Category: Be healthy

5 Benefits From Studying Abroad and Making Friends

Category: Academic Activities, Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver, Study Tips / Tags: , , , , , ,

There are many benefits from studying abroad and making friends from around the world. Studying in a foreign country may sound difficult, but it is actually easy because you meet great people and have amazing experiences that helps you grow as a person and human being! Canada is an amazing place to study and live in. There are many benefits from studying English at EC Vancouver as well. We cater for our student experiences and offer a community for people to explore the city and make lifelong friends! Our English classes offer the best educational methods and teachers who are interactive and always helpful.   1 ) Share and make happy memories! It is all about learning and enjoying yourself at the same time! The best of two worlds! Here at EC, we make sure that you meet people from around the world and have the opportunity to experience the city!   2 ) Enjoy the city with the company of people and friends! Studying abroad can be tough for certain people because we can’t live away from our families or friends.. However, when you meet new people abroad, you feel that you have made a new family and friends that you can count on! You will be shocked to know that you may share similar likes of music and movies!   3 ) Practice English and study together! It is important to practice English. It is even better to practice with someone who is in the same class as you because you share and learn similar material!     4 ) Building connections for future work and opportunities. Making lifelong friends and sharing experiences with others is important. You can find your next international business partner or peer. You’ll never know! 5 ) Meet friends in their home countries. … Read more

Dragon Boat racing is possible two stations from EC Vancouver English Centre

Dragon Boat Racing

Category: Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver, Student Activities, Summer Activities / Tags: , , ,

  With summer on our doorstep, spending your days inside is no longer an option. If you’re looking for some summer action, but you don’t want to get overheated while hiking or biking, we might just have found the perfect activity for you: dragon boat racing! Originating over two millennia ago in ancient China, the tradition of dragon boat racing dates back almost to the time when there were actual dragons flying around. A dragon boat is a large canoe like rowboat, traditionally made from wood. These days, however, more modern materials are often used to keep the boats light and fast.   Dragon Boat teams A dragon boat racing team usually consists of eight to twenty paddles, but can contain upwards to fifty athletes. In the front of the boat, a drummer synchronizes his drumming with the paddling strokes to streamline the operation. At the back, the sweep prevents the boat from hitting shore or other dragon boats. When racing dragon boats, coordination, force, technique and teamwork go hand in hand. This makes it the perfect opportunity to learn English and make new friends while doing something active. And the best thing? Everyone can do it!   The program Starting May 14, there’s a program specifically fit for EC English students’ needs. During four guided one and a half hour learning sessions, you will practice every Monday (May 14 – June 4, 6:00 PM) on your dragon boat paddling skills. Training is only two stations away from the EC Vancouver English Centre. As a grande finale you will compete in the Tim Hortons 500M Championship on June 10 against other student teams. If you’re under 24 and you wish to sign up, come talk to the front desk at the second floor. Participating in the whole program (lessons and … Read more

Grouse Mountain: Lea

Hiking up Grouse Mountain

Category: Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , ,

As I am living in Vancouver for a few months, I try to see as much of this beautiful city as possible. One of the most beautiful views over Vancouver you get by visiting the peak of Grouse Mountain, which is why a friend and I decided to hike up there and enjoy the well-deserved view at the end. Another fact that made me go there is that two Grizzly Bears are living in a wilderness sanctuary up on Grouse Mountain. I love spotting wild animals but prefer to watch them in safety. So, if you think the same, get your hiking boots and let’s go! I went there in early October, taking a free Shuttle bus from Canada Place which was super easy. While looking at the map that shows the different trails you can take, we met two other Germans on the same mission and we ended up spending the day together. You can usually decide if you want to take the Gondola up or hike, but in winter the trails are closed due to weather conditions. Because the four of us were there in late summer, we decided to hike up the Grouse Grind Trail, which is 2.9 km (1.8 miles) long. It took us about 1h 40 min. I know it’s a long time for 2.9 km, but you must consider that the trail is steep, and you have to climb 2,830 stairs. We took some breaks in between and chatted with other people or staff members, which was when we met one of the supervisors Phillip who motivated us to keep going by promising to show us a secret lookout on top of the mountain. People were all focused on reaching the peak, and most of us were totally out of breath, but everyone was … Read more

