Studying English in Ontario

So you want to study English. Are you afraid of flying? No? Then get ready to open your parachute and jump. If you catch a prevailing wind, you’ll end up in Canada, probably in the province of Ontario—which means Beautiful Water—and quite likely in the wonderful city of Toronto.

But before you jump, ask yourself a couple of questions. Could I survive in a land with thousands of lakes and rivers, with parklands, dense forest, moose, wolves and black bears, farms and ranches, where I could walk a thousand kilometres and not meet another human being?

How about a place where the sweat pours off me in the summertime and I’m too hot even in a swimsuit, and in the winter I need snowshoes just to get across the street, and I’d rather just lock the windows and doors and sit in front of the fireplace with my friends while the wind howls outside and the snow is piling up to the roof?

Would I like a country billed by the United Nations as the best country in the world in which to live, a city the United Nations calls the most multicultural in the world, and the business magazines call one the best cities in the world in which to do business? If yes, then…

WELCOME TO ONTARIO!

Ontario is a million square kilometres of natural wonder. Ontario has 250,000 lakes, more kilometres of rivers and streams than anywhere else in North America, and more lakeside resorts than anywhere else in the world. Ten percent of Ontario is parkland—divided among 260 provincial parks—much of which can only be reached by boat or plane. Would you believe that Southern Ontario is not in the Far North, but rather in the centre of North America? Ontario is a place of contrast. Along with 400 golf courses you will be surprised to find the most snowmobile trails as well as the longest skating rink in the world (the Rideau Canal in Ottawa). The First Nations’ Pow Wow is North America’s largest; we hold one of North America’s largest winter fairs; and one of North America’s largest winter carnivals takes place in Quebec City. The biggest Oktoberfest beer festival outside Germany is held every year in Kitchener, an hour west of Toronto. Want to hear more?

Toronto means Meeting Place in the Huron language—a good name for the world’s most cosmopolitan city. It is Canada’s first choice as a tourist and immigrant destination. Toronto is the home of 45,000 Koreans, 60,000 Poles, 100,000 Greeks, 200,000 Chinese, 300,000 West Indians, 400,000 Italians. Some of its names and nicknames past and present are Toronto, York, Muddy York, Toronto the Good, The City of Steeples, Hogtown, Hollywood North, and T.O. Toronto has the world’s largest Caribbean festival, and the biggest ‘Country Fair’ in the world (CNE). Only London and New York sell more theatre seats; and the second largest film festival in the world takes place in Toronto every year. If you don’t know how to reach all of these amazing places in Ontario, simply follow Yonge Street—at 1900 kilometres the longest street in the world.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Rent will cost you CD$400 to $450/month and food maybe $250 or $300/month; school fees are typically $700 to $1000/month. Toronto is half as expensive as Paris, and twenty percent as expensive as Tokyo. Canada has the lowest food costs based on income and the value of the dollar in the industrialized world.

SO…

Why Study English?

English opens doors and will change your life! Speakers of the international language will travel more, earn more money and hold more interesting jobs. More than ever before, people are learning English not only for business and politics, but for travel and recreation as well.

Why Toronto?

You will find a large number of schools and colleges in Ontario, home of the original community college. Many of these schools are the largest of their kind in Canada, with programs in English as a Second Language. Our schools serve as training grounds for the TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge Certificate and Michigan exams, for technical and business English, and for specialized training of translators and interpreters. There is likely no subject in the English language that you will not find in Ontario, with its very high standard of education and its powerful economy (40% of Canada’s total production).

A great many of our schools organize activities for the students. These include trips to Niagara Falls, New York, Montreal, Wonderland theme park, Algonquin Park for camping and canoeing; they also offer sports such as tennis, skating, in-line skating, skiing, soccer and baseball, often involving a little friendly competition among schools; and there will be the usual conversation clubs and student social gatherings.

In Toronto, you will feel more welcome as a visitor from another culture than in any other place in the world. Toronto is a big, international city with every kind of convenience you can imagine; yet, the pace is relaxed and we live on the edge of a natural paradise for pleasure seekers.  Toronto, the world’s most livable city, is a safe, friendly metropolis of 4-5 million. It is one of North America’s centers of culture and the most ethnically diverse place on earth. What an amazing place for a foreign student to live and learn!

NCA CANADA

At the heart of the world’s most livable city is NCA. We are a private institute for students of English as a Second Language (ESL) and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).

                 

Students whose goal is admission to a Canadian university face a daunting task. Not only must those students fulfill the requirements of their major, but they are also expected to score extremely well on the TOEFL. Facing chronic under-funding, Canadian universities place heavy demands on their applicants and extend no special treatment to overseas students, even though they pay much higher fees.

An intermediate-level student who approaches the task of learning English with enthusiasm and discipline can expect to take about a year to reach the 600-point minimum on the TOEFL that most universities demand. Such a student will completely immerse him- or herself in the English language, make some Canadian friends, and get set up in a Canadian lifestyle.

Perhaps inspired by the challenge, those international students who are eventually admitted to a Canadian university return home proud of their feat. It is often their first real accomplishment as independent adults.

Students come here to improve their TOEFL and TOEIC scores as fast as possible and to effectively prepare for admission to a Canadian college or university. To achieve that, they require excellent guidance from native speakers. Our greatest strength at NCA is the quality of our teaching staff. Graduates of NCA will tell you about excellent lesson planning and a willingness to go the extra mile.

NCA Canada is a private institute for students of English as a Second Language and Business English as well as for teachers seeking TESL certification. Located in downtown Toronto, NCA offers a warm, friendly environment and large, bright classrooms with high ceilings. We are a ten-minute walk from the University of Toronto and the largest public library in Canada.

ENJOY YOUR STAY!

So, have a look at your goals. If they include an excellent education in the English language in an exciting place that feels as cozy as a warm blanket, then come to your second home in Ontario.