Storytelling Communications

03/17/2026

An amazing group of people who train future teachers internationally in ESL/EFL! I’m honoured to have earned my certification through them.
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This March, we’re celebrating B Corp Month 🌍

Behind the B Corp logo is a powerful global community...

👏 10,000+ businesses
📍 103 countries
📚 160 industries

As a Certified B Corp™, we’re excited to join forces with the 10,000 companies around the world who are united by the B to share our story.

03/08/2026

This International Women’s Day, I’m especially grateful for the entrepreneurial leadership of two women—The TEFL Org’s Jennifer MacKenzie

Jennifer was Co-Founder of TEFL.org and was Course Director of the flagship 120 hour TEFL (ESL) program I completed five years ago.

It was a wonderful complement to the nine-month entrepreneurial training program I had earlier completed through Praxis School of Entrepreneurship, under another fabulous woman leader and mentor, Monica Kreuger.

In a smaller world, these two women leaders would have met by now, so it gives me pride to thank and celebrate them both on International Women’s Day!

What woman in any field or role are you celebrating for her leadership, today or every day?

09/29/2025

For more recent issues of my mid-month newsletter, "Tell Your Story Newsletter" (from spring, summer and fall 2025), and to read postings about my language coaching services, please visit my page, Elizabeth Shih.

Better yet, find me on Linkedin!

09/22/2025

Are you a non-native English-speaking academic, or an economic immigrant to Canada?
-- 🧑‍🎓 Are you struggling to make your accent in English understood? 🙁
-- 💻 Join me in attending the webinar, "Say It Right: Mastering Pronunciation Activities" on 📅 Wed, Sept. 24th (10:00 AM, CST), from internationally recognized ESL/EFL leader, 🏫 The TEFL Org | World's most accredited TEFL course provider.
-- 👩‍🏫 And follow me on LinkedIn (or visit my website www.storytellingcommunications.ca) to sign up for one-on-one, customized language classes with me, a TEFL Org alumna.

--Let me help you master your English speaking challenges!

04/23/2025

Today is World English Day, believed to be the birthdate of William Shakespeare.

To our newcomers and economic immigrants: this is a great time to start private lessons to improve your proficiency in English! Visit my website for more information and to book a free 15-minute meeting to discuss your learning needs:
www.storytellingcommunications.ca/services

http://bit.ly/4iwpVum

04/15/2025

Do you live deeply? How love, career, hope, brief and a compost heap can help us to get there, in this month's issue of "Tell Your Story Newsletter."

Saskatoon has lately alternated between warm sunshine (on the lovely, vivid blue water of the South Saskatchewan River); and  cloudy skies and grey water made more inhospitable by cold winds. 

03/14/2025

On International Women's Day: Women, AI and the Ever-Present Risk of Misogyny

As I prepare this issue of "Tell Your Story Newsletter," Mark Carney has been elected the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and just hours ago was sworn in as Canada's 24th Prime Minister.

03/13/2025

Last night, 35+ professional women entrepreneurs and supporters of "WESK Connect" (YXE) heard another inspiring story of what women with disabilities (aka differing abilities) in SK can do, with the right mentorship and financing.

For five years, Taylor Layton pioneered recycling in her small town of Outlook, SK. Her story of what entrepreneurship can do for a woman with differing abilities warmed our hearts and minds:

https://lnkd.in/g555YdJ3

Interviewed by Shawna Nelson (CEO, Nelson Strategic Solutions; and Executive Director, Downtown Saskatoon BID), Susan Bater (Manager of Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program [EDP], Community Futures) shared Taylor's success story and urged women with differing abilities to hire themselves by starting businesses: "The more businesses we have in SK, the more successful we will be."

Saskatchewan can learn from Manitoba's program, where entrepreneurs with differing abilities can earn $12K/year (vs. our $6.5K/yr) and subsequent grants, before benefits are reduced. Creativity and "gumption" help these entrepreneurs overcome barriers like the cost of medical benefits, and "move beyond bootstrapping."

Organizations like WESK - Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA); Community Futures, (in Saskatoon) Ability Hub YXE; and I'd add, the Praxis School of Entrepreneurship exist, Bater said, "to lift and support women (in business), no matter where they're based."

Photos feature (L->R) Miriam Johnson (CEO, WESK); host Shawna Nelson; interviewee, Susan Bater; the interview itself; and WESK supporters and long-time colleagues, Elizabeth Shih, Colleen Dixon and Shirley Voldeng.
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02/21/2025

Are English language wordsmiths valued advisors or full of a "load of codswallop?" Some answers in this week's blog posting:

As a busy English teacher, Elizabeth publishes monthly blog postings and newsletters on topics that interest newcomers. Read here to find her conversational English in action!

02/14/2025

How can you sound (and be) more assertive? Some answers in this month's issue of "Tell Your Story Newsletter" . . .

As I pen this month's issue of "Tell Your Story Newsletter," most of Saskatchewan is blanketed in a month-long cold spell, with temperatures nearing -40 degrees Celsius. 

01/15/2025

Want to find inner-peace in 2025? Here's one way

The first days of Saskatoon’s new year started in the minus twenties and descended further for most of the week that followed.