By Paige Hoblak (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: August 21, 2012
Around the University you may have seen signs posted exclaiming: “Free tuition for domestic ESL students.” Free tuition is an intriguing perspective for any student, so The Cascade contacted ESL department head Maria Bos-Chan to get the scoop on these alluring signs.
Bos-Chan is the head of the ESL department and has been a UFV ESL instructor since 1989. Prior to her time at UFV, she taught ESL in Ontario for nearly 10 years. She explained the details of the new program.
The BC Provincial Government through the Citizenship and Immigration Department of Canada are granting free tuition to permanent residents of Canada, refugees and Canadians working in the Live-in Caregiver Program. One of the main responsibilities for the Canadian citizenship and Immigration department is to help new citizens adapt smoothly into society. Language can often be a large barrier to becoming a part of a new culture, and addressing this tough challenge can provide many positive effects.
Bos-Chan stressed the importance of language proficiency in either French or English in order to find work in Canada. Many of the students in the ESL Program at UFV have already been educated in other countries; however, they still need to improve their language skills or need Canadian accredited training in order to find work placement in Canada.
As you may have heard, English is an extremely difficult language to master. ESL courses at UFV can be highly useful for students both foreign and domestic. The ESL program at UFV is an academic preparation program in which courses will help to improve speaking, reading, writing and interactive skills which are necessary to have for Canadian post-secondary and for the workplace.
Bos-Chan explained that the UFV ESL Program stands out against others due to its progressive and participatory nature. “Many of the ESL courses at UFV allow students to get a firsthand look at what the academic courses look like prior to taking them. “As the future becomes more technology-based, the ESL Program is working to keep up with the trend by incorporating these advances into the program in order for the students to feel well-prepared.
The TEFL program is also offered at UFV for students interested in teaching English for those whose mother tongue is not in fact English. The TEFL program is fast becoming popular as it allows for graduates to work abroad teaching English to people of various ages from elementary students to elder business workers hoping to learn the world’s international language. Although this job seems rather glamorous, much research should be done before considering the profession as many jobs will advertise the benefits and make fine print the realities.
To learn more about the ESL Program you can find information online. Bos-Chan’s e-mail can be accessed via the ESL website where she is happy to answer any further questions you may have concerning the ESL program at UFV.
