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FAQ

ILSC Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Jump to:	Questions about Visas
	Questions about Homestay
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Questions about Registration, Fees and Money
How much does it cost to come to your school?
When should I register and when do I have to pay?
What happens if I cancel?
How much money should I bring with me?
What happens if I want to change my courses or schedule when I am there?
How do I register?
Do I need a TOEFL® test score to get into your school?
Can I choose the courses that I want right now and be sure I will get them?
How do you decide what level I am at before I take classes?
What happens on my first day at ILSC?
Do I get a diploma or certificate when I finish?
Do I have to start my classes at the beginning of a session?
Can I study both French and English at the same time at ILSC-Montréal?
What is the materials fee for?
I am trying to register online but I don't think it is working. Do I need to change something in my computer?
Can I take a break from my classes if I want to go on a trip for a week or two?
Can I go from one ILSC school to another? Are there any extra fees for doing this?

Questions about Visas
Do I need a visa to come to your school?
I am studying or visiting the United States right now. Can I use the same visa I used to enter the United States to come to Canada?
Can I visit the United States while I am in Canada?
If I decide to stay longer at ILSC can I extend my Study Permit in Canada?
How do I obtain an extension of my Study Permit?
Can I work while I am in Canada studying at ILSC?

Questions about Homestay
Are there any other choices besides Homestay for accommodation?
Do my Homestay dates have to be the same as the dates that I'm taking classes?
Can I contact my Homestay family before I arrive?
Can I change homestay families once I am there if I want to?

Other Questions
What is the weather like in Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal?
What qualifications do your teachers have?
Do you have a brochure you could send me?
How many students from my country go to your school?
Do you arrange activities after class?
Can I work while I am in Canada studying at ILSC?
I would really like to speak to an agent near where I live about my options? Can you recommend an agency that you work with near me?
Where can I go if I want to learn French?
How many students go to ILSC?
Will I be able to use the Internet at the school?
Where are your campuses located in each city?
Do you offer classes at night or just through the day?
Do you have to speak English when you are in the school? Even when you are not in class?

FAQ - ANSWERS

How much does it cost to come to your school?

Our fees vary depending on which program and study schedule you choose and how many weeks you want to study for. You can use our Fee Calculator to calculate fees for our general programs. For a complete listing of fees, please check our Fees page.

When should I register and when do I have to pay?

We recommend that students register at least four weeks before they plan on coming to study at ILSC. This is especially true if you need Homestay because it can take a lot of time to find the right Homestay family depending on each individual's needs and requests.
Regarding payment, all course fees are due at least two weeks before your classes start. If you are staying in Homestay, your fees are due two weeks before you start Homestay as well.

You must also pay your Registration fee ($100), your Homestay Placement fee ($215), if applicable, your Airport Transportation fee (One-Way (pick-up or drop-off) $80, Two-Way (if booked before arrival) $140) if applicable, and your Materials fee ($60 for students studying 3 to 12 weeks or $120 for students studying 13 weeks or more), if applicable.

There are no other fees and there are no taxes on any of these fees.

What happens if I cancel?

Please check our refund policy for details.

How much money should I bring with me?

This is very difficult for us to answer. It really depends on what you plan on doing. Some students arrive at ILSC on a very strict budget and are looking to spend as little money as possible. Others have brought lots of money and plan on buying lots of things and visiting lots of places. Prices in Canada vary a lot. A meal can cost as little as $1 for a slice of pizza or over $70 in one of the best restaurants. Apartments start at around $500 per month (most are unfurnished) and a room in a shared house starts at about $350 per month. You can go see a movie for between $5 and $12.

For public transportation prices and information in Vancouver check this website: http://www.translink.bc.ca

What happens if I want to change my courses or schedule when I am there?

First of all, there is a difference between changing your course(s) and changing your schedule. If you are not comfortable with your first course choice, you can speak with a Program Director on the first Thursday of your first week at the school, and he or she will help you make another choice. We have various course selections available for each level, as we have many programs, so there should be no problem finding a course suited to your needs and interests!

