Month: June 2013

An Interview with Mina Koike

Category: EC Vancouver Staff

What is your position at EC Vancouver? Academic Assistant/Japanese counselor In a nutshell what do you do in your position? I’m responsible for preparation for all tests (placement test, exit test and Mid, End level test) and any stuff for new students. Also, I take care of record attendance, test score and create certificates and assessment reports. I’m a Japanese speaker so counsel Japanese students, especially. When should a student come to see you? If you have attendance issue, want to get a transcript or a letter for academic part, and also, you need to speak in Japanese to solve your problems or asking general things, you’re welcome to talk to me!

A new face at EC Vancouver – Please welcome Alejandra

Category: EC Vancouver Staff

Hi, In case you were wondering who the new girl at the front desk is, my name is Alejandra Raudales and I’m the new Student Counselor here at EC Vancouver. Even though I will only be here for the next three months, working at the front desk has already been a great experience. Getting the opportunity to meet new people and learn about different cultures is something I have always valued greatly. Just a little bit about myself: I was born and raised in Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras and moved to Vancouver almost two years ago. I am currently attending university in Victoria, which I consider to be one of the most beautiful cities in BC and explains why I will be around only for a short period. For the time being, I will be at the front desk this summer season. Getting to know all of you is what makes this a memorable experience, so feel free to come to me with any questions about the school, the city, or just to say hi every once in a while.

Things to do in June – Vancouver International Jazz Festival

Category: Student Activities

What? Vancouver International Jazz Festival With 1800 artists, 300 concerts and 35 venues, the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival is Vancouver’s signature festival and British Columbia’s biggest music and arts presentation. The world’s best jazz, funk, Latin, fusion, and world music artists perform at venues big and small, indoor and outdoor across the city. When? June 21 – July 1, 2013 There are many free events including Downtown Jazz at the historic grounds of the Vancouver Art Gallery and Robson Square during the opening weekend, Canada Day on Granville Island, and David Lam Park Jazz Weekend on closing weekend. Where? Canada Place Vancouver International Jazz Festival – Free Lunchtime Concert Series The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival will be holding free lunchtime concerts at Canada Place from June 22-30 on the North Point. Jazz at Canada Place features a variety of Canadian Jazz artists. Admission is free and open to the public! When? June 22-30 12-2pm Where? Canada Place Cost: Free Lunchtime Concert Series – FREE Other concert ticket costs vary – please check their website for more information: http://www.coastaljazz.ca/ To download the Jazz Festival Guide: http://www.coastaljazz.ca/Jazz_Festival_Guide

An Interview with Pamela – A trip to Seattle!

Category: Student Interviews, Student Testimonials

Where did you go? Seattle, Washington. What did you do there? I drove for a long time. I went to the outlet mall and bought a lot of clothes. We were walking through the city and took lots of pictures in really awesome places, such as the first Starbucks store in the world and the gum wall. What was your favourite thing about that day? My favorite thing about the day was spending time with my friends and live new adventures all together. What was the strangest thing about that day? I think the strangest thing about that day was the wall that was full of gum and the fact that my friends and me put gum on wall too. Who did you go with? I went with Andrea, Yull, Hentrique and Mauricio, amazing friends I got in school 🙂 Are you going to go again? / Would you recommend this activity to other students? I would like to go again and spend more time there because there are a lot of things to do and the time I was there wasn’t enough. Do you want to say anything about the photos? They can describe how fun we had in Seattle. A big THANK YOU to Pamela for sharing her experience with us!

