People of Georgian: Learning English ‘opens the world’ for international manager
Oct. 20, 2022
What’s your story?
October is Latin American Heritage Month. To celebrate, all this month we are sharing stories from members of Georgian’s Latin community. Plus, our International Centre is sharing fascinating information about a different Latin country every day this month on Instagram – make sure to follow along!
People of Georgian: Meet César Balbuena
I remember where I used to live in this neighborhood, every summer there were lots of tours that would come from the United States to visit.
This one year there was one of those big RVs. I remember very clearly that they parked their RV in an area that was used like a bus stop, and we used to play around there. I don’t know how old I was; I must have been six or seven.
My friends and I tried to sort of interact with them, but of course I could not understand them.
Love of languages started early
A while before they arrived, there was this girl in my neighborhood who was studying to become an English teacher, and she asked for volunteers, and I signed up. So, I remember that summer going to this place where the RV was and trying to practice.
They were very friendly. I just remember it was very nice – and then as I grew up, I really took an interest in languages.
You know, in junior high school in Mexico, they teach you English as a second language, but it’s very basic. Still, I remember just really enjoying it.
Then in high school, after that, my parents paid for this private English course, which was expensive but, you know, they made sacrifices, right? I really, really enjoyed the course.
So that’s where my love of languages began – trying to learn about other cultures and just wanting to communicate with others.
Speaking English is really what gave me the opportunity to get to know people, to travel. I’ve been to 30 or 40 countries. I am very fortunate that in life I have seen so many places and met so many wonderful people.
I got a job in Puerto Vallarta, where I met my wife, because I spoke English. I later started working for an airline where if you didn’t have English, you would not be hired.
So, even though I didn’t come to study in Canada, learning their language was what allowed me to get, you know, jobs and to be able to get started.
I always tell students this story when I talk to them about why English is so important for them to learn.
Practicing French on truckers from Quebec
When I moved to Canada, I started working in the hotel business in customer service.
I had taken a course for French conversation, and I actually managed to practice that a lot at the hotel on the truckers that came by from Quebec.
I worked my way up to director of sales, promoting Canada to visitors like sports teams and so on. That’s how my connection with international education started in some ways.
One of the things that we do in international education is that we always tell students how learning English really opens the world. I can attest to that for me.
César Balbuena, Manager, Offshore Recruitment and Strategy.