Changing schedules means you are changing between Part-time, Full-time or Full-time Intensive schedules. Full-time Intensive schedule is 30 lessons per week, Full-time schedule is 24 lessons per week, Part-time AM schedule 17 lessons per week and Part-time PM schedule 13 lessons per week. These changes are treated as if you were canceling and then re-registering again. This means that the refund policy will apply if you are changing from one schedule to another that has fewer hours per week. If you are changing to a schedule that has more hours per week, the refund policy will not apply and you will just have to pay the additional cost per week of the new program.

Do I need a visa to come to your school?

International students who wish to study in Canada for up to 6 months may need a Visitor's visa depending on the country for which they hold a passport. Contact the Canadian Embassy nearest you for further information.

As a school, we do not decide who needs a Visa and who doesn't. The Canadian government decides who needs a Visa to visit, study or work in Canada. Citizens of many countries do not need a Visa to come to Canada for stays of six months or less. Everyone who plans on studying for more than six months needs a Study Permit.

Students may apply for a Study Permit even if they are going to study for 6 months or less. If students are coming for less than 6 months and are thinking of possibly studying for more than 6 months, they should apply for a study permit in their home country. Students can extend their study permit from within Canada, but they cannot get a study permit within Canada.

For more information, see our Visa and Insurance page.

I am studying or visiting the United States right now. Can I use the same visa I used to enter the United States to come to Canada?

No, when you come to Canada you are coming to a different country and although the United States and Canada area quite similar you still need separate Visas to enter them. You can apply at any of the Canadian Consulates or the Embassy in Washington D.C. Depending on which country you are from you may not need to get a Visa in advance. Citizens of many countries can just have their passport stamped when they enter Canada. Again, check with a Canadian Embassy or Consulate before you leave to see which rules apply to you.

Can I visit the United States while I am in Canada?

That depends on where you are from. The United States has its own rules for who needs a Visa to visit their country. Some people will not need a Visa, others will. If you think you will want to visit the United States while you are at ILSC, you should check the requirements before you leave home and if you need a Visa, you should have it with you when you arrive in Canada.
**Since September 11 it has become almost impossible for foreign students in Canada to apply for a visa to visit the United States. You must do this in your home country before you come to Canada.**

How do I register?

Since you are already on our website, the easiest way is to register online or print and mail our application form. See our Registration Page for more details. You can also choose to go through a student travel agency that we work with. Prices vary depending on the services agents offer and what they may charge for those services. If you would like to be put in touch with an agency, please email one of our marketing staff depending on where you live.

Market	ILSC Marketer	Email address
Chinese	Sam Chen
Europe and Africa	Nadine Zerbel
Japan	Hiromi Wakabayashi
Korea	Nam Park
Latin America (except Mexico)	Rosana Ortega
Mexico	Patricia Partida
Middle East	Wasem Rateb
North America	Leticia Funes
Thailand	Soontaree Paungsiri
Vietnam	Quang Nguyen
Other	Lucas Bertoli

Do I need a TOEFL® test score to get into your school?

No. Our school is open to people with all levels of English from beginners who don't know a word of English to advanced students who are almost fluent and want to work on particular areas of fluency, grammar or vocabulary. We offer eleven levels of classes so there is a place for everyone.

Can I choose the courses that I want right now and be sure I will get them?

No. You can tell us the courses you would like to take but there are four restrictions that may prevent you from actually taking those classes once you are here. There must be enough students wanting the same class for it to run, and it must not be full. If the course you ask for is full, you will need to make another choice. Also, you must be at the right language level to take the course you want. This can only be determined once you have arrived and taken our language assessment test. Also, some courses can only accept new students at the beginning of a session and if you arrive in the middle of a session you will not be able to start a course like this.

How do you decide what level I am at before I take classes?

All students take a language assessment test on their first day at ILSC. There are two parts to the test. The first is a written test that takes 45 minutes. The second part of the test is a one on one interview, with an ILSC Program Director or teacher. These two tests allow us to determine which of our levels suits you best and which courses you may best be suited to at any given level.

What happens on my first day at ILSC?