Things to do in June – Super “Supermoon”

Category: Student Activities

What? The closest and largest full moon of 2013 comes on June 23rd. This full moon is not only the closest and largest full moon of the year. It also presents the moon’s closest encounter with Earth for all of 2013. The moon will not be so close again until August, 2014. In other words, it’s not just a supermoon. It’s the closest supermoon of 2013. When? Sunday, June 23, 2013, 8 am to 6 pm At United States’ time zones, the moon will turn full on June 23 at 7:32 a.m. EDT, 6:32 a.m. CDT, 5:32 a.m. MDT and 4:32 a.m. PDT. Where? Look up! Cost: FREE .. just go outside. For more information about the Supermoon: http://earthsky.org/tonight/is-biggest-and-closest-full-moon-on-june-23-2013-a-supermoon

Things to do in June – Dragon Boat Festival

Category: Student Activities

What? Beginning on Friday afternoon with the colourful Eye-dotting Ceremony, the festival continued with two more days of non-stop entertainment on the World Beat Stage, fabulous food and shopping, and of course, dragon boat racing of the highest caliber. Plan to come down to the waters of False Creek and celebrate with us! When? Friday, June 21, 2013, noon to 2pm Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8 am to 6 pm Sunday, June 23, 2013, 8 am to 6 pm Races start at 8 am and all other activities start at 10 am Where? At Creekside Community Centre, Concord Pacific Place, Creekside Park and the waters of False Creek. Cost: Admission is free to the general public. http://dragonboatbc.ca/

Being an Intern at EC Vancouver – by Minha

Category: Student Interviews, Student Testimonials

With my graduation ahead, I had been thinking about my future and what I should do after graduation. One day, I had a thought that I wanted to practice my English, and I came to Canada with no definite plans in view. I had been spending my first month doing nothing special. One day, I got to be Student Ambassador in EC Vancouver by accident. What I had to do is welcome new students on Mondays, and introduce myself as the Student Ambassador, helping the students when they need someone to ask something about Vancouver, school or classes. My other task was making all students speak only English in school. Also, I organized several free activities for students to enjoy Vancouver life better. With these activities I could easily get along with people from many different countries all around the world. Most of all, I got many opportunities to make speeches in public, which made me not to be nervous any more, when I speak English. Doing Student Ambassador, I believe I got close to some EC staffs. When my lessons that I registered were almost over, a staff in front desk, Craig, asked me if I am interested in doing internship in school due to the fact that they need a Korean student intern. I was glad, because I had no idea about what I should do after finishing school just in time and wanted to do something special which I can do only in Canada. It is great for improving my English to talk to my friends from other countries, especially to friends who speak better than me. However, we both are not native English speakers, which means we sometimes create our own English, use incorrect expressions, but we know what that means each other, because we are … Read more

An Interview with Chantal Kim

Category: EC Vancouver Staff

What is your position at EC Vancouver? I am the University Programs Admissions Counselor. In a nutshell what do you do in your position? I help students who want to go to university in Canada. I help them at each step of the process when applying to one of our selected partner institutions. I provide students with a checklist of every document they need to submit, direct them to all of the forms they need to complete and help them in obtaining conditional admissions to our college or university partners either before they join EC or during their studies at EC. I help students throughout their application and ensure it runs as smoothly as possible. When should a student come to see you? Any student wanting help or advice to go to university in Canada. I provide direct or conditional admissions to a college or university in Canada is welcome to come and talk to me. I help students to find the most suitable college or university for students by going through an individual needs analysis with students based on their higher educational aspirations in Canada.

Success Stories – Veronique

Category: Student Testimonials

25 years ago with only 3 words of English, I came to Vancouver and EC to study English. WIthin 3 months I made friendships that still to this day are dear to me and was able to communicate well enough to move in my own house. I loved every moment of my time at the College. Every day were new, exciting and challenging. Expressing myself in a new language on the phone or at the dr. or at the hair salon was stressful. My teachers were so kind and understanding, they quickly felt like my friends and gave me so much support. My name is Veronique and today, I work at ACACIA Hair Boutique in downtown. I was trained as a Hairstylist and a Makeover Specialist. I love co-creating fresh looks for my clients. I wish you the very best experience in Vancouver and in learning a new culture and its language!

An Interview with Soo Kim

Category: EC Vancouver Staff

What is your position at EC Vancouver? I am the Accommodation Coordinator In a nutshell what do you do in your position? I coordinate homestay, residence (accommodation) and transportation for EC Vancouver students. When should a student come to see you? If you have any questions or concerns about your homestay or accommodation, or if you would like to make any changes to your accommodation, etc. For more information about accommodation: http://www.ecenglish.com/accommodation