Category Archives: Study in Canada

Study in Canada

Simon Fraser University English Language and Culture (ELC) Custom Program

The SFU ELC Custom Program Delivers successful custom English training programs to a particular group or cohort.

Some of the many advantages of custom program are:

  • Custom programs that are a minimum of four weeks long
  • Custom program content tailored to the needs of the cohort
  • Start dates are flexible, depending on classroom availability
  • The standard program is 27 class hours per week
  • Classes run between 9 am and 3:30 pm Monday to Friday
  • Classes take place at the SFU Campus in downtown Vancouver
  • For custom groups, ELC requires a minimum of 15 students per class group

Curriculum

Canadian Studies

Canadian Studies will help you focus on the cultural context of English by studying topics such as geography, history, government, and social institutions, as well as engaging in discussions about current Canadian issues.

You will work both individually and in small groups, and you’ll respond to and analyze a variety of authentic texts, including articles, maps, charts, audio-visual presentations, TV, news, and documentary clips. You can expect to learn how to watch, interpret, discuss, and respond to what Canadians are saying, and to receive the tools to analyze the cultural background of any country.

Composition

This course is designed to help you improve your English grammar skills and learn how to write to a Canadian audience. You will learn how to organize your thoughts and express ideas so that Canadian readers will be able to understand what you’ve written. You may also experiment with creative writing genres.

Listening Practice

Many students struggle to understand popular TV, music, daily conversations, and business negotiations. These courses will provide strategies that will help you make sense of slang, idiomatic language, and contextual clues. You can expect to learn how to understand not only what people are saying, but also how and why they choose their words and expressions.

Oral Skills

This class will focus on oral English enhancement. You will practice ways to improve your speech clarity and fluency through informal conversation and formal speaking tasks. You’ll target various aspects of spoken mechanics.

Reading Skills

The Reading Skills class combines reading comprehension and vocabulary building in a variety of formats. You will analyze how writers use language to stress and change meanings and develop an awareness of current events, Canadian social issues, and popular culture.

By questioning the language, images, and attitudes presented in literature, newspapers, magazines, cartoons, and advertising, you will develop an understanding of culture and international context.

News Media

The News Media course will help you learn how to understand what people say and write. You will actively practice your English listening, reading, and speaking skills through electronic and print media and learn strategies for making sense of language, images, and attitudes presented in the news. This course will also introduce you to some topical issues that are currently of concern to Canadians.

Academic Field Work

This course will provide you with an opportunity to go out into the community to interact directly with some aspect of Canadian culture. In the process, you will also practice your English communication skills in a context other than the classroom.

These trips are normally connected to course content and are conducted by instructors during class time. To make the most of these experiences, we encourage you to ask lots of questions before, during, and after the trips. Outings change from one program to another, but common examples include the following:

  • A visit to the British Columbia law courts
  • A tour of the Vancouver Art Gallery
  • A visit to a local television station
  • A nature walk through Stanley Park
  • A scavenger hunt at Granville Island

Please make requests for field trips to specific locations well in advance. We make no guarantees about securing these trips, though we will do our best.

Specializations

For three hours each week, students in the Premium Program study in an elective (specialization) of their choice. You may choose one of the following:

  • IELTS preparation
  • Business communications
  • Grammar intensive
  • Film studies

Please Contact Us for more information on these programs.

News, Study in Canada

Changes to the Canadian International Student Program

In-Canada Study Permit

As of June 1, 2014, certain foreign nationals who are in Canada on a Visitor Visa may apply for a study permit from within Canada to attend a designated institution. These include:

  • Minor children studying at the primary or secondary level;
  • Exchange or visiting students; or
  • Short-term students who have completed a course or program of study that is a condition for acceptance at a designated institution.

This change would further facilitate the transition from visitor to study permit holder for minor students once they reach the age of majority, as well as for those students who wish to transition from a short-term preparatory program to a longer-term college or university program.

 Access to Work During Studies

Study permit holders have the privilege of working either on or off-campus during their studies, including as part of co-op or internship programs, without having to obtain a Labour Market Opinion. Eligibility for these various work programs previously varied on a program by program basis. New regulations streamline eligibility by allowing work access for full-time students undertaking an academic, vocational or professional training program at a designated institution. The effects of these amendments will be to:

  1.  extend, for the first time, off-campus work to students attending private career colleges;
  2. exclude, for the first time, those students undertaking English or French as a second language (ESL/ FSL) programs or general interest or preparatory courses from the authorization to work under the co-op work permit program. Students undertaking ESL/ FSL programs or general interest or preparatory courses are therefore not eligible to work during their studies without a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO).

Study permit holders that are full time, and enrolled in an academic, vocational or professional training program leading to a degree, diploma or certificate at a designated institution may work 20 hours per week during their studies and full time during scheduled academic breaks and are no longer required to apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit.

Transitional or “Grandfathering” Provisions

Current Students

As of June 1, 2014, students who already hold a study permit and are studying at a non-designated institution will be permitted to complete the program of study in which they were enrolled for the duration of that permit. These students may also renew their study permit for the remainder of the duration of their program or until the date that is three years after June 1, 2014.
Students who already hold a co-op work permit and are studying at a non-designated institution or enrolled in a program that does not qualify as an academic, vocational or professional training program will be permitted to continue to work in order to complete their program. These students may also renew their co-op work permit for the purpose of completing their program or until the date that is three years after June 1, 2014.

Students whose institution loses its designation status after the issuance of their study permits will be permitted to continue their studies there, if they wish to do so, until the end of the validity period of their study permit.

Prospective Students

Foreign nationals whose application for a study permit is received prior to June 1, 2014, are not subject to the new condition to be enrolled at a designated institution. These foreign nationals may renew their study permit to complete their program, for a duration that does not exceed three years after June 1, 2014. The application for such a study permit and its renewal would be assessed under the criteria that were in effect prior to June 1, 2014.
Additionally, those foreign nationals whose application for a co-op work permit was received prior to June 1, 2014, will not be subject to the requirement to be enrolled in an academic, vocational or professional training program offered by a designated learning institution in order to receive such a work permit.
Students are expected to be actively pursuing their studies regardless of whether or not their study permit was issued before or after June 1, 2014, and enforcement action for failure to do so is available to officers.