Language schools in Province of British Columbia

• Wide range of programs offered

Universities and schools in British Columbia offer hundreds of different programs, both independent and in collaboration with the most famous international foreign language schools. In addition, there are a dozen summer camps here, so it will not be difficult to find the optimal program that best suits the needs of the student, his financial capabilities and schedule.

• Favorable prices

All local schools, camps and language courses are accredited, taught at a high level and meet all industry standards. At the same time, prices for similar courses and programs in Canada are 15-30% lower than in the US or UK, and the same can be said for the cost of living.

• Multiculturalism and internationalism

Canada is a country of migrants: everyone here is either migrants or descendants of those who moved to the New World in search of a better life. State policy encourages migration, expats are called "new Canadians", and student tourism is seen as an opportunity to attract smart heads and hardworking hands to Canada. And for good reason: at least a third of academic tourists are going to purchase a residence permit and stay in Canada forever.

• Opportunity to study and work

Student visas give students the right to combine study and work (up to 20 hours weekly, in free time).

• Bilingual country

Canadian bilingualism is an advantage that smoothly flows into a disadvantage. Language communities are unevenly distributed, in British Columbia, for example, there are francophone schools, but only a little more than 10% of the province's residents are fluent in French. This point should be taken into account when choosing a school and course.

• Climatic conditions

The climate is sharply continental: in summer the temperature can reach 30-35 degrees Celsius, and in winter it sometimes drops to 40.

• Difficulties in obtaining a visa

Theoretically, it is easy to get a student visa to Canada , the application can be submitted online, but in practice, the status of an unfriendly state and several packages of sanctions have made the process a very non-trivial task. Let's add to this non-working consulates and visa centers.

Canadian language schools offer a very wide range of English language programs. The same can be said about French with reservations. Individual schools where other languages are taught generally limit the choice to basic programs of varying intensity.

• Basic Programs

The most common are General English courses and their high-intensity and high-intensity versions. Their mission is to teach students how to communicate, read, and write in a foreign language. The programs differ in price and load: at the basic level, you can count on 16-20 hours a week, and for high-intensity programs, we are talking about 30-36 hours a week.

Keep in mind that children's courses are usually a little more expensive than 18+ programs.

• Individual lessons

A very effective and popular way to learn English! One of the disadvantages is the high cost, but it is understandable, you have to pay for efficiency. A significant advantage of one-to-one classes is flexibility and the ability to adapt the program to the needs of the student, working on exactly the material that needs improvement. The cost of such lessons starts from 150 $CAD per hour.

• Preparatory Courses and Academic English

Programs designed to help students prepare for IELTS, TOEFL or other standardized tests are very popular (more than two dozen in total, there are also similar standardized tests for French, German and other world languages).

The applicant is required to have a fairly high level of knowledge of the material - not lower than B1, optimally - B2. The goal of the course is not to learn the language or even improve your level, but to prepare for high results in exams. The cost of a week of classes in group mode starts from 400 $CAD, in individual mode - from 600 $CAD.

Such courses are somewhat similar to the preparatory courses of the academic English program — they are equally addressed to applicants and already established students and help to master a sufficient amount of specific vocabulary and acquire the skills of special correspondence, learn how to design term papers, scientific articles, and work with bibliography. Classes are usually in groups, often held on the college platform. A week-long course will cost 500-600 $CAD or more.

• Professional Programs

Many language schools in British Columbia offer short and high-intensity programs aimed at scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors. Here, the emphasis is on special vocabulary and skills that are useful in everyday work, whether it is writing a resume, business correspondence or searching for information in specialized databases. Programs with an even narrower focus — addressed to lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, IT specialists — are quite rare. Depending on the audience, duration and intensity of the program, for 20-25 hours of classes per week you will have to pay from 700 to 1500 $CAD. Some schools issue certificates and diplomas - they are useful for employment and career growth.

• Children and Youth Programs

For children and teenagers, children's language schools in British Columbia can be interesting - short-term courses lasting from a week to a month, coinciding with school holidays. For some, such a camp will be an opportunity to get to know the school or university where they intend to enter, others will find a pleasant combination of language and sports (creative, tourist) programs.

The cost of such a summer vacation varies in a wide range, depending on the type of camp or school, the duration of the vacation and the format of accommodation.

Programs designed to help applicants when entering a university should be discussed separately.

• Foundation

An excellent solution for schoolchildren whose success in English is not enough for successful admission, and there are problems with the average score. In addition, this option is suitable for those who simply do not have enough of a year of complete secondary education - in particular, such a year is necessary for schoolchildren from Russia. Classes last a year; Along with the language, students here work on softskills, and often also on disciplines for the future university program.

To study under such a program, you need an English level of at least B1.

• English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

The program is similar to the previous one, but it is not tied to a specific university or course, and the entry requirements are less stringent, since the study is more focused on the language. The course structurally consists of several modules, differing in level and duration, in the latter students are given the opportunity to attend lectures at the university on the basis of which the training is conducted. After graduating, a student can enroll without a certificate of passing standardized exams, but only at the university where he studied (less often at partner colleges).

• Pathway

Another course similar to the previous one: in addition to preparing for entrance exams, it gives you the opportunity to enter a partner university without taking standardized tests.

The Canadian authorities have made some efforts to make their country an attractive destination for language tourism. For example, they have created and regularly update a special catalog of language schools: in order to get into it, schools must go through a rigorous selection process based on such important parameters as the compliance of the curriculum with industry standards, the quality and level of training of teaching staff, and the quality of the services offered.

The admission requirements for a language school in Canada are usually minimal. The package of documents includes copies of passports and passports, an application, a receipt for payment of the registration fee, tuition fees, and in some cases also a deposit (if everything goes smoothly, after the completion of the program, it will be returned to you or credited against the last payment). Most often, documents need to be sent by e-mail, or through a personal account, which will be registered with the admissions committee. After reviewing the documents, the school sends an invitation to applicants. This is not an empty formality, but a necessity - without an invitation, you will not be able to get a student visa.

The procedure for special and professional courses is similar, there are slight differences only for preparatory academic programs — along with documents and payment, you also need to send a certificate confirming the required level of foreign language proficiency to the admissions committee.