Category: EC Toronto

Professional Sports Teams in Toronto

Category: Activities in Toronto, EC Toronto

Torontians are passionate about sports in general. In Toronto, there are 12 professional and a several semi-professional and amateur teams. Some of them are more famous than others and you can learn more about a different sport or enjoy your favourite activity while studying English in Toronto. The most famous teams are: • Toronto Argonauts – Canadian Football League The Argonauts, also known as Argos, was created in 1873 and is the oldest existing professional sports team in North America still using its original name. Nowadays, they lead the CFL in total wins – 17. The football season runs from June to November and you can attend a game in Toronto at BMO Field. • Toronto Arrows – Major League Rugby The Arrows team has been funded by a group of private investors and supporters since 2017. It is quite new, and its popularity has been growing rapidly during the past few years. The team splits its home games between Alumni Field of York University and Lamport Stadium from February to May. • Toronto Blue Jays – Major League Baseball The Blue Jays was launched in 1977 and was named because of a bird with the same name that it is also their mascot. Jays, as they are also called, won the first World Series Title in 1992 and again in 1993. If you are in Toronto from February to September, you can talk to one of our agencies partners to buy tickets that are reasonably priced. • Toronto FC – Major League Soccer The name of the team was decided with and online vote by the public in 2005. The other options were “Toronto Northmen”, “Inter Toronto FC”, and “Toronto Reds”. Their major achievements include being seven-time winners of the Canadian Championship and being runners-up of the 2018 CONCACAF … Read more

How to enjoy the winter in Toronto?

Category: Activities in Toronto, EC Toronto, General Activities

Dear students our main idea today is to share with you some nice things to do while you are enrolled in one of our English courses in Toronto during the winter. 1 – Skating Toronto has over 110 indoor and outdoor ice pads, natural rinks and trails for leisure skating. Most of them are free and generally open from 9 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, but it can change depending on each location. The most famous is the one located at City Hall. It will be open until March 22nd and rentals skates are available.     Other famous places where you can rent skates in Toronto are: The Bentway, Harbourfront, and Union Skating Rink. The Bentway is located under the Gardiner Expressway, a famous road in Toronto. It is open from 5 to 9pm on weekdays and from 12 pm to 9pm on weekends. The Bentway will offer recurring free skate lessons for adults on Tuesdays from 7 to 9pm and skate rentals are FREE on Thursdays from 5 pm to 9 pm all winter, courtesy of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. At Harbourfront you can skate while enjoying an amazing view of the lake and the CN Tower. It operates Sunday to Thursday from 9 am to 10 pm and Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 11 pm. From Dec 14, 2019 to Feb 15, 2020, every Saturday there is a DJ playing at night while you are skating. The Union Skating Rink is the newest and largest one in Toronto. It is located just outside of Union Station. A big difference from the other rinks it is there skate and helmet rentals are free and there are free lessons from 12 to 4pm every day. It works from 11 am to 7 pm … Read more

2017 Residence Offerings

Category: EC Toronto

We are happy to announce that EC Toronto will be offering two new residences in 2017.  Our new residences offerings are located in the downtown core and offer students a great base to explore the city (and a quiet place to study too!).  Check out our brand new residence offerings below: Parkside Residence Parkside residence is located in the heart of Toronto’s university and college district, steps from Toronto’s Ryerson University, and the Ontario College of Art and Design. Located on Carlton Street, the residence is a short walk from the beautiful Allan Gardens Conservatory, and the Toronto Eaton Centre. This centrally located residence is close to some of Toronto’s top attractions, including great restaurants, cafes, theatres, concert halls, and shopping. Just a 7-minute walk from Toronto’s Yonge-University subway line, the residence is the perfect base to explore Toronto. The Carlton multiplex Cinema is only a short walk away and features Hollywood, Independent, Canadian and Foreign flicks. The residence is only 15 minutes away from Toronto’s famous theatre district, the third largest English-speaking theatre district in the world. Take your pick from the variety of fabulous broadway shows at the Princess of Wales Theatre or the Royal Alexandra theatre. The best part about Parkside residence is the on-site dining program available from January to May.  The fully equipped cafeteria offers a variety of food stations, and cooking stations. Enjoy a gourmet meal or stop by for a snack at the fully-equipped Parkside Marketplace. The Parkside Marketplace offers you the opportunity to share a meal with friends, or take something to go.  A 24-hour fitness centre with private yoga space a card-operated laundry centre, secured bike storage, and on-site repair station are also available at the residence. The residence is equipped with everything you need to study and socialize as well, including private meeting and study … Read more