Students are asked to arrive at 7:45am to the campus that is indicated in your Letter of Acceptance. Orientations are done by nationality and, for most students, in your native language. Each group will be taken to a separate area. The first step is to do the written part of your language assessment test. After that, your Cultural Counsellor will explain the courses ILSC offers and you will choose courses you’d like to take in the first session (one session consists of 4 weeks.)

After that, you will do the second part of the language assessment test: the interview. Once this is done, you will select a class according to your assessed level and the selection will be handed to an administrator.

When this is completed, a student tour guide will take you on a walking tour the area around the school. We are right downtown so you will be shown where everything you will probably need is. Things like banks, bus and subway stops, stores, pharmacies and tourist attractions.

After the walking tour, your cultural counselor will go through all the rules and policies at ILSC so you know how to change a class, where to go for different types of help, and many other things.

Depending on the number of students there will be either a half day Orientation or a full day Orientation. If you have a half day Orientation, your time table will be ready for pick up at 1:00pm and if you have an afternoon class you can start right away. If you have a full day Orientation, the time tables are not ready for pick up until the next morning (Tuesday). If this is the case, arrive early on Tuesday to receive your timetable. We will hand out individual time tables to each student. It will tell you what class you are in, where your class is and who the teacher is.

Do I get a diploma or certificate when I finish?

Yes. Students who complete their classes and attend at least 80% of the classes receive a Certificate of Completion when they finish and a Letter of Enrolment that lists the classes they took and is signed by the Director of Academic Studies. You may also get additional certificates if you complete certificate programs that are offered at ILSC.

Do I have to start my classes at the beginning of a session?

No, we recommend that students try to start their studies at the start of a four week session but you can start on the second or third Monday of a session as well. Check our school calendar for session start dates.

Can I study both French and English at the same time at ILSC-Montréal?

If you would like to study both French and English at the same time at ILSC-Montréal you must have a language level of Intermediate One or higher in both languages.

What is the materials fee for?

The materials fee covers the cost of learning materials used in class. Most of these are not materials that you will keep but you will receive an ILSC pen and binder that is yours to keep.

I am trying to register online but I don't think it is working. Do I need to change something in my computer?

In order to register online, your web browser must be set to accept Cookies and to have Javascript turned on. These are very common options and most students do not need to adjust their computer to submit an online registration.
You can be sure that we have received your registration if you receive an automatic reply from us within a few minutes. If you do not receive this email, it means that we did not receive your registration or you wrote your email address incorrectly on the form.

Incorrect email addresses are the most common problem with online registrations. Please take a minute to make sure you have typed your email address properly.

Can I take a break from my classes if I want to go on a trip for a week or two?

Yes, but it is best if you tell us about any breaks you would like to take at the time you register. If you decide once you are here that you want to take a break, you will not receive a refund for the classes that you have registered for during that time unless you have been here for at least twelve weeks of Full-time Intensive or Full-time study options.

Can I go from one ILSC school to another? Are there any extra fees for doing this?

Yes, you can move freely between ILSC schools without having to pay another $100 registration fee. You need to pay only the material fee to each school you will study at. Again, it is best if you tell us that you would like to attend two or more different schools when you register and how long you would like to spend at each.
If you don't tell us before you arrive we request that you give us at least four weeks notice that you wish to switch schools. If you want Homestay in the second school then you will have to give us four weeks notice of your plans. You will have to pay another Homestay Placement fee.

Are there any other choices besides Homestay for accommodation?

ILSC now has an Alternative Accommodations Placement Program. With this program, students studying at ILSC can now be placed with various types of alternative accommodations to Homestay. See our Accommodation page for more information.

Do my Homestay dates have to be the same as the dates that I'm taking classes?

No, you can start and end your Homestay dates whenever it is convenient for you. Most students arrive some time on the weekend before the Monday they will begin classes. Some arrive a week early because they'd like to have a little vacation before they start classes and some stay in their Homestay for a while after their classes have finished.
Please remember though that if you decide you wish to extend your Homestay and you want to stay with the same family, you should do so as soon as you make that decision. If your Homestay family thinks you are leaving on a certain date, they may have made other plans such as going on holiday or accepting another Homestay student after that date. Especially during the summer peak season, extending your stay with the same homestay family may not be possible.

