Canada emphasizes language skills and identity challenges for immigrants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has identified English and French language proficiency as two essential skills for immigrants to secure better employment and integrate into Canadian society. The department suggests that mastering both official languages can expand job opportunities and access to community services. To support this, the government offers funded programs such as Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) and Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC), which combine language training with work experience.

On a personal level, the immigrant experience involves complex shifts in identity and belonging. In her memoir, Was It Worth It? A Journey of Leaving, Losing, and Becoming, Maryam Rafiee discusses the transition from Iran to Canada. She explores the tension between the freedoms gained in Canada and the loss of cultural familiarity, such as language, food, and relationships, highlighting that finding a sense of home is a profound psychological process.