Academic Year AbroadFor adults and Students aged 16 & above

EF International Language Centers

www.ef.com

EF Vancouver

Important Note: Factual information contained in this document is subject to change.

Accreditations and Memberships

The EF International Lan-guage Centers in London,

Cambridge, Brighton, Oxford, Manchester, Bristol

and Bournemouth are:

EF Dublin is accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers

in the USA are members of:

The EF Interna-tional Language

Centers in the USA are accredited by:

The EF International Language Cent-

ers in Sydney, Brisbane

and Perth are accredited by:

EF Nice is recognized with the Label Qual-ité Français Langue

Etrangère.

EF Vancouver and Toronto are accredited by Languages Canada.

All EF Courses are certified by Southern

New Hampshire University.

EF Education is an active participant in

the Comité Européen de Normalisation.

The EF International Language Centers

in Brisbane and Perth are mem-

bers of:

The EF International Language Centers in

Cambridge, München, Cape Town and Nice are

accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers in London, Cambridge,

Brighton, Oxford, Manchester and Bournemouth are

members of:

All EF Courses are recognized by Hult

International Business School.

Federation of International Youth

Travel Organizations.

VancouverThe etched mountain backdrop, sparkling wa-

terfront and innovative culture make Vancouver

the new hot place to live in North America. Study

English with EF at the very heart of Vancouver in

the funky Tom Lee Music Building.

Contact details:Suite 400 (4th Floor), 929 Granville StreetVancouver, BC V6Z 1L3, CanadaTel: +(1) 604 633 0505

Watch a video

Or visit us atFacebook.com/EFVancouver

Section ...... Topic

1 ............Introduction to EF

2 ............Welcome to Canada

3 ............Weather watch

4 ............Travel & transfer service

5 ............School information

6 ............Academics

7 ............Accommodation & meals

8 ............Money matters

9 ............Phones, faxes & Internet

10 ..........Health care & insurance

11 ..........School activities & excursions

12 ..........Transportation

13 ..........Expectations

14 ..........Canadian culture & living tips

15 ..........Adjusting to a new culture

16 ..........EF school calendar & holidays

17 ..........Checklist

Contents - Vancouver

Dear Student

Welcome to Canada and EF International Language Cen-

ter, Vancouver, which is located on lively Granville Street

right in the downtown area of this cosmopolitan city. Dur-

ing you stay here we would like to take the opportunity to

show you around and acquaint you with all that this city

and our school has to offer.

Vancouver is considered one of the world’s most beautiful

cities and it has a nice mild climate, never too hot or too

cold and is spectacularly situated at the foot of snow-

capped mountains on the Pacific Coast. Depending on

the season, you can snowboard, ski, play volleyball on

the beach or go hiking in the wonderful wilderness….the

possibilities are endless and we can organize these and

many other activities and trips for you from the school.

The school staff is extremely friendly and helpful and our

school is famous for having one of the biggest mixes of

nationalities in the city - we host students from over 50

different countries!

We hope your learning and social experiences will be

something that you treasure forever. We are all looking

forward very much to meeting you!

Best wishes,

Jon Barrett, School Director

EF International Language Center,

Vancouver

3 Vancouver, Canada

2. Welcome to Vancouver, CanadaVancouver, the third largest city in Canada

(population 2 million), offers an exhilarating con-

trast between its cosmopolitan city scene and

the breath-taking backdrop of mountains and

ocean that surround it. Located in the western

most Canadian province of British Columbia,

Vancouver is a major Pacific port city just a

three hour drive north of the U.S. city of Seattle.

Vancouver’s charm stems from its European

atmosphere, the friendliness of its inhabitants,

and its spectacular scenery and history.

While the Canadian “wilderness” and ocean

beaches are each within half of a kilometer

(quarter of a mile) of the downtown core, many

exclusive boutiques, fine restaurants, and

popular tourist attractions are also within walk-

ing distance or easily accessible by bus. There

is definitely something for everyone.

