Register to request a GEAR Peer Mentor to meet with during your program!
Your GEAR Peer Mentor can help you learn about life in Canada and practise your English! Your GEAR Peer Mentor would be a senior University of Waterloo student who can help you learn about student life in Waterloo. They are also excited for the chance to learn more about you and your home country!
Once you are matched, your Peer Mentor will contact you by email approximately two weeks before your arrive in Canada to introduce themselves. You can then ask your Mentor questions by email, or chat through a social media app that you both agree to use (such as LINE or WhatsApp).
The opportunity would be great for you if...
- You are a new General English At Renison (GEAR) student
- You would like to be paired with a Peer Mentor to meet with each week for one hour to practice your English
- You would like to make a new friend in Canada and build your intercultural skills!
GEAR and GOALS Peer Helpers
Are you a University of Waterloo student?
What is it?
Volunteer to support exchange students in Renison's International Programs called General English at Renison (GEAR) and Global Outreach: Action & Leadership for Sustainability (GOALS).
In September, January, and February each year, Renison University College will welcome a group of international students for our four-week GEAR program. As a volunteer with GEAR, you can help our GEAR students learn about student life in Waterloo and help them build their English language skills.
In August, each year, Renison University College will welcome a group of international students for our three-week GOALS program. As a volunteer with GOALS, you can help our GOALS students learn about student life in Waterloo and help them build their interpersonal communication skills.
This program might be right for you if...
- You are interested in joining students during their English language and culture classes in the GEAR program / culture and innovation classes in the GOALS program
- You are available to attend 3-5 hours per week of GEAR or GOALS classes and participate in class activities and help students practise their English or communication skills
- You are interested in occasionally joining students during events and activities outside of class time
- You want to build your intercultural skills, or are even interested in teaching English as an additional language someday!
GEAR Peer Mentors
Are you a University of Waterloo student?
What is it?
Volunteer to support exchange students in Renison's short-term English language program called General English at Renison (GEAR).
In August, January, and February each year, Renison University College will welcome a group of international students for our one-month GEAR program. As a volunteer with GEAR, you can help our GEAR students learn about student life in Waterloo and help them build their English language skills.
This program might be right for you if...
- You are interested in providing personalized support to a small group of GEAR students
- You are comfortable being matched with up to three GEAR students for personalized conversation practice
- You are comfortable volunteering virtually at first via texting apps like LINE and WhatsApp to introduce themselves and answer questions about life in Canada
- Once our GEAR students arrive for their English program, you are available to volunteer for one hour each week over the course of the four-week program for conversation practice
- You are interested in building your intercultural and communication skills!
Register to request a Peer Mentor to support you virtually during your program!
Your Peer Mentor can help you learn about life in Canada, your English language program, and helping you navigate life at the University of Waterloo! Your Peer Mentor would be a senior University of Waterloo student who has completed a similar English language program as yourself. They are also excited for the chance to connect with you and help you with any questions you have about university in Canada!
Once you are matched, your Peer Mentor will contact you by email approximately two weeks before your arrive in Canada to introduce themselves. You can then ask your Mentor questions by email, or chat through a social media app that you both agree to use (such as WeChat or WhatsApp).
The opportunity would be great for you if...
- You are a new Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE), Intensive Bridge to Academic Success in English (iBASE), or Intensive English For Academic Success (iEFAS) student
- You would like to be paired with a Peer Mentor to talk with each week virtually through a text-messaging app, and is someone who you can ask questions about anything
- You would like to make a new friend at the University of Waterloo before you even step foot on campus!
For BASE students...
For iBASE students...
For iEFAS students...
BASE and iBASE Peer Mentors
Are you a graduate from Renison's Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE) or the Intensive Bridge to Academic Success in English (iBASE) programs?
What is it?
The BASE/iBASE Peer Mentor program is your chance to "pay it forward" and help students just like you! As you know, new students have many questions before they start their English studies in BASE or iBASE at the University of Waterloo. Some of these questions are about the program itself, while other questions are about Renison, UWaterloo, and life in Canada. As a Peer Mentor, you can help support new BASE/iBASE students by sharing your wisdom and advice on the best ways to prepare for life as a university student.
As a BASE/iBASE Peer Mentor, you will be assigned a small group of new BASE/iBASE students to support. You will be available through texting apps like WeChat and WhatsApp, as well as email, to answer students' questions about preparing for BASE. If you live near Waterloo, you also have the option of meeting our students in-person during Renison events. The BASE Peer Mentor program is an eight-week commitment. Once you have completed your commitment, you will receive a letter of recognition that can be used as proof of volunteer experience.
This program might be right for you if...
- You are a graduate of the BASE or iBASE program and want to help new incoming BASE or iBASE students
- Are available for approximately 4-6 weeks at the start of the program to support your student(s) with responding to their questions via text messaging apps
- Checking in regularly with your student(s) to see that they are adjusting to the program well, and are navigating life in Canada and the University of Waterloo
iEFAS Peer Mentors
Are you a graduate from Renison's Intensive English For Academic Success (iEFAS) program?
What is it?
The iEFAS Peer Mentor program is your chance to "pay it forward" and help students just like you! As you know, new students have many questions before they start their English studies in iEFAS at Renison University College. Some of these questions are about the program itself, while other questions are about Renison, UWaterloo, your degree program after iEFAS, and life in Canada. As a Peer Mentor, you can help support new iEFAS students by sharing your wisdom and advice on the best ways to prepare for life as a university student.
As an iEFAS Peer Mentor, you will be assigned a small group of new iEFAS students to support. These students are typically joint academic program students who are completing a joint degree between a Chinese university and the University of Waterloo. You will be available through texting apps like WeChat, as well as email, to answer students' questions about preparing for iEFAS. If you live near Waterloo, you also have the option of meeting our students in-person during Renison events. The iEFAS Peer Mentor program is an eight-week commitment. Once you have completed your commitment, you will receive a letter of recognition that can be used as proof of volunteer experience.
This program might be right for you if...
- You are a graduate of the iEFAS program and want to help new incoming iEFAS students
- Are available for approximately 4-6 weeks at the start of the program to support your student(s) with responding to their questions via text messaging apps
- Checking in regularly with your student(s) to see that they are adjusting to the program well, and are navigating life in Canada and the University of Waterloo
Do you have questions?
Do you have questions about the Peer Helper and Peer Mentor programs? Connect with:
Andrew Dixon
Learning Skills Advisor
Office: REN 1101D (Lusi Wong Library)
aj.dixon@uwaterloo.ca