Introduction
This program is designed to develop the English language skills of individuals for whom English is an additional language. To do this, language skills are practiced in the areas of reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar.
To meet the employment needs of this group, a course is offered in employment strategies which includes resume writing, a chance to practice their interview skills, and opportunities to make telephone contacts. This is followed by a work experience which enables students to obtain some valuable experience in the workplace and to obtain references from a Canadian employer.
Upon completion of the program, students may continue their education in the Academic Upgrading Program at
Program Description
Following an assessment test, students are placed at their starting level in the three main strands of reading/writing, listening/speaking, and grammar. The levels are related to their scores on individual assessment results in each strand, so a student may start at level 300 in reading/writing, level 500 in listening/speaking, and level 400 in grammar. Students are expected to progress one level after four months. The program lasts up to a maximum of 20 months.Other option courses, such as English for Academic Purposes, TOEFL preparation, English Language Skills for Professionals, English Language Skills for Workers, Pronunciation and Basic Computer skills.
Students may be assigned to classes which run between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Students must take a minimum of three classes and attend for a minimum of 22.5 hours per week in order to be considered full-time students. Students interested in part-time study can also register.
The Employment Strategies course and opportunities for Work Experience placements provides our students with a solid foundation to enter the world of work. Through work experience, students experience actual work situations. They get on-the-job work experience with an employer. This hands-on experience enables Columbia’s students to learn by doing and get practice relating classroom instruction to actual work situations. This experience is critical as today’s employers prefer to hire people who have both theoretical knowledge and previous experience. Columbia College aims to meet employers’ needs by giving students first-hand experience linking theory with practice. Work experience is also a very effective means by which students are able to market themselves to potential employers for competitive employment.