We’re gearing up for the long weekend here in Toronto. There are so many activities and events happening in the city this weekend. If you’re interested in celebrating Easter in Toronto this weekend, check out one or more of these fun events:   Toronto Beaches Easter Parade- The Toronto Beaches Lions Club will be hosting its annual Easter parade on Sunday March 27th. Tickets are free and everyone is welcome to attend! The 2 hour parade features Easter-themed floats and marching bands. The parade begins at Queen Street and Munro Park and ends at Woodbine Avenue.   For more information, visit: http://www.beacheslions.com/   Easter Egg Hunt If you’re visiting Toronto with kids, check out the Easter Festival Egg Hunt and Springridge Farm on March 25th. Activities include: egg hunts with the Bunny, an Eggcellent Easter Professional Puppet show, bunny face painting, bunny ears to colour and wear, access to the farm yard, visiting with baby animals, a wagon ride farm tour, and a singing chicken show.   For more information, visit: http://www.springridgefarm.com/easter-egg-hunt.htm   Easter Tea at the Library Bar The Royal York’s Library Bar is holding a special afternoon tea this Easter on March 26th and 27th. This event comes in a bit pricey (at $60 per person). The service includes your choice of 12 loose leaf Fairmount teas, sandwiches, and hand-crafted pastries.   For more information, call 416 860-5004.   Easter with the Ultimutts Watch a troupe of dogs perform some of the most mesmerizing tricks at this circus-themed show on March 26th! Tickets are free and all ages are welcome. For more information, visit: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/today.cfm?id=8072&festival_id=190 Happy Easter! Have a great long weekend! Find out more about full immersion English courses in Toronto.

Are you learning English as a second language? Learning a new language can be really difficult. At EC Toronto, we encourage you to draw on the support of your teachers and peers to improve your English reading, writing, and speaking ability. Here are a few tips for learners of English as a second language: Put yourself in situations where you have to speak English It’s really important that you get as much practice as possible using English in real-life situations. If you’re staying at an EC Homestay or Residence, you probably have lots of opportunities to practice your English speaking with your Homestay hosts and other students at your residence. If your friends are learning English too, speak to them in English as much as possible. Take trips to the movies, the grocery store, and local restaurants and practice using English in these situations. Don’t worry if your English isn’t perfect yet. The only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice! Set goals or milestones for yourself When learning a new language, it’s important to set goals/milestones to stay on track. Perhaps you’d like to move up a level, or achieve a certain score on an IELTS or TOEFL test. Try to set goals—with timelines for achieving them. Take care of yourself Remember to get plenty of rest, eat well, and take good care of yourself.  You’ll be able to concentrate better if you are nourished and well-rested. Go to class Good attendance is the key to success as an ESL learner. Your teachers work hard to plan and deliver lessons that will help you improve your English, so make sure to attend your classes and make the most of your time here. Practice Writing Keep a journal or diary and write about what you did that day, … Read more

We are delighted to introduce our new Assistant Director of Studies, Steve Birek!  Steve brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of ESL teaching.  Steve has completed both his University of Cambridge CELTA and DELTA certifications.  He’s really outgoing and friendly and is happy to help you make the most of your academic experience here at EC. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Steve, here’s a little bit about him: Name: Steve Birek Age: 33 Nationality: Canadian (with Hungarian background) Mother Tongue: English Other Languages: French & some Hungarian Experience/Training: BA Film Studies, CELTA & Cambridge Delta Hobbies: music & rec hockey Your favourite place to visit in Toronto: Churchill Park Your favourite food: pizza & tacos Your favourite movie: Army of Shadows Place(s) you’d like to visit: the former Yugoslavia Your favourite thing about EC Toronto (so far): Everybody’s been super welcoming! Find out more about full immersion English courses in Toronto.