Improve your English for real-world scenarios such as job interviews, informal conversations, and public speaking while attaining Canadian Language Benchmarks Levels 8-9.
For Canadian Language Benchmarks Levels 5-7, see ESL Pathways.
ESL Pathways - Advanced
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Meet instructors, ask questions, and tour our facilities.
What you will learn
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Meet the Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing outcomes at CLB 9 in the "Profiles of Ability" columns of the competency outcomes and standards listed in the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2012.
- Communicate effectively in multiple contexts including personal, academic and workplace contexts of high complexity.
- Successfully engage in basic interactions, intercultural communication, and soft skills to function effectively in community, study, and work contexts of high complexity.
- Utilize the following Essential Skills (thinking skills, working with others, computer use and document use) for tasks at moderate to high complexity of high complexity.
- Differentiate and produce a variety of genre types used in personal, academic, and workplace contexts.
What to expect
Program Duration and Maximum Time for Completion
Total number of contact hours for each language skill course (i.e. Listening & Speaking 8, Reading & Writing 8, Listening & Speaking 9, and Reading & Writing 9) is 120 hours.
The ESL Experiential Learning 2 course is to be completed at the end of the program as a requirement for Certification is 48 hours.
The maximum number of hours required to receive the ESL Pathways Advanced Certificate is 528 hours.
Instructors use multiple strategies to achieve the learning outcomes that include the following: ongoing needs analysis, group work, coaching, one-on-one consultations, using audio/computer labs, case studies, lectures, demonstrations, providing exemplars and texts, modeling, error analysis, peer review, role rehearsals, videos, and audio recordings.
- Specific learner strategies for speaking are: conversation management skills, pronunciation, error correction, and feedback.
- Specific learner strategies for reading are: reading for gist, skimming, scanning, speed reading, vocabulary acquisition, etc.
- Specific learner strategies for writing are: brainstorming, outlining, genre analysis, tone, register, etc. ESL Pathways is a rigorous and demanding program. Students should expect to do significant self-study and experiential learning in addition to classroom based learning. There will be approximately 1 hour of homework per two in-class hours.
Admission requirements
Program-specific
-
Successful completion of previous Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level for the two language skill areas
-
For example, entry into ESL Listening and Speaking 8 requires completion of CLB 7 Listening and Speaking
or -
Assessment on a VCC approved CLB placement test indicating competency in CLB 7 Listening and Speaking
-
Notes
- Students can be enrolled in ESL Reading and Writing at a different level than ESL Speaking and Listening depending on their assessment. The gap between the two courses may not exceed more than one Benchmark level.
General
- Seats are offered to applicants who have met all admission requirements, on a first-qualified, first-served basis.
- International applicants must be 17 years of age or older or a graduate of a secondary school. (Some exceptions may apply.)
- Applicants must submit official transcripts and educational documents as required by their course or program.
- All VCC applicants are required to function successfully in an English-speaking classroom. English requirements vary by program. For details, visit VCC International - English Requirements.
Recommended Characteristics
Students should be well-educated in their country/language of origin. Most students in the ESL Pathways program have completed high school and at least 2 years of post-secondary study. The expectation is that students seek to become autonomous learners. In addition, student should be open and interested in learning about Canadian cultural norms and to developing citizenship values of tolerance and multiculturalism.
Courses *
Prior learning assessment and recognition
Prior learning assessment and recognition is not available for this program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELSK 0815 | ESL Listening &Speaking 8 | 4 |
| ELSK 0820 | ESL Reading & Writing 8 | 4 |
| ELSK 0915 | ESL Listening & Speaking 9 | 4 |
| ELSK 0920 | ESL Reading & Writing 9 | 4 |
| ELSK 0905 | ESL Experiential Learning 2 | 1.5 |
| Total Credits | 17.5 | |
This guide is intended as a general guideline only. The college reserves the right to make changes as appropriate.
* This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.
Discover Open Studies
Open Studies lets you take courses from credit programs without having to be accepted into one. Based on availability, you can sample different courses, earn credits, and build new skills.
Explore your optionsFees and other costs *
Tuition Deposit: $6,000
Tuition deposits are payable usually within two weeks after a Letter of Offer is issued.
The estimated tuition is based on the entire certificate.
| Fee description | Fee Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | 145 | |
| Tuition Tuition | 13723 | |
| Student union | 142 | |
| College initiative | 54 | |
| Materials | 0 | not including textbooks |
| Campus resource | 138 | |
| Laundry | 0 | |
| Tools (deposit) | 0 | |
| Coverall (deposit) | 0 | |
| Uniform (deposit) | 0 | |
| Medical and Dental | 0 | |
| Temporary Medical Insurance | 0 | |
| U-PASS | 322 | |
| Graduation | 45 | |
| Program-specific extra fees | 0 | |
| Total |
* Fees are approximate and subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors. Students are required to pay any applicable fee increases. Application and assessment fees are non-refundable.
Fees listed are for international students. For domestic programs, visit vcc.ca.
Any refunds are issued according to VCC's international refund policy.
Apply now
STATUS INFORMATION
- Apply Now: Qualified applicants may receive offers of admission if seats are available, or placed on waitlists if seats are full.
- Closed: Applications are not accepted.
- For details about application availability based on study permit status and recommendations if the application status is closed, visit the Availability Status page.
Program seats are reserved for domestic students. Any remaining seats may be made available to international students after the domestic student registration finishes, typically a couple of weeks before classes begin. Due to the limitation of international seats, only applicants with a valid study permit may apply. Conditional admission is not available.
For more information and tips, see Apply page
Attend an Information Session
Meet instructors, ask questions, and tour our facilities.