Getting Your First Cell Phone in Manitoba

1. GETTING YOUR FIRST CELL
PHONE IN MANITOBA
Settlement and English Workshop
CLB Levels: CLB 5+

2. Introductions
• What is your name?
• What do you use your cell phone for?
• What do you plan to learn from this workshop?

3. Objectives
In this workshop, you will learn:
a range of vocabulary related to cell phone
services
how to ask relevant questions, clarify and
confirm information when setting up a
cellphone service
 steps in setting up a cell phone service in
Manitoba

4. Discussion
What is the importance of having a means of
communication when settling in Canada?

5. Telephoning in Manitoba: overview
Most Canadian telephone numbers have 10
digits:
+1 (204) 123 - 4567
Manitoba areal code
Central office code
Station codeCentral office code

6. Main types of phones
• Land line/fixed line phone/home phone
• Cell phone/mobile phone

7. Types of telephone calls
• Local
• Long-distance (within Canada and the
United States)
• Long-distance(international)
• Free calls (toll-free calls)

8. What are mobile service providers
in Manitoba?
Nationwide
• Rogers Wireless(Rogers, Fido, Chatr)
• Telus Mobility (Telus, Koodo)
• Bell Wireless Affiliates (Bell, Virgin)
Manitoba
• MTS Mobility

9. Vocabulary review
• Activation fee
• Bundling
• Cancellation fee
• Cell phone/smart phone
• Data
• Flex data
• Local/long distance calling
• Service plan
• Service contract
• Incoming/outgoing call
• Prepaid/post paid plans
• Roaming
• Shared plans
• SMS/Text messaging
• Voicemail
• Plan add-ons

10. Telephone Conversation
 Listening
Listen to a conversation between Stella, a newcomer,
and Ava, a customer service representative from a
cell phone company.

11. Telephone Conversation
 Post-Listening
• What kind of cell phone services does Stella want?
• Why does she want to get these services?
• Did you feel the same way when you first arrived in
Manitoba?

12. Steps in setting up your cell
phone service
Budget Device Plan Services

13. Steps in setting up your
cell phone service
1. Budget
– It is best for new immigrants to set the
amount of money they are willing to
spend for a cell phone service.
– Always remember that there will be
added taxes on top of the rates offered
by service providers.
Budget

14. Setting up your cell
phone service
2. Device
- Basic phone: talk and text phones
Device
Picture Courtesy of Public Domain CC0
http://bit.ly/1f6SD5F

15. Setting up your cell
phone service
2. Device
- Smart phone: requires data plans
Picture Courtesy of Public Domain CC0
http://bit.ly/1QFB1cQ
Device

16. Setting up your cell
phone service
2. Device
- Your old cell phone: there are
service providers that offer SIM cards
that you can use for your old cell
phone
Device
Picture Courtesy of Public Domain CC0
http://bit.ly/1IzuOx8

17. Steps in setting up your
cell phone service
3. Types of plans
- Talk and text plans for basic phones: cheapest
option because a data plan is not required
- Smartphone voice & data plans: a data plan is
required and have a lot of options that can cater
to your specific needs
- Prepaid plans: You can get a new phone with
this plan or you can use your old cell phone. There
are options of ‘by the minute’ or monthly.
Plan

18. Steps in setting up your
cell phone service
4. Services
• Minutes – the amount of talk time for calling
and receiving calls
• Messaging – the amount of messages you
can send and receive
• Data – the amount of information/files you
can download over the Internet
Services

19. Setting up your cell phone
service
5. Requirements
• When you sign up for a cell phone plan, you will
generally need to provide two pieces of photo ID.
• You might also be asked to agree to a credit check
or to provide proof of employment.
• If you have no credit history or job, explain that you
are a new immigrant and ask what options are
available for you.

20. Scenario #1
• Hector just arrived in Manitoba a week ago.
He wants to get a cell phone service as
soon as possible because his family is still
back in Mexico. His budget is 35$ and just
needs a way to connect to the Internet.
Which plan should he get?

21. Scenario #2
• Carissa has been here in Manitoba for three
months already. She has a lot of friends and
has a busy social life. She’s looking for a plan
that has a lot of talk time, messaging and
data. She travels all over Canada a lot, too.
Which plan do you recommend for her?

22. Breakout room activity
 Based on the recording earlier, perform a role play
in your breakout rooms. One will be a cell phone
provider representative, while the other will be a
customer.
 Use your own situations and go to this website to
find the right plan for you:

23. Thank you!
See you online!