Study (Studying) English in Vancouver.

Featuring Vancouver – Study English in Vancouver

Vancouver is Canada’s third largest city, next to Toronto and Montréal. It is located on the west coast of Canada alongside the Pacific Ocean and is the largest city in the province of British Columbia. The weather is some of the best Canada has to offer with mild winters and awesome, warm summers.  In Vancouver you will experience a beautiful and bustling downtown with great access to the bountiful nature. You can literally see the ocean and the mountains which border the west and east of the city.  If you like a nice city and nature also, Vancouver is a charm destination.

Vancouver offers a great range of entertainment from sports activities in the mountains or water to hundreds of parks and theatres. Getting around in Vancouver is also very nice and easy on the rail system or the busses which cover the whole span of the city and its suburbs. 

Studying English in Vancouver: There are a lot of language schools in Vancouver, well over one hundred.  You will find some very large ones with hundreds of students each to some very small English tutoring centers and everything in between.

Cost of Living in Vancouver for an English Student – for English students Studying English in Vancouver, one main concern is the cost of living. Vancouver is not cheap, but an English student’s lifestyle can be more reasonable than the average business traveler.  For example there are many youth hostels available for a reasonable price. Most students will also be able to take advantage of a homestay arrangement which may be managed by a homestay company or by a language school where you register for classes.

Bus passes for a month in Vancouver cost about 100 / month for students. Compare the $54 / monthly student rate in Halifax. However, in Vancouver you are getting a much bigger city and wider coverage area than smaller cities of course.

The main costs a student who is studying English in Canada would notice while studying English and living in Vancouver are; costs of homestays, Vancouver will be quite expensive with an average of $800 / month with 2 meals included. This will cause an increased food expenditure on the part of the student.

Travel Expenses – because the city is bigger, students can expect more travel expenses and longer travel times. If you have every been to Tokyo or Seoul, Korea, traveling in Vancouver will be a joy and a breeze.

Entertainment Expenses in Vancouver for ESL students – Every city in Canada, and in the world actually can surely offer what you need to rack up a huge entertainment bill. People from all over the world are quick to put their hard earned dollars in to entertainment activities without a second thought usually. In Vancouver there are endless bars, restaurants, adventure outfitters and just about any kind of activity you could think of to spend your money on. The mere fact that there is a lot more to offer and much more spread out with a larger base of people (consumer demand, market availability, and a more prosperous geographical location in Canada – They have money to spend) the prices will naturally be more expensive and add the fact that you will have much more opportunity to entertain yourself and be parted with your money quicker.

Language Schools in Vancouver – Study English in Vancouver, Canada.

I we already said, there are well over 100 language schools in Vancouver full of students studying English. Some of the well known English Language Schools in Vancouver include; Vancouver English Centre, ILAC Vancouver, CLLC, Canadian College of English Language,  Winfield College, International Language Schools of Canada, Bay College, Inlingua Language Center, International House and so many more. 

The prices of language programs in Vancouver are averaged around 1200 Canadian Dollars / month for full time study. A full time course is generally between 25 and 30 hours each week. Of course you can get courses for 10 hours / week or 40 hours / week. You just have to look around. Most Language schools in Vancouver offer several options.

Accommodations – There are many youth hostels in Vancouver, hotels in Vancouver and of course the typical language student takes a homestay in Vancouver.  If you are looking for a homestay in Vancouver you can expect to live with a family, as a part of the family. The typical homestay in Vancouver fee in will be around $800 Canadian / month for a private room in a home and 2 meals daily. In a homestay you are expected to clean up after yourself and contribute to the daily responsibilities of the household. Each family is different in what they require of the students, but really, what a bargain an average of 28 dollars / day for a room and some food.  Hotels will be at least 3 times this cost, if not much more. 

The benefit of a homestay in Vancouver far exceeds the price, is that you will be able to live with a Canadian family and speak English with them. You will practice English while in the home and hear them speaking English to you in your daily living at a homestay in Vancouver and on weekends.