Local attractions include:

z Canada Place: houses the World Trade Cen-

tre, Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre,

and the Canadian National (CN) Imax Theatre.

z Stanley Park: a 1,000 acre wilderness park

located on a peninsula extending from the

downtown area – attractions include the

Stanley Park Zoo, the Vancouver Aquarium

(which is home to 8,000 species), Totem Pole

Park, numerous biking and walking trails and

the popular Sea-Wall.

z Historic Gastown Area: home to a variety of

unique shops, art galleries, restaurants, and

the famous steam clock.

z Robson Street: lively corridor of ultra-fash-

ionable boutiques and cafés (great place for

people watching!)

z Grouse Mountain: a spectacular view from

3,700 feet at the top of the mountain, which is

reached by an exciting sky tram ride. Just 15

minutes from downtown, the area is complete

with a multi-media theatre, restaurants, hiking

and even skiing in the winter.

z Whistler Resort: a skier’s paradise – a scenic

two-hour drive from Vancouver (also accessi-

ble by bus and train), Whistler and Blackcomb

Mountains represent two of the most popular

ski mountains in North America. Nearby lakes

present opportunities for swimming, fishing,

canoeing and windsurfing in the summer. This

will also be the site of 2010 Winter Olympics.

z BC Place Stadium: home to the Canucks,

Vancouver’s famous hockey team.

z Science World: A futuristic hands-on science

museum with interactive displays.

Modern day British Columbia reflects the rich

historical past of the Northwest region of North

America. The first Native American groups

settled along the coast and on the islands of

British Columbia 10,000 years before the arrival

of Europeans in the 1700’s. The Spanish were

the first Europeans to navigate the Canadian

waters, followed by explorers from Britain and

France. The British Parliament claimed British

Columbia as a colony in 1858 in order to profit

from the gold rush that was luring people of

other nationalities to the region. This strong

British and Native American historical pres-

ence is still evident in Vancouver today, where

you can find shops specializing in fine British

teas and Shetland wools, and totem poles in

wooded areas carved by local Indian tribes.

3. Weather WatchVancouver and the surrounding area enjoy a

relatively mild climate all year round, with sunny,

warm summers and rainy winters. The lushness

of Vancouver’s nature is helped by the 145 cm

(57 inches) of rainfall per year.

Temperatures range from:

Spring: 5° to 17°C (41° to 63°F)

Summer: 11° to 22°C (52° to 72°F)

Autumn: 3° to 19°C (37° to 66°F)

Winter: 0° to 10°C (32° to 50°F)

4. Travel & transfer serviceTransfer service

Arriving at a busy airport in a foreign city can be

confusing. EF offers a one-way transfer service

from Vancouver International Airport to your ac-

commodation for an additional fee. We recom-

mend you take advantage of this service.

At least one month before your arrival you must

1. Introduction to EFEF Education First welcomes students of all ages from every corner of the world to learn a language where it is natively spoken. Our innovative curriculum, the EF Efekta™ System, integrates face-to-face learning in a classroom with studying outside the classroom using the interactive learn-ing tools in our online iLab. An intensively structured academic program along with an array of educational and social activi-ties results in a fast and fun way to learn a language.

EF students come from diverse back-grounds and like you, they have chosen a program to enhance their language skills as part of their academic or career plan. Many have planned for years to take advantage of this opportunity.

A large percentage of EF students apply their new language skills by taking a recog-nized exam, such as Cambridge, TOEFL, TOEIC and IELTS. Successful completion of such exams provides the necessary language qualifications for university and for professional endeavors. Many students view their time with EF as a chance to explore educational alternatives while im-proving language and study skills. Students wishing to study at university can access information and make informed academic choices through our EF University Place-ment Service.

A great aspect of an EF program is the variety of nationalities at our schools. We welcome you to join this international com-munity where you’ll experience life and language with EF. We take great pride in our continuing dedication to our mission - breaking down barriers of language and culture.

4 Vancouver, Canada

inform the EF Office in your home country of

the exact details of your flight, e.g. airline, flight

number, date and time – this is especially impor-

tant if you will be using the transfer service.

Students whose flights are changed in transit

should inform the school office immediately.

Before you leave your home country, you

should put baggage tags on each piece of lug-

gage (including your carry-on baggage) indicat-

ing your home address and the address of the

school in Vancouver. Doing this will help in the

location and recovery of your luggage in case it

is lost or misdirected during your journey.

