Student Spotlight: Siblings Edgar and Ximena on Reaching Milestones and Setting New Ones
For siblings Ximena and Edgar from Mexico, studying at E-QIP was a family matter. The teens arrived in Montreal together last autumn to study English at E-QIP in preparation for a major milestone: their first year of university, which began last month. They knew little about the school or Montreal before arriving, but travelling together meant they didn’t have to discover anything on their own.
“I had company and someone to talk in my language with,” Ximena said.
She was happy to have the opportunity to explore Montreal and experience something different from her hometown near Mexico City.
“It was amazing because I got to know another city. I liked the snow. It was my first time seeing snow.”
Ximena will pursue studies in the subject of International Business, for which English proficiency is a requirement. Although E-QIP’s group classes are generally open only to adults, Ximena’s maturity meant that she was permitted to join before her 18th birthday, which she celebrated in Montreal.
Her older brother Edgar started out in the same English class, but eventually set his sights on a new challenge: learning French.
“I was a little bored of English,” he said.
Edgar, an avid artist, will study animation at university.
“I love drawing and animation is something cool to bring my drawings alive.”
He’s determined to live abroad after his studies, and his multilingual abilities make that goal more attainable than ever. Studying in Montreal sparked a wanderlust that he’s eager to satisfy, starting close to home.
“I want to visit all the states of my country, because now that I’m here [in Canada] I can see that I don’t know anything of my country.”
Their enthusiasm for their home country was contagious, said English teacher Ben.
“I'm so grateful to have students who want to share their culture, who are happy to recommend food, places and show their traditions,” he said. “Thanks to students like Ximena and Edgar, I was inspired to go to Mexico, and visiting them will be the best reason to return there again someday.”
He has no doubt that the siblings’ time at E-QIP was priceless; not only for themselves, but for anyone who came into contact with them.
“Ximena and Edgar are just wonderful human beings. They're an energetic duo, always laughing, always playing, and always willing to share intimate, and often hilarious, stories about their lives. They are always ready to play a game, or show off Edgar's latest magic trick together. They were my students, but I also learned a lot from them,” Ben said. “They improved so much whilst they were here, and I'm so proud of them. Their English is amazing and I know they'll go on to accomplish great things.”
