Language school Vancouver, ILSC Work Experience Program

WEP - Work Experience Program, BASIC version
This programme is geared to students who wish to deepen their English language skills with an experience in the Canadian professional world. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to add an international dimension to your CV and combine your language study stay with an experience in the daily reality of the working world in Canada.

This programme is open to autonomous and motivated participants with a level of English which is sound enough to face everyday communication situations (upper intermediate level, B2). Organised by our partner school, ILSC, the programme takes place over two stages. The paid job is proposed following an intensive English course which will allow you to acquire the necessary linguistic baggage.
The programme extends over 6 months (12 weeks of classes + 12 weeks of job), 8 months (16 + 16 weeks) or 10 months (20 + 20 weeks). A unique opportunity to experience complete immersion in two complementary contexts: the academic learning and the practice.

Courses
During the academic part of the programme, which takes place in Vancouver, you will be able to
choose among a variety of courses proposed by ILSC:
You will take 30 English lessons per week, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. Students are divided into groups of 10 to 14 students according to their level. Depending on the dates of your stay, you might also be able to prepare one of the Cambridge ( (FCE, CAE, CPE) exams or the BEC.

Paid jobs
Most of the jobs are proposed in the tourism and hotel industry. Nevertheless, some entry level jobs, that is to say non qualified jobs that will essentially enable you to make new experiences and earn some pocket money, are also available in other fields of activity, to a lesser extent. The position you will get will depend on your previous professional experience and on your language level. The weekly working time is approximately 30 hours and the pay varies (between CAD 8.- and CAD 15.-/hour). Depending on the nature of the job, these can be carried out in Vancouver or in other towns or mountain resorts of Canada, like for example Whistler or the Delta Sun Peak Resort in Okanagan.
The resort jobs are available depending on the season and often require a minimum duration of stay.
Most of the time, the resort jobs offer accommodation possibilities whereby the fees are directly deducted from the salary.

Requirements
People wishing to participate in this programme will have to carry out a written language evaluation test at the time of enrolment. If successful, you will have to go through a telephone interview with a person in charge of the programme who will evaluate your oral English level and your motivation.

For the participants in the WEP programme, the following conditions are required:
- previous professional experience (paid job, internship, volunteering etc.)
- minimum age: 18 years old
- student visa valid for the whole duration of the programme
- positive, flexible and independent attitude.
- minimum level required to start working in a professional environment: B2 - upper-intermediate.

The ILSC school provides international students with:
- support in getting a work permit and a social security number.
- a general information meeting on the WEP programme, the programme requirements, the work culture in Canada, a preparation course to help them find a job and advice on work placements
- academic advice to acquire specific language skills, including advice on how to choose courses and assess your language progress.
- a contact person during the job experience
- access to a documentation centre and to information on vacant positions and punctual events (job fairs, etc.)