Halloween at EC Toronto

Category: EC Toronto

We celebrated Halloween a bit early at EC Toronto today.  Staff and students dressed up in fabulous costumes and ate lots of candies and treats to celebrate Halloween.  There was tough competition this year as many of our students and teachers were very creative with their Halloween costumes.  The audience and judges at our Halloween costume competition had the tough job of deciding who had the best costume.   Here are the winners of our student Halloween contest:   1. The Joker 2. A Blind Mouse 3. Up   Here are the winners of our teacher Halloween contest: 1. Bubbles (Patrick D.) 2. Galactic Princess (Emily) 3. Nick Furry (Derek)   Monday October 31st is Halloween.  Do you have a costume yet?  If not, perhaps you can get some inspiration from some of the fabulous costumes you saw today.  Regardless of what your costume, we hope you fill up on lots of candy and have lots of fun celebrating Halloween in Toronto.  There are lots of fun events happening in the city this weekend, including our own fabulous Halloween Party tonight (Friday October 28th) at Tequila Jacks.  Come by the TNT activities desk for tickets and more information. For Toronto Homestay English Courses check out EC Toronto.  

The Benefits of Learning a New Language

Category: EC Toronto

  There are so many benefits of learning another language. New research has shown the incredible advantages of learning a new language. We’ve compiled a list of 7 benefits of learning a new language. Learning another language is good for your brain The language centres in your brain grow when you learn a new language Learning another language can help ward off Alzheimer’s and dementia Studies show that monolingual adults show signs of dementia earlier than multi-lingual adults. Learning a second language boosts your memory Studies show that bilinguals are better at remembering shopping lists, names, and directions Learning a second language makes you better at multi-tasking A study from the Pennsylvania State University showed that multi-lingual people were better at multi-tasking than mono-lingual people. Participants in the study used a driving simulator while doing separate tasks at the same time. The research showed that multi-linguals made fewer errors while driving. Learning a new language is great for travelling Think about all of the possible destinations you can visit if you can speak English. Getting comfortable with your speaking level will motivate you to get out there and practice your new language in a new country. Learning a new language will give you a huge advantage in the job market Adding fluency in a second language can really boost your C.V. and resume. Being able to converse in another language is a huge plus for employers. Learning a new language can help you Improve your first language It’s a fact that learning a new language can make you better at your first language.   Experience first-hand the amazing benefits of learning English and Study English in Canada at EC Toronto.

Which English Proficiency Exam Is Right for You?

Category: EC Toronto

There are so many different types of English proficiency exams out there. How do you choose which one is right for you? We’ve composed a guide to show you the difference between each one and (hopefully) will help you decide which one is right for you. TOEFL What does it stand for? The Test of English as a Foreign Language What is the TOEFL test? The TOEFL test measures how well you can apply your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to complete academic tasks. The test is 3 hours long and is taken on a computer or on paper. The TOEFL test consists of four sections speaking, listening, reading, and writing. TOEFL Test Scores: You will receive a total score out of 120 based on your performance in all 4 sections of the test. Who accepts TOEFL? More than 9,000 colleges, agencies and other institutions in over 130 countries accept TOEFL scores. We recommend the TOEFL test if you are: planning to study at a higher education institution applying for a scholarship at a higher education institution looking to track your English-language learning progress applying for a visa in an English-speaking country.   IELTS What does it stand for? International English Language Testing System What is the IELTS test? The IELTS Test assesses the English language proficiency of people wanting to work and study in an English-speaking environment. Like other English proficiency exams, the IELTS assesses your reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The IELTS speaking test is unique because it involves a face-to-face interview with a certified examiner. The reading, writing, and listening modules are 2 hours and 45 minutes long, while the speaking test is about 15 minutes long. There are two versions (Academic or General) of IELTS test: the Academic IELTS test and the General IELTS test. … Read more

