-60 seconds.

Writing: In this section, testers will be evaluated on their ability to perform writing tasks at an academic level. Two writing tasks will be given and testers must be able to write essay-style responses to passages and make concise, accurate connections between the texts. This includes being able to organize paragraph structure (style, grammar, ideas, etc.), clear thesis, arguments, quality of writing, and overall accuracy.

In order to prepare for the TOEFL test, there are many online and paper copy resources available, as well as sample questions with answers that are available online through the official website. 

For more information, click here.

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CanTEST (very general info.)

CanTEST is a standardized English proficiency test used to see if your level of English meets the requirement level needed in order to be admitted into Canadian post-secondary institutions or Canadian professional associations.

The CanTEST tests you on four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. 

Listening: 40 multiple choice or short-answer based on recordings. The speaker in the recording will talk at a normal speed. The duration of this part of the test will be about 50 minutes.

Reading: There are two parts to this skill test: the first part will be a 10 to 20 question skimming and scanning test (reading quickly through text in order to find answers to the questions), and the second part will last about 50 minutes, where you will be reading a passage (between 400-700 words) in order to answer multiple choice and short-answer questions. There will also be a fill-in-the-blank test, in which words are missing from a passage. That will be in a multiple choice format.

Writing: You will be writing a text about a topic that will be assigned to you. The duration of this will be about 45 minutes.

Speaking: You will have a face-to-face interview with two evaluators. They will be asking you questions about personal, professional and general interests. That will last about 15 minutes.

After being tested, you will receive a score between 1-5 (1 being Novice, and 5 being Very Good User) for each skill. These will determine your level of English according to number of right answers you had during the reading and written test, along with what the evaluators think according to the interview and your written composition. A score of 5+ (Fluent User) may also be given for the Writing and Speaking tests.

In order to pass, you need about a 4.5 average, but this will depend on which institution you are sending your scores to. Some institutions require a higher average, while some will accept a lower one.

For more details about the CanTEST and/or examples of what the CanTEST may look like, click here.

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Difference between i.e. and e.g.

i.e. and e.g. are both Latin terms, and they do not mean the same thing.

i.e. stands for id est, meaning “that is”. It is used when clarifying a statement.

I love ice cream (i.e., chocolate and vanilla) 

With that, you know that I love chocolate and vanilla ice cream only since the i.e. is used to clarify my statement about loving ice cream.

e.g. stands for exempli gratia, meaning “for example”. It is used when wanting to give examples for a statement given previously.

I love ice cream (e.g., chocolate, vanilla, strawberry)

The usage of e.g. in this sentence does not mean I only like those three flavours of ice cream, they are only examples of ice cream that I like. It is not a definite list, it means I like more than just those three flavours of ice cream.

Note: The admins of this blog are not professionals linguists. We are simply students trying to help out those who are curious about Canadian culture and are in need of answers that they cannot find elsewhere. This blog mostly consists of our opinions and sometimes some research done online. If ever we make mistakes, we highly recommend you message us with the corrections and we will happily fix them. We apologize in advance if ever mistakes happen.

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Sarcasm

Sarcasm (noun), according to the Merriam-Webster website, defines it as this:

the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny

Here is an example where sarcasm is used:

“Great weather we have today.” Peter said, staring out the window as rain was pouring down heavily.

Obviously it isn’t nice weather outside, it’s raining, but Peter uses sarcasm to show how not nice the weather is outside by stating the opposite.

I can’t speak for all of Canada and all of its residents, but I strongly believe that sarcasm is used frequently in every day conversations in informal situations. I’ve been living in Canada (near and in the Ottawa region) my entire life and the usage of sarcasm seems to be imbedded in our culture. I tend to use it quite frequently, my friends use it and my teachers use it. Heck, even my Chinese grandma uses it. 

Albeit with that being said, sarcasm is not recommended when spoken in a formal setting (e.g., work setting, academic setting, etc.) since it is usually used between friends and family.

Most people understand sarcasm, most people use it, too, but you have to be careful with who you use it with.

Sarcasm isn’t something you can learn through textbooks and writing, it’s practiced through using it in every day conversation and listening to others say it, whether it be TV shows, radio talk shows, or just other people talking. So don’t be frustrated if you don’t understand or grasp it right away, it will come with time as you are more and more exposed to it.

Here are more examples of sarcasm. This website took some questions submitted to them from people of various countries and answered them using heavy sarcasm (meaning most of these answers are not true, or don’t even answer the question at all).

Note: The admins of this blog are not professionals linguists. We are simply students trying to help out those who are curious about Canadian culture and are in need of answers that they cannot find elsewhere. This blog mostly consists of our opinions and sometimes some research done online. If ever we make mistakes, we highly recommend you message us with the corrections and we will happily fix them. We apologize in advance if ever mistakes happen.