Student Testimonial: Aysenur Cumali

Category: Be healthy, EC Vancouver, student ambassador, Student Testimonials / Tags: , , ,

“Hi EC Vancouver! I’m Aysenur Cumali, I’m from Turkey and I will study at EC Vancouver for 7 months.     EC is like my family, sometimes even closer than. When I arrived in Canada İ was so worried for the next 7 months, but now I realized that I made the best choice of my life. It has been an unforgettable experience since I started here. I’m enjoying my classes a lot, the teachers are wonderful, the city is amazing and Vancouver’s environment is so cool! I came here with basic English and now I can speak to everybody and enjoy everything! My host Family is so friendly and helpful. I love them! At EC Vancouver, İ learned  more than just a language. I had the opportunity to make new friends from other countries and live new experiences. EC was the right choice for me. ” Aysenur Cumali     Are you thinking to study English in Canada? Meet us at EC English Language School in Vancouver!

The Autumn is coming in Canada!

Category: autumn in Vancouver, Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver, EC Vancouver Staff, Student Activities, Study Tips, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , , ,

The Autumn is coming! One of the most beautiful seasons are almost on the corner you need to get ready for this. It is the perfect time to rest after summer, enjoy the rain, the cold breeze and specially to witness the trees and shrubbery turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. Check out the website Tourism Vancouver and choose some great places to enjoy the nature. 1 – Stanley Park  Stanley Park is an incredibly beautiful place to view the fall colors. Go around the seawall or check the trails, The park is one of the biggest and most beautiful parks all around the world! 2 – Queen Elizabeth Park Located in central Vancouver atop the city’s highest point, this 130-acre park has gorgeous gardens featuring both deciduous and evergreen trees. When the colors start changing, the juxtaposition of the evergreens, gardens and red/orange hues of the trees that are morphing into winter hibernation is simply breathtaking. 3 – Van Dusen Botanical Gardens  Take the Laburnum Walk through Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, which features an eclectic mix of plant life that turns to crisp yellow throughout the fall. Also take a look at the ponds in the center of the park for a nice colour pairing of lily pads on the water and the surrounding plant life. 4 – University of British Columbia (10 kilometres, 6.2 miles)  The leafy campus of the University of British Columbia is a great choice for leaf-peeping. Located at the far western end of the City of Vancouver, the grand old trees lining the Main Mall turn spectacular colours, but the on-site UBC Botanical Garden is also full of reds, orange and yellows during autumn. 5 -Grouse Mountain  Although it’s filled with evergreen trees galore, Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver is still a sight to behold each autumn. The grasses … Read more

EC Vancouver English Centre looking for student ambassadors

Category: Academic Activities, Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Student Activities, student ambassador, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , ,

Are you enjoying your student life here at EC Vancouver English Centre? Do you want to improve your English? Make friends and enjoy many activities for free?? We want you for our Student Ambassador program! Is your chance to make friends, be part of a school project, join social activities and speak English while developing advanced personal, professional and leadership skills. The ambassador will work together with our EC staff organizing events, leading activities, helping students and much more! Also, when you finish your time here at EC we can offer you a reference letter! Go home with more than an English certificate, go home with a life experience! Join us and let’s rock it!

Kitsilano Beach Cleanup – 16 September 2017

Category: Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Student Activities, Summer Activities / Tags: , , , ,

Love your beach and keep it safe! Did you know that the majority of waste found on Vancouver beaches is left behind by local beach goers? Cigarette butts, needles, styrofoam take out containers and Starbucks cups are constantly being left behind creating safety hazards and destroying our environment. Your beach needs your help! Our goal is to clean every major Vancouver beach in 2017. You can join the Surfrider Vancouver team by signing up for this cleanup. Bonus points if you invite a friend to come! Beach cleanups are a fun and easy way to get involved and keep your beaches and oceans clean. Help keep our beach cleanups totally zero waste — don’t forget to bring your work gloves and a reusable mug to our events! Help us protect where you play! We are stoked to announce Fjallraven Canada is providing 20% discount for the cleanup participants with a proof of participation in the clean-up (Eventbrite registration confirmation). This discount will only be valid at the Kitsilano location and valid Saturday and Sunday (16th & 17th) only. The discount will be applicable store-wide on regular priced merchandise, with the exception of the Kanken backpack. Please save our Trees by avoiding printing the Eventbrite confirmation, and showing it on your mobile device instead. Safety First: For safety reasons please bring gloves and closed toed shoes. Always use a stick or trash picker to sift through the sand to avoid sharp objects. If you come across any sharp or hazardous object, mark it and tell us, our team can handle the safe removal. Social Event: TBA *Make A Donation Our Vancouver chapter is 100% volunteer run by people just like you. Programs like these monthly beach cleanups help keep our oceans clean and increase awareness on how our everyday decisions effect the world around us. … Read more