Volunteer Students

Free English Classes at EC Toronto

Category: EC Toronto

As part of our teacher-training program at EC Toronto, we need volunteer students to participate in free lessons given by our student teachers in the CELTA program. CELTA free classes are provided at the Pre-Intermediate to Upper Intermediate levels.  Lessons are carefully supervised by our teacher trainers. Part-time classes are held three times a  year (in January, June and September) on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:15pm-8:15pm.  Our next part-time course starts on Tuesday February 2nd.   If you are in the Toronto area and would like to attend Free English classes, please come to the office between 8:30am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday to enrol.  At this time, we will let you know whether there are any spaces available.  If the class is full, we will notify you when there will be space available in a class.  A $20 registration fee deposit is required when you register for the class.   Please be advised that the free classes fill up quickly.  We recommend that you come in to the office to sign up 3 to 4 weeks prior to the class start date.  In fairness to all, signing up can only be done in person. For more information, please visit our website. Check out EC Toronto for Full Immersion English Courses in Toronto

EC Toronto Student Testimonial – Silvia Perez-zamacona from Spain #ecexperience

Category: EC Toronto, Uncategorized

After 6 months in this beautiful country, I’m back in Spain. I have never had such a wonderful experience in my life. As a student I spent the whole time at EC Toronto. The first three months as a student and the last three months as an intern. I have no words, I have no complaints, everything went extremely good. When I arrived, my classes were focused in General English. It was good to have two different teachers because both were very different which makes their classes good too. That was one of the facts that I really liked because the classes weren’t similar. It is good to change the method, it makes you not  feel bored.   After four weeks I moved up and I changed to Toefl class. This class was totally different because it was focused just on the test. The preparation was really good. The teacher knows exactly what to teach and how to teach. Even though a preparation class is not a very talkative class, he made the classes very easy going. When I finished with my English classes I started my Co-op Programme in EC. My internship at the office was in the operations department. It could have never been better than it was. Sometimes I  worked inside the office, other times I helped at the front desk. I learned a lot of new things and I improved my English. For example, my listening now is much better than when I was a student at the school. Being around different people with different accents helps you a lot in that specific skill. I had a really great time with EC school. I have only good words to say, so if you are thinking of going abroad, check first Canada and then EC Toronto. You … Read more

Cherry blossom season!

Category: Activities in Toronto, EC Toronto, Tips for our Students

High Park is Toronto’s largest public park. Centrally located on 399 acres of land in the heart of Toronto, High Park provides visitors with a unique and unusual sense of wilderness. Combining forested area, riparian zones including creeks and the largest pond in Toronto, as well as recreational facilities and well-mantained park land, High Park has something for everyone. Recognized as one of the most significant natural sites within the City of Toronto, the park contains an outstanding concentration of rare plant species. One of this species is the “cherry blossom tree” High Park is home of about 2050 cherry blossom trees, or sakura, donated from the Japanese ambassador to Canada and from individual families. These trees bloom in spring, and the beautiful blossoms are enjoyed by thousands of people every year. Many people ask about the best time to see the cherry trees in full bloom: your best bet is to pay a visit in late April or early May. Cherry blossoms last for about a week to a week and a half if the weather is nice, but if it rains while they are in bloom then the flower petals fall quicker and the blooming may be over in just a few short days. Some years – not too often – if the weather is unusually cold in April then the trees may not bloom at all, since Toronto’s climate is about as cold as the Sakura trees can tolerate. The next picture was taken the last week: Theoretically, the blooms might be better next weekend. However, according to the weather forecast, it will rain for most of this week, and so it is hard to tell how the trees will be. Make sure you do not miss this beautiful event. And don’t forget, EC offers General English and … Read more

Have you ever experienced a boat party in Toronto?

Category: Activities in Toronto, EC Toronto, Special Events in Toronto & at EC Toronto

Last week, a big group of EC Toronto students lived a unique experience: A Boat Cruise Party. “I had a really good time! Despite the weather (an unusual temperature of 5C°), the party was awesome” says Mariana Costero, from Venezuela. Mariana was one of our EC student ambassadors. The activity is part of the Social Programming offered by EC Toronto, at a cost of $19 (taxes included). The event takes place on Lake Ontario and Toronto Harbour, which is a perfect opportunity to see the amazing and fantastic Toronto skyline as the sun sets, while enjoying the company of good friends. “The activity was a nice experience for me, it was very cool. It is a great chance to know new people in a relaxed environment. I would recommend going to the activity in late May or summer time, so you can better enjoy staying in the boat’s deck. The activity is very fun in group”, suggested Mariana, who is in one of EC CAE Cambridge Classes. April 30th. Boat party. Indoor lounge. Groups of all sizes are welcomed to join in, just go to the 4th floor and book in advance. Bring your camera and share with us your own #ecexperience. Study English in Toronto with EC English Language Centres!