Student Program: Fluency in English, Master the TOEIC and TOEFL
English Teacher Program: For Teachers from Asia
Free Counseling: Helping You Adjust
Applications accepted NOW for Autumn 2007
One Week FREE Tuition—Limited—Apply Now
Welcome to Edmonton, Alberta: City of Festivals!
Check with the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your country for requirements and details. Prepare to apply once and get rejected. Apply a second time and your chances increase.
Costs for airplane tickets can change dramatically depending on the month that you hope to fly. Summertime is much more costly than winter.
You will need to budget your money carefully. Make sure that you have enough money to cover your tuition, study, housing, food, and recreations costs during the course of your study. As you travel carry only the minimum amount in cash. To pay for major items, such as tuition, consider paying through a bank transfer. We can advise you on this matter when the time comes. Do not carry too much cash through international airports. Customs and Immigration officials do not like to see people walk around with too much cash and you can face penalties and fines for doing so. In this modern age of banking carrying too much cash is not necessary at all. Consider using an international bank like Citibank to conduct your business.
When traveling internationally it is a good idea to get proper suitcases. Most airport workers don’t seem to care too much for your personal belongings and will throw your treasured belongings all over the place. It is a good idea to buy hard covered suitcases to best protect your things. Softer bags will be fine if all you have inside are clothes and unbreakable personal belongings.
Be mindful about locks on your suitcases. In many airports, due to security, suitcases may not be locked as they may need to be opened and inspected. With that in mind, please keep all cash and valuables with you in your carry-on luggage. You should also use a suitcase belt to make sure that your suitcase is not accidentally opened on the conveyer belts in the airport.
Consider what kind of health insurance you need to have before coming to Canada. You have options between choosing an insurance program in your own country, or purchasing health insurance for when you arrive. To make sure things go smoothly, please consider purchasing health insurance to cover you during a move to Canada for the first few months. After those first few months you can decide whether you will purchase health insurance through a provider in your own country, or you will purchase health insurance here in Canada.
The climate in Edmonton, Alberta will be dramatically different than your own country. Although our summers are wonderful and beautiful, fall and winter will be cold. Make sure to pack enough sweaters, long underwear, proper trousers, and boots. It is possible for the weather to drop dramatically, so you will need to purchase a good winter coat here in Canada. It is our experience that many winter coats made in Asia are not heavy enough to keep you warm for winter.
If you require medical prescription medicine during your stay in Canada, please let our office know what you are taking and how you will be looking after this while you study. In some cases you can simply travel with a year’s supply of medicine, or you may try to purchase refills for your medicine here in Canada. If you can let us know what medication you require we will be able to inquire if replacement medicine is possible for you to get.
Besides money for your tuition, books, and study material you will probably need some money for recreation, clothing, and outings. Although there are many things that you can do that do not cost very much, it might be nice once in a while to go skiing, or go to the movies, or to go out with friends to a restaurant or movie. Make sure that you have enough funds to enjoy these various things, but also be careful not to spend your rent money by accident. As an adult you will be responsible for paying your bills and they need to be paid on time too.
Besides the need for textbooks and photocopy fees, students will also need to be aware that they need a few more things to successfully study English. We strongly recommend that your daughter or son have a proper dictionary. A book-form dictionary is fine, as well as an electronic one. Students may also wish to bring with them a laptop computer that has software on it in their own language. We recommend that students also have some kind of listening device, such as a CD walkman or Ipod where they will able to listen to audio materials from class, or for their homework. Students also need proper pens and paper and other basic materials to help focus their studies.
A good way to fight homesickness and to enjoy yourself in your free time, we encourage students to bring some of their culture with them to our program. Although we realize that your daughter or son is here to learn English, they will also meet people their own age from other countries too. Music and film are good ways to make connections and bridge some of the gaps that exist between cultures. Students need a little time to rest and recover, and music or film can give them a needed break. Our only concern is that after their break is over they need to take off their headphones, open their books, and get back to their studies!