We have a variety of programs including:
• High school graduation
• One year or one semester
• Short term programs
Most students enroll in our Graduation Program. Mandatory and elective courses combine to build personalized graduation programs. The program principal and ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher help students design and complete their British Columbia Graduation programs. The graduation program is usually three years in length.
Students can register for a one-year (10 months) or one semester (5 months) program where the focus is on improving their English skills, making Canadian friends and living a truly Canadian experience!
Students will take courses with Canadian students, and may also take ESL courses with our highly qualified ESL teaching staff. This program is for students who wish to return home after one semester or one year, to continue their high school studies in their home country.
Students participating in any of our programs have access to free ESL instruction, either as a mandatory course or as an optional support program. As well, the Cowichan Valley program encourages all of our international students to participate in many extra-curricular activities. The program will share, and in some cases pay fully, students' costs for school and community activities like ski trips, ocean field trips, cultural activities with local First Nations, musical and theatre performances, sports trips, cultural trips to Vancouver and trips to local universities, etc. In the Cowichan Valley program, we believe that students will gain as much benefit from these activities as from classroom study.
The Cowichan Valley program organizes in-depth orientation activities at the beginning of each semester. As well, we organize and pay for a number of social events for international students throughout the year.
We also offer short term programs for 3 months. These programs consist of ESL classes along with a selection of non-academic courses for most students. We prefer that students begin short term programs in September or February, at the star of semester. This is not a firm requirement however. Students applying for short-term programs should be aware that acceptance is based on available space in schools, and students will not have the opportunity to choose a school, but will have one assigned.