Typical Complaints from English Students Studying English in Vancouver – Many English students in Vancouver have a variety of complaints. These include costs, they complain that it is too expensive in Vancouver.  Homestay – Many students complain that their family is not “original” Canadian. You must keep in mind that Canada is a very diverse country in which everyone is encouraged to be themselves.  If your family is not a typical (TV) white couple with 2 children, it doesn’t mean that they are not Canadian or even, ‘original’ Canadian.  In many cases the families live and speak just like your (TV) Canadians, same accent as any other Canadian and if you heard them speak and didn’t see them you wouldn’t guess that they are ethnically Asian, Latin or Middle Eastern.  However, this is one typical complaint of many students studying English in Vancouver.  English on the street – The third common complaint from ESL Students in Vancouver is that they don’t hear enough English in the city.  Because Vancouver is a big city, there are many people from all over the world in the streets speaking many different languages; this is one of the wonderful things about this city. Still, Vancouver is a Canadian city with a majority of English speakers and you will indeed use and hear a lot of English wherever you go in Vancouver. Vancouver has the largest number of ESL students in Canada. Something must be very good about this city of so many go there, perhaps this shall be a great place for you to discover. We always recommend that you go ahead and experience several different cities in Canada from coast to coast.

Sightseeing in Vancouver – There are many great places to go sightseeing in Vancouver. We have listed a few below which should be able to give you at least a headstart. Whatever you desire really, you can do in such a big city.

Here are just a few places you can go sightseeing in Vancouver:

Distance by airplane to Vancouver, Canada.
From Seoul, South Korea – 10 hours
From Tokyo, Japan,  - 8.5 hours
From Singapore – 11 hours
From London, England – 14 hours,
From Mexico City - 5 hours, Sao Paulo Brazil - 9 hours, Los Angeles - 3 hours, New York 7 hours, Halifax - 6.5 hours, Toronto - 4 hours

Students Love To Travel – Here is some useful information for the student traveler in Canada which will be updated often. Resources include what is below;

Renting a car in Vancouver.
Youth Hostels in Vancouver.
Hotels in Vancouver.
Motels in Vancouver.
Tourist Locations / Sightseeing in Vancouver.
Cultural Associations in Vancouver.
Apartment Rentals – Shared Rooms in Vancouver.
Universities and colleges in Vancouver.
Travel / Tour Companies in Vancouver.
Airport Information in Vancouver.
Immigration Lawyers / Consultants in Vancouver.
Buying a Home in Vancouver.
Live Weather in Each Canadian City in Vancouver.
Travel Agents / Travel Agencies in Vancouver.

Other Resources:

Study English in Canada
Study English in Vancouver
Study English in Halifax
Study English in Toronto
Study English in Calgary
Study English in Montreal

Study English in Canada

• Study English in Canada
• Study English in Vancouver
• Study English in Halifax
• In Spanish - Acera de las ciudades

Learn English - Free ESL Lessons

• How to write a cheque/check
• Irregular Verbs - Huge List
• Take off Eh? (Canadian Stereotypical slang)

Online ESL Lessons

ESL Lessons Index 

• How to write a cheque/check
• Irregular Verbs - Huge List
• Take off Eh? (Canadian Stereotypical slang)
• Break the Ice: Conversation
  Starter
• Yes/No Conversation Activity
• How to write a cheque/check
• Irregular Verbs - Huge List
• Who Am I - Conversation game for ESL class
• The used cars Lesson
  (advanced reading)
• Freak out
• Lets head
• How come
• Punch drunk
• Speak of the Devil
• Dating Slang
• Check it out

Business English Lessons

• Creative Entrepreneurship
• What is Direct Marketing?
• The Sole Proprietorship in Canada
• Finding a Business Idea
• Interview with a Canadian Businessman in Asia