The ELP: Facilitating your entrance into the University of Toronto
“The English Language Program gave me all the preparation I needed to become a student at the University of Toronto, in terms of English language abilities, and becoming familiar with a new culture and place” says Karina Davydova, an architecture and economics major at the University of Toronto. “Before I took courses there, I knew how to speak English, but it was difficult for me, and I was not used to interacting with English language speakers. The program improved my speaking, writing and listening skills, so they would be at the high level required for University of Toronto courses… Also, I was able to meet people from so many different cultures and befriend them. This made it easier for me to meet people in university, and made me more confident speaking to them…I’m so grateful for the English Language Program and how it gave me everything I needed to be prepared for studies at the University of Toronto.”
Students who wish to apply to the University of Toronto must do so through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC). Online applications are available at www.ouac.ca. This online OUAC application will enable the student to select the specific programs they are interested in. Before beginning the application process, students should research the various requirements of each program at the University of Toronto they desire admission into, such as minimum overall GPA, certain prerequisite courses, and the English language requirements for international students.
Students can meet this English language requirement through scoring an overall grade of B or higher in the level 60 Academic English course at the English Language Program of the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. This program provides the high-quality instruction that improves and refines the students’ English language skills in writing, reading, listening, and speaking, and prepares them for the rigorous demands of the University of Toronto’s academic curriculum. In addition to regular class hours, more than twenty workshops are offered to help the students target their own academic language development needs, including Grammar Review, Building Vocabulary; Pronunciation, Technical Writing; Listening Strategies, and Speaking Practice. In addition to providing the English language tools needed for attending the University of Toronto, the English Language Program assists students in their application process, offering students workshops and counseling appointments to help them complete their university application. As Karina Davydova said, “The application process was very easy for me because workshops were held that explained everything I needed to know.”
The Academic English course goes beyond in-classroom instruction, integrating the student into the University of Toronto community through a number of activities available on campus. Students have the opportunity to attend special lectures and presentations at the University of Toronto, allowing them to improve their listening skills, and exposing them to the university atmosphere. “This was very useful for me,” Karina said, “I experienced first-hand the challenges I would be facing in University, as I would have to write essays, and attend lectures and do presentations, just as I do now. When I began classes, I knew what to expect.”
Students will have access to a vast array of resources and support services at the University of Toronto’s English Language Program, and can familiarize themselves with the campus and libraries before their academic career at the University even begins. Between classes, students can enjoy the varied facilities the University’s campus has to offer. They can run a mile at the University’s first-rate athletic centre, stroll leafy walkways or browse in one of its 65 libraries or pause for refreshment at a popular student café or pub.
The English Language Program is an ideal way for students to meet the English language requirement of the University of Toronto, as it not only gives them the skills they need, but the exposure and integration into the University community that they will soon become a part of.