If you have paid for an EF transfer, please follow

the instructions below. Please do not take a taxi,

as it will not be possible to reimburse you later.

When you arrive at Vancouver International

Airport, you should look for the EF sign in the

International Arrival Area outside of the Inter-

national Baggage Claim on level one. Please

pass through the baggage claim and customs

area. An EF Greeter will be carrying an EF sign

or a sign with your name on it. When you see

the Greeter, please introduce yourself to him or

her; they will be happy to meet you and help

you get to your accommodation. Please be

aware that other students will be arriving on

the same day and you may have to wait up to

an hour for other students to arrive before you

leave the airport.

If you cannot find the Greeter, go to the Visitor

Information Booth on the second level and give

them your name. Ask to have the EF represen-

tative paged (called out over the loudspeakers)

and wait by the information desk.

In case your flight is changed, you miss a con-

nection, or you cannot locate the EF greeter,

please call the school emergency number. You

will receive this number and other important

contact information from your local EF office

prior to departure.

Students arriving independently

If you choose not to use the EF transfer ser-

vice, you must notify the EF office in your home

country of the anticipated arrival time so that

we can notify your homestay hosts of what

time they can expect you.

There is an airport bus service to the city

centre which costs CAN$12. A taxi to the

school costs CAN$30 and a taxi to the area

where the majority of host families are will cost

about CAN$50. You can also take the SkyTrain

(Metro) directly from the airport to the school.

Get off at Granville Street Station and the

school is a 5-minute walk away. Cost $5.

5. School InformationLocated in the trendy Tom Lee Music Building

in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown enter-

tainment district, the EF school is just a 5-min-

ute walk from Gastown and Robson Street (the

Rodeo Drive or Oxford Street of Vancouver).

The public library as well as several shopping

malls and food courts are just blocks away.

The school consists of 22 classrooms, a lecture

hall and a state-of-the-art iLab (computerized

language lab). There is also a student lounge with

vending machines. School offices are just down

the hall so the staff is readily available. Wireless

Internet is available throughout the school for

Internet access via personal laptop computers.

6. AcademicsEF language courses give students the opportu-

nity to study the English language and the local

culture for as long, and with as much intensity,

as suits the student and his or her needs.

EF Level Placement Test

Within 24-hours after booking your course,

you’ll receive your personalized EF username

and password for the online EF campus called

My EF. Before traveling, you will take the EF

Level Placement test online. This test will mea-

sure your language level and ability, grammar

and listening comprehension abilities. Using

your test results, our academic team will place

you in one of six different language levels.

As your English language skills become stron-

ger, you will be promoted into the next lan-

guage level. You may speak with your teacher

if you feel you have been placed into the wrong

level. Please note: you may have both morning

and afternoon classes depending on the time

of year and course type.

Orientation

When you arrive at the school you will take

the EF Level Placement test, if you have not

done so already. During your orientation you

will receive your class schedule and other

important information about the school and

the city. Fun activities are planned to help you

meet students and staff.

General English Classes

General English classes focus on the develop-

ment of the four skills of speaking, listening,

reading and writing. They also include work on

grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

Special Interest Classes

Depending on your course type you may also

select a number of special interest (SPIN)

classes. SPINs allow you to improve your

English through the study of a wide range of

subject options. Admission to some of these

will depend on academic and linguistic level

and availability of places. The selection of SPIN

classes varies throughout the year and a stu-

dent may not be able to repeat the same SPIN

class. Each lesson is 40 minutes in length.

Class size

The average class size is 15 students with a

maximum of 17 students.

Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes.

Consistent failure to attend class, for what-

ever reason, may result in expulsion from the

program with no refund of course fees. It is

important to note that in order to be eligible

for an EF certificate, students are expected to

participate in class and must attend at least

80% of all classes.

Canadian immigration regulations require

you to attend 80% of all your classes. EF is

required to report students who fail to maintain

this 80% average to Canadian Immigration Au-

thorities. Consequently, students with low at-

tendance may be asked to leave the program

and return to their home country.

Homework

You are expected to complete all assignments

set by your teachers in General English and

Special Interest classes. If you are taking an

examination preparation class you should ex-

pect at least one hour of homework per night.

