This communicative course prepares students for their future classes by fully integrating every aspect of student life.  The emphasis is on reading, listening, and speaking on a variety of issues, from social networking to gender issues and academic honesty. For newcomers to Canada, an emphasis is also on vocabulary to provide students with the exact language they need to communicate confidently and fluently. Students also develop their ability to synthesize, analyze, and apply information from different sources to build practical critical thinking skills.

Upon completion of this course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing interactions within Canadian society. They will be able to analyze and discuss various aspects of Canadian interactions, recognizing the importance of cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and effective communication.

• Canadian Education and Student Life
• Canadian City Life
• Business and Money
• Jobs and Professions
• Lifestyles Around the World
• Global Connections
• Language and Communication
• Tastes and Preferences

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Build their vocabulary and use exact language needed to communicate confidently and fluently, both in and out of the classroom
• Develop an ability to synthesise, analyse, and apply information from different sources in a variety of contexts, from comparing academic articles to negotiating informal conversations
• Conduct conversations related to academic life by developing important listening skills
• Present, practise, and repeatedly use vocabulary-learning strategies and vocabulary words essential to the student
• Apply key strategies for academic and social communication, which support language learning and encourage independence in student thinking
• Listen to extended lectures and apply key note-taking skills
• Communicate with a focus on real-life and academic communication
• Practise listening to gain meaning from context
• Apply listening and speaking skills to a variety of practical interactions, such as understanding and describing locations
• Read texts on a variety of academic topics and learn crucial reading skills like skimming for main ideas and finding supporting details.

• Lecture/presentation
• Discussion
• Individual assignments
• Slide presentations, videos, and visual representations
• Group and collaborative work
• Computer/tablet activities