Banff, Alberta

Category: Academic Activities, Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Student Activities, student ambassador, Summer Activities, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Banff is a resort town and one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations. located in Alberta’s Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs, it is a destination for outdoor sports and features extensive hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing destinations within the area. Sunshine Village, Ski Norquay and Lake Louise Mountain Resort are the three nearby ski resorts located within the national park. Banff is the community with the second highest elevation in Alberta after Lake Louise.     The area was named Banff in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace in Banff, Scotland. The Canadian Pacific built a series of grand hotels along the rail line and advertised the Banff Springs Hotel as an international tourist resort. The Banff townsite was developed near the railway station as a service centre for tourists visiting the park. It was administered by the Government of Canada’s national parks system until 1990 when the Town of Banff became the only incorporated municipality within a Canadian national park.   – Planning to come to Canada to improve your English skills? Find out more about English Courses in Vancouver!

Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Park

Category: Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Practicants, Student Activities, student ambassador, Summer Activities, Uncategorized, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Located within Chinatown, the gardens are accessible from the lane off Carrall Street, between Pender Street and Keefer Street. It is about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the city center, or the closest SkyTrain station is Stadium. Alternatively if you’re on a hop on hop off tour bus, these will stop here. This was the first full-size Chinese garden to be built outside of China and was built between 1985 and 1986 with its opening in time for the Vancouver Expo 86. The gardens and park and named in honor of the nationalist leader, Dr Sun Yat-Sen, who is considered to be the ‘father of modern China’ with their objective being to “maintain and enhance the bridge of understanding between Chinese and western cultures, promote Chinese culture generally and be an integral part of the local community”. The Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Park uses the philosophical principles of Taoism and Feng Shui and hence attempts to achieve balance of opposites and harmony, where different elements are used together.   Planning to come to Canada to improve your English skills? Find out more about English Courses in Vancouver!

Ways to play in Stanley Park

Category: Be healthy, Culture Tips, EC Vancouver Staff, Practicants, Student Activities, Summer Activities, Uncategorized, Vancouver sports / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

While you’re here in Vancouver, take advantage of a great selection of activities on land and in the the water — all against a spectacular backdrop of ocean, mountains and forest. So pack your swimsuit, a picnic, a putter or all the above, and get ready to have fun! Seawall Enjoy one of Vancouver’s most popular destinations and take advantage of all there is to do and see along the Seawall! Download the map and learn more about this scenic path lining the city waterfront. Trails Explore more than 27 kilometres of forest trails, winding through the park’s dense foliage. Stanley Park Pitch & Putt Stanley Park Pitch & Putt features sculpted fairways, mature trees, and lush greens in the heart of historic Stanley Park. Playgrounds Visit our four fun-filled children’s playgrounds: Second Beach, Ceperley, Miniature Train, and Rose Garden. Get park locations and find out what amenities are close. Picnic areas Dine with a view – have a picnic in the park! Get information on first-come picnic tables, and making reservations in designated Stanley Park picnic areas. Tennis courts in Stanley Park Work on your game or challenge friends to a match at one of the many tennis courts in park. Find more information about free and pay court options. Water play Water park Cool down with a visit to the Variety Kids Water Park at Lumbermen’s Arch from 1 June to 1 September. Second Beach Pool Second Beach Pool is a heated, outdoor pool located in Stanley Park. It is open from Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day. Second Beach Located on the Stanley Park seawall at Stanley Park Dr and North Lagoon Dr beside the outdoor pool, Second Beach has a concession, washrooms, playground, picnic shelter, summer lifeguards, and pay parking. Third Beach A great spot for … Read more