Can I contact my Homestay family before I arrive?

Yes, we encourage you to contact your Homestay family before you arrive. We are updating our database so that your Homestay family's email address, most have one, is included on the Homestay family details sheet you receive when you have been placed with a family.

Can I change homestay families once I am there if I want to?

Yes, if you decide you'd like a different Homestay family once you are at ILSC you can request a new one without any additional fees as long as you make your request during the first five days of your stay.
If you ask for a new Homestay family after you've been there more than five days you will need to pay the Homestay Replacement Fee.

What is the weather like in Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal?

Vancouver summers are warm without getting too hot or humid. Usually around 23 degrees C to 30 degrees C. It starts getting warm in May usually and stays nice through to the end of September or middle of October. Fall is usually wet but mild with winter being wetter and a bit colder. It does snow in Vancouver but not much and it usually only lasts a few days. Any more than three snowfalls in one winter would be unusual for Vancouver. Spring arrives in early March usually and temperatures get warmer as the days get drier. Vancouver does not get blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes or heat waves. The weather is considered very mild both in summer and winter by North American standards.

Toronto and Montréal are relatively close together (given the massive size of Canada) so their weather is quite similar. Summers are warm, warmer than Vancouver but a bit more humid. The winters are much colder than Vancouver and both cities get much more snow. Snowstorms are great opportunities for winter activities such as snowball fights and building snowmen.

What qualifications do your teachers have?

Our teachers all have a university degree and a TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) certificate. Many of our teachers also have years of teaching experience either in Canada or overseas and many of them have taught at ILSC for long time.

Do you have a brochure you could send me?

Yes, we do. The information in the brochure is really very similar to the information on this website. In fact, there is more information on our website than we could fit in the brochure but you are welcome to have a brochure mailed to you. Just email and ask for one. Include your address.

How many students from my country go to your school?

One of the things we are most proud of at ILSC is that our schools have a great mix of students from many countries. Usually, we have at least 25 countries represented in our students population. We do keep track of how many students are from each country every week, but we don't keep track of how many students there are from each country in every class. If you'd like to know the overall number of students from your country and what percentage that is of the overall student population, just email us at .

Do you arrange activities after class?

Yes, all ILSC schools have an Activities Coordinator who arranges after class and weekend activities. In Vancouver, our Activities Coordinator is Rob Forman. He also arranges weekend trips to places like Seattle, Victoria and Whistler. Rob makes an Activities Calendar that shows what is happening in the months ahead. On our Activities page, you can see activities schedules from all our schools.
Note about trips to the USA
If you plan to enter the USA while you are studying in Canada, you need a separate USA Visa. (Some ILSC weekend activities involve trips to the USA.) For most students this must be organized before you come to Canada. Students from Western European Countries & Japan do not have to arrange for a USA Visa in advance, as you can get one from USA Immigration at the border. Also, all passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months, and as of October 26th. 2004, all passports must be machine readable.

Can I work while I am in Canada studying at ILSC?

You must have a valid Work Permit to work in Canada. Students are not allowed to work in Canada if they only have a Study Permit. These rules are set by Immigration Canada. Often the rules are interpreted differently by the various Canadian Embassies and Consulates around the world.

For Coop programs of less than 6 months, if students are not paid for their practicum, they do not need a Study Permit or a "Work Permit" (previously called a work authorization). If the program lasts more than 6 months, they would need a Study Permit, but not a Work Permit. If students are paid, they would need a Work Permit, and therefore must get a Study Permit before coming to Canada in order to be allowed to apply for a Work Permit from within Canada, even though the course might be less than 6 months. Some Canadian embassies will provide a Work Permit along with the Study Permit.

If I decide to stay longer at ILSC can I extend my Study Permit in Canada?

If you arrive on a tourist visa or you didn't need a visa at all to visit Canada you are permitted to stay for six months and allowed to study for six months. If you plan on extending your studies longer than six months you will need to get a new tourist visa. To do so, you must leave the country. Generally speaking, tourists have been able to get new tourist visas right at the border and have not had to go to a Canadian Embassy or Consulate in the United States or stay overnight in the United States. These rules, however, are determined by Immigration Canada, and are subject to change.

