Professional English as a Second Language

Program Overview

The online Professional English as a Second Language certificate* incorporates exceptionally rich and interactive multimedia lessons that simulate a wide variety of business-related communication situations. Our online courses place a strong focus on comprehension, written and spoken expression, professional English vocabulary and grammar while incorporating interesting aspects from North American culture. We have enhanced our online language courses in a number of ways which go beyond traditional online learning environments.

Our virtual classroom allows you to drop in and speak face-to-face with your instructor or classmates, providing you with individualized attention and support. Our online courses further build a strong community of learners through online discussion forums in English. The courses will also provide you with a vast array of additional resources beyond the required course material.

*Offered in conjunction with Rosetta Stone®

Intensive Program

Students can now choose to complete English 1 & 2, 3 & 4 or 5 & 6 in the same semester. This stream will allow students to complete the Professional English as a Second Language certificate in one year rather than two when starting at Level 1. 

For students interested in the intensive program, you do not need to register and pay for both classes at the same time - you can register and pay for the second class when it begins.

Additional Information

English Language Placement Test

The placement test was designed to help you informally assess your English language proficiency to gain a better idea of which course to begin your English studies. If you have no previous English language experience, you are welcome to take the test but should register into English 1. The placement test focuses on knowledge of basic grammatical structures - it does not evaluate oral and written skills. The placement test contains 50 multiple choice questions. It is recommended that you take the test without the use of any study aids to obtain a more accurate result. Once the test is completed, your results will be emailed to you. Take the English Placement Test now.

Choosing your Program

The Everyday English as a Second Language Certificate and Professional English as a Second Language certificates share the same curriculum for Levels 1-3. Focus on professional communication and specialized business vocabulary occurs at Levels 4-6. However, you must complete at least Levels 5 and 6 to receive the Professional English as a Second Language certificate.

Online Program Highlights Include:

• lessons provided in partnership with Rosetta Stone®
• individualized language support from your professor
• access to a variety of supplementary web-based language learning resources
• online quizzes to test your knowledge and allow your professor to evaluate your progress
• discussion boards to practise writing with your instructor and classmates
• virtual office hours with your professor, hosted in our virtual classroom
• conversation clubs for language practice with your classmates, hosted in our virtual classroom
• final oral exam online

Testimonials

The lessons are an excellent learning tool because they use sight, writing, speaking, exercises and games, so every sense is challenged, and you don't get bored. I enhanced different parts of my language skills such as grammar, speech, reading and listening. In the virtual classroom, learners can talk to the teacher/instructor and to each other. The instructor is very personal and adjusts to your skill level. The virtual classroom allows learners to attend sessions from anywhere in the world. Overall, I enjoy learning with this program and would definitely recommend it!

Marion

The online languages course is convenient, flexible and easy to access at my own pace. The lessons are great for learning a second language. I can complete lessons during my lunch time, before I go to bed or on the weekends. If I have any questions, I send messages to the instructor who responds quickly. The virtual classroom is helpful for practising conversation, so I use it every chance I get.

Joanne H.

Note: Neither the Everyday nor the Professional English as a Second Language certificates qualify for General Education or Diploma Level English credit.

Curriculum

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Course Name	2024/2025 Academic Year		2025/2026 Academic Year												2026/2027 Academic Year
Compulsory	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan
ENG 185: Professional English as a Second Language 5
ENG 186: Professional English as a Second Language 6
Electives
ENG 184: Professional English as a Second Language 4
ENG 191: Everyday English as a Second Language 1
ENG 192: Everyday English as a Second Language 2
ENG 193: Everyday English as a Second Language 3

Compulsory Courses

ENG 185 Professional English as a Second Language 5

  Start Date: January 2025  

Professional English 5 is designed to help those with an already strong background knowledge in business English further develop their skills and confidence in professional English settings. Expanding on vocabulary for specific professions, students in this level will be exposed to language for medicine and health, marketing and advertising, military and defence, and building and construction, among others. Engaging and interactive lessons will be both video and text based to perfect the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

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ENG 186 Professional English as a Second Language 6

  Start Date: January 2025, March 2025  

Students entering Professional ESL 6 will already have mastered most grammatical English structures, use a wide and idiomatic vocabulary of business English and feel largely confident and effective in English speaking professional environments. This course will help to hone these students' near-proficient skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening, and will further expand their vocabulary of specific professional fields like energy and fuel, insurance and finance, and airlines and aerospace.

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Electives

ENG 184 Professional English as a Second Language 4

  Start Date: January 2025, March 2025  

Tailored to help the business English student further their knowledge of the English speaking business world, Professional English 4 continues to engage students in reading, writing, speaking and listening activities, as well as introducing them to in-depth vocabulary geared toward specific professions. Students in this course will learn about accounting and finance, sales and marketing, computers and IT, and other professions through interactive text-based and video lessons.

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ENG 191 Everyday English as a Second Language 1

  Start Date: January 2025  

Whether you want to learn English to travel, enhance your career or just to have fun, Everyday ESL 1 is the right place to begin. Learn to speak English in an interactive and engaging online language learning environment. Besides improving your speaking skills, you will also engage in the language through listening, reading and writing. Some of the topics covered in Everyday ESL 1 include greetings, work, travel and shopping.

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ENG 192 Everyday English as a Second Language 2

  Start Date: January 2025, March 2025  

Building on the successes of Everyday ESL1, this course will continue to explore one of the most spoken languages in the world. Interactive and engaging online learning activities allow the student to focus on speaking, listening, reading and writing as they learn about culture in the English speaking world and explore the themes of family, free time, telephone and work.

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ENG 193 Everyday English as a Second Language 3

  Start Date: January 2025  

Everyday ESL 3 takes you further along your journey of learning the English language. At this level, the student will explore topics like dining, business and making presentations in a fully interactive and engaging online language learning environment that continues to enhance speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

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