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Kseniia Tymchenko, 2023 Immigrant Mentor Award Recipient, Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership

Written by Sharon Aschaiek

Workplace Communication Skills for Professional Managers

Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) courses are free workplace communication training courses for immigrants. They are offered at many Ontario colleges full time and part time, in class and online.

These practical, relevant courses build language and communication knowledge and skills in many occupations in business, construction, health sciences, human services and technology.

Without this course, it would make my journey of integration longer. So it has had a positive impact on how I will navigate the job market and present myself to potential employers.

Kseniia Tymchenko

2023 Immigrant Mentor Award Recipient, Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership

Kseniia Tymchenko immigrated to Canada in 2022 from Ukraine, where she earned a master’s degree in marketing and worked as a marketing manager. Since arriving in Canada and settling in Barrie, she has volunteered extensively to help other immigrants from Ukraine find employment, which led to her receiving the 2023 Immigrant Mentor Award from the Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership.

Tymchenko recently took part in the OSLT course Workplace Communication Skills for Professional Managers at Georgian College. The course is geared to internationally educated or experienced professionals with management expertise in business or technology environments. She plans to pursue additional post-secondary education that could lead to employment in economic development.

Here, Tymchenko shares about her experience in the OSLT course.

Q: What are some of the most useful things you learned in the course about communications in a business workplace?

A: I figured out a lot about the cultural aspects of communication in workplaces, and how to adjust my communication style to adapt to the local culture.

I also learned about power dynamics in the workplace, and how there is a relatively higher level of trust here in the abilities and reliability of employees.

I realized how small talk helps us understand each other as people, what’s important to them, their moods—conversation that doesn’t strictly relate to business, but can have an influence on it.

Our teacher loved her students and was very dedicated to teaching us the most effective ways to communicate with others at work.

Q: How did the course change the way you think about interacting with colleagues at work?

A: The course taught the right way to craft an email, with opening and closing phrases and a polite tone. I pay more attention now to the words I choose in my messages.

We also practised common workplace communication scenarios that gave me a better understanding of how to discuss sensitive issues with coworkers, the right phrases to use to resolve conflicts.

Q: Overall, how beneficial was this course to supporting your career development in Ontario?

A: Without this course, it would make my journey of integration longer. So it has had a positive impact on how I will navigate the job market and present myself to potential employers.

If you’re an internationally educated or experienced professional, learn how OSLT can help you build your workplace communication skills and cultural knowledge: https://co-oslt.org/.

OSLT is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and coordinated by Colleges Ontario.