5 Vancouver, Canada

Assessment

You will be assessed at regular intervals through-

out the course. Assessment is based on atten-

dance, participation, attitude and performance.

Course books

As part of your academic program, you’ll be

expected to buy the books and classroom

materials that you will use in class. The exact

number of books that you’ll need is determined

by your academic level, progress and choice of

special interest classes. If you wish to buy ad-

ditional books you may need more money. The

books you buy are yours to keep, write in and

take home with you for future reference.

iLab Learning

All English language school courses include six

iLab sessions per week. iLab sessions comple-

ment and reinforce classroom learning in an

interactive online learning environment. There

is an iLab computer room at the school, which

is for your iLab lessons and self-study tutorials.

Please note: iLab is not included in the EF

Basic Course.

Exams

You may enroll for several different public exami-

nations during your course. Some can be taken

at the school itself, others must be taken at an

external examination center and booked several

months in advance. Please note: you will be

responsible for the cost of all exam registration

fees, which cannot be paid at the sales office.

Library

The public library is just blocks away from

EF Vancouver.

EF University Placement Service

EF International Language Centers offer a Uni-

versity Placement Service (UPS) that provides

guaranteed admission into a university or col-

lege for qualified students. If you are interested

in continuing your studies, you are encouraged

to talk with the University Pathways Manager

at your school.

University Transfer Credit

Through our partnership with Southern New

Hampshire University (SNHU), EF students

may be eligible to receive university credit for

their coursework.

7. Accommodation & MealsHomestay living and student residence ac-

commodations are available at EF Vancouver.

All housing matters should be directed to the

Housing Coordinator.

Homestay

Students staying in a homestay will have the

opportunity to experience Canadian life and also

have the chance to practice their new language

skills with fluent English speakers. Students who

choose homestay accommodation should do so

because they want to live in a family environ-

ment and interact with the family members.

Families choose to host international students

because they want to learn about other cultures

and people. Students who live in a home-

stay must respect the family and their home.

Likewise, the family will respect the student.

As you get an in-depth look at Canadian life,

you will realize that Canadian culture is not the

same as your culture, and therefore, family life

may be quite different. The relationship between

husband and wife, the roles of family members,

the relationship with or discipline of children

and the relationship with pets are just some

examples. If you are open-minded about these

differences, life in the family will be a great learn-

ing experience.

In Canada, the traditional family of two parents

with children is slowly disappearing. More and

more, families may be a single parent with

children or a single adult living alone. To avoid

confusion, EF will speak of “homestay” rather

than of a “family” accommodation. Even in

Canadian families that have a more traditional

set-up, family members with children may lead

separate lives. Many students request a home

in a family with children of their same age.

However, few Canadians over 18 live with their

parents, and those who do, rarely participate in

group activities within the family.

You can expect that your hosts will be busy.

Most men and women work outside the home,

including people with children. Your host may

also have social and professional commit-

ments. They may not be able to spend all their

leisure time with you. However, remember that

you can take part in the activities offered by EF.

Canada is a land of immigrants with a great

range of ethnic and racial diversity. Our se-

lected homes reflect this cultural diversity.

Unless you have paid the single supplement

and a single placement has been confirmed to

you by EF, you will be placed in a double room

with another student. You are responsible for

all transportation costs to and from the host’s

home. You may be placed up to one hour away

from the school.

Linens will be provided, but you will be

responsible for cleaning your own room and

doing your laundry. If the hosts prefer, you may

be required to take your laundry to a nearby

Laundromat for washing.

You are responsible for your personal items

such as shampoo, conditioner, soap and other

6 Vancouver, Canada

items. You will probably share the bathroom

with others. This means that you may need to

be flexible about shower and bath times. Very

few students have their own bathroom. If you

want to take a long time in the bath or shower

check to see that nobody else is waiting to use

the bathroom.

Canadians usually do all major chores once a

week, on Saturday or Sunday. Since you are a

new member of the family it would be helpful

if you acted like one as well. It would be polite

to offer to help. Always remember to keep your

room clean and tidy. Make your bed, and put

your belongings away. You are also responsible

for cleaning up after snacks, and for washing

your own dishes after breakfast. It is also