The English language is vast and complicated on its own, imagine learning it and being an International student new to Canada.
Gerry Drabik is an ESL Technologist at Fanshawe’s Learning Centre. He explains that the college offers English for Academic Purposes (EAP) to assist students learning English.
“So the students in the program at Fanshawe are being prepared for post secondary programs. They can go onto a college program of their choice after completion, or we have an agreement with Western University as well. Graduates of the program can transition and move smoothly through classes without having to take any other tests that other students coming from outside of the country would need.”
WATCH: Hear from International student Maya Tran about Fanshawe’s EAP program
Fanshawe’s International student numbers have grown. Over the last 7 years, the EAP program has grown from 2 hundred students to 5 hundred. Drabik says they offer reading and writing workshops as well as Conversation Circles. Conversation Circles allow students to practice speaking English in conversation revolving around a specific topic to grow their confidence and expand their vocabulary.
Students go through ten levels of the program in order to move on to their next studies, but it’s a rare case for any students to start as low as level one as many already know some English. Drabrik says these educational skills also translate everyday use.
“The goal is to have to students ready to transition into their post secondary classes and being ready for lectures, presentations, and able to do writing and reading assignments. I think the social skills they learn in the class and working with classmates def help them with their studies but its also that framework to support them when they start to seek employment or start a life in Canada if that is their choice.”