Under the new visa regulations (June 2002), students do not need a "study permit" (previously called a student authorization) for study programs that last 6 months or less.

Students may apply for a study permit even if they are going to study for 6 months or less. If students are coming for less than 6 months and are thinking of possibly studying for more than 6 months, they should apply for a study permit in their home country. Students can extend their study permit from within Canada, but they cannot get a study permit within Canada.

How do I obtain an extension of my Study Permit?

This is usually no problem. You do not need to leave the country. You just have to make sure you give yourself enough time before your Study Permit expires. The forms must be mailed to a government office in Vegreville, Alberta, and they recommend that you allow up to six weeks for the Study Permit extension to be processed. Phone your nearest Canada Immigration Call Centre in Canada at least two months before the expiry of your Study Permit, to obtain an application in the mail.

If you need help with this application kit, please visit the web site at http://www.cic.gc.ca or phone the Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100

An extension of a Study Permit does not affect your visitor visa. To obtain a new visitor visa, you must apply outside of Canada. It is your responsibility to ensure your visitor visa remains valid.

I would really like to speak to an agent near where I live about my options? Can you recommend an agency that you work with near me?

Yes, if you would like to speak to an agent in your country the best thing to do is to email one of our marketing staff, depending on where you are from, and they will email you back with contact information for an agency that we recommend.

Market	ILSC Marketer	Email address
Chinese	Sam Chen
Europe and Africa	Nadine Zerbel
Japan	Hiromi Wakabayashi
Korea	Nam Park
Latin America (except Mexico)	Rosana Ortega
Mexico	Patricia Partida
Middle East	Wasem Rateb
North America	Leticia Funes
Thailand	Soontaree Paungsiri
Vietnam	Quang Nguyen
Other	Lucas Bertoli

Where can I go if I want to learn French?

ILSC Montréal is the only ILSC school that offers French courses. It also offers English classes as well since Montréal is a bilingual city. We have a website dedicated to our French programs at ILSC Montréal. It is here: http://www.learnfrench.ca

How many students go to ILSC?

In 2006, over 7500 students from 33 countries went to an ILSC school.

Will I be able to use the Internet at the school?

Yes, we have four computer labs at our Vancouver school and two each at our Toronto and Montréal schools. They all have high speed connections to the Internet and are available free to students before and after classes. We also have wireless internet service in all three schools and ILSC Toronto has 2 internet cafés as well.

Where are your campuses located in each city?

We have three campuses in downtown Vancouver. They are all within a three minute walk of each other. The main campus in Vancouver is located at 555 Richards Street. The phone number is 1-604-689-9095 and the fax number is 1-604-683-0771.

Our Toronto school is located at 443 University Avenue . The phone number is 1-416-323-1770 and the fax number is 1-416-323-0153.

ILSC Montréal is located at 410 Rue St-Nicolas, Suite 300. The phone number is 1-514-876-4572 and the fax number is 1-514-876-4053.

Do you offer classes at night or just through the day?

ILSC-Vancouver offers classes between 9am and 4pm as well as our After Hours Programs in the late afternoon and evenings.

ILSC-Toronto and ILSC-Montreal offer classes between 9am and 4pm.

You may be able to arrange private tutoring outside of these times though. Check out tutoring program page or email if you'd like more information on our tutoring program.

Do you have to speak English when you are in the school? Even when you are not in class?

YES! We have a strict English only policy at ILSC. You are here to learn English. In Montréal, it is a strict English or French only policy where students are expected to adhere to the spirit of the rules. If you are an English speaking student studying French, you are expected to use French only. Same for French students studying English.
The English only rule is in effect throughout the school and is enforced by staff and student volunteer "language patrols". If you are caught speaking your native language you are given a warning the first time. If it happens again, you are given a 3 day suspension (you do not get your money back for this time). If you are caught a third time, you are given a one week suspension. If you are caught a forth time you are suspended for one session or equivalent.

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Jump to:

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Questions about Visas

Questions about Homestay

Other Questions

FAQ - ANSWERS