Learn the English skills you need to work, study, and participate in everyday life while attaining Canadian Language Benchmarks Levels 5-8.
For Canadian Language Benchmarks Levels 8-9, see ESL Pathways Advanced.
ESL Pathways
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What you will learn
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Meet the Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing outcomes at CLB 8 in the "Profiles of Ability" columns of the competency outcomes and standards listed in the most recent Canadian Language Benchmarks.
- Meet the Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing outcomes at the EAP IV level in the BC Transfer Guide.
- Communicate effectively in multiple contexts including personal, academic and workplace contexts of moderate complexity.
- Successfully engage in communicative interactions, using intercultural communication and soft skills to function effectively in community, study and work contexts of moderate complexity.
- Utilize the following Skills for Success (thinking skills, working with others, computer use, and document use) for tasks of moderate complexity.
- Differentiate and produce a variety of genre types used in personal, academic and workplace contexts.
- Apply the Experiential Learning cycle to real world language tasks.
What to expect
Program Duration and Maximum Time for Completion
Total number of contact hours for each ESL Pathways course is 120 hours.
The ESL Experiential Learning 1 course, to be completed near or at the end of the program as a requirement for Certification, is 48 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.
Students should expect to do significant self-study and experiential learning tasks in addition to regular class hours. There will be approximately 1 hour of homework per 2.5 in-class hours.
Admission requirements
Program-specific
Knowledge of English demonstrated by one of the following:
- English language proficiency as demonstrated by the CLB level or equivalent for the language skills of each course
or
- Department approval
Note:
- 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
EAL Pathways is a rigorous program designed to help students develop their language skills as well as a range of embedded skills, such as intercultural communication, that can contribute to their overall success in communication. Students need to be able to:
- commit time to the courses to successfully participate in classes and complete assignments;
- respectfully engage with fellow students and members of the college, in teams and independently, in an environment that embraces justice, equity, diversity and inclusion;
- engage with and respect Indigenous ways of knowing and learning;
- seek to become autonomous learners, set learning goals and plan ways to achieve them;
- conduct self-reflection on their progress and goals with support from the instructor; and
- use and learn basic computer skills to participate in online learning activities.
Courses *
Prior learning assessment and recognition
Prior learning assessment and recognition is not available for this program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELSK 0515 | ESL Listening and Speaking 5 | 4 |
| ELSK 0520 | ESL Reading and Writing 5 | 4 |
| ELSK 0615 | ESL Listening and Speaking 6 | 4 |
| ELSK 0620 | ESL Reading and Writing 6 | 4 |
| ELSK 0715 | ESL Listening and Speaking 7 | 4 |
| ELSK 0720 | ESL Reading and Writing 7 | 4 |
| ELSK 0815 | ESL Listening and Speaking 8 | 4 |
| ELSK 0820 | ESL Reading and Writing 8 | 4 |
| ELSK 0705 | ESL Experiential Learning 1 | 1.5 |
| Total Credits | 33.5 | |
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 | 26269 | |
| Student union | 213 | |
| College initiative | 102 | |
| Materials | 0 | not including textbooks |
| Campus resource | 263 | |
| Laundry | 0 | |
| Tools (deposit) | 0 | |
| Coverall (deposit) | 0 | |
| Uniform (deposit) | 0 | |
| Medical and Dental | 0 | |
| Temporary Medical Insurance | 0 | |
| U-PASS | 460 | |
| 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.