This article aims to introduce various ways to improve English proficiency at George Brown College.

According to CIC News, Canada now ranks the third globally in foreign student attraction, with 642,000 international students in 2019. With the large number and the considerable portion of international students, many Canadian universities and colleges are dedicated to providing a better environment and offering as much as possible support to international students. On the list of challenges international students are facing, English proficiency may be at the top. Today, let us look at the efforts and initiatives present at George Brown College to help international students improve their English.

Studying at George Brown College, international students have various ways to improve their English proficiency:

• Join the Tutoring and Learning Centre

Understanding students’ needs in learning and improving English, the Tutoring and Learning Centre (TLC) offered by George Brown College provides students with free tutoring services in a wide range of subjects, especially English and ESL. For students who would like to study with peers, attending workshops and weekly learning groups might be a booster in their English study. Besides, one-on-one tutoring is also available to students who want to solve their problems individually. In addition to these interactive sessions mentioned above, TLC also offers a variety of online resources and handouts that might be helpful for students’ English and academic learning.

• Participate in Peer-assisted Learning

George Brown College offers a peer-assisted program, Peerconnect, to help international students during their time at George Brown. At Peerconnect, a collaborative environment will be provided for international students to communicate with peer coaches. By participating in Peerconnect, international students can consult coaches about their problems. At the same time, it is also a good opportunity to practice English.

• Actively attend student activities

For students who would like to practice their English socially, actively attending student activities might be a good choice. The GBC Language Café provides international students around the Casa Loma campus a place to meet other students and practice their English. Joining the Student Association of George Brown College is also a good idea. The Student Association offers international students an opportunity to not only involve in different student activities but also get exposed to an English environment. 

• English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program

George Brown College offers nine different levels of EAP programs from beginner to advanced to cater to different students’ needs. For more information about this program, click here.

Interested in starting your study journey at George Brown College? Check Global Study Guide for more information about student life, programs, and international student support and register a free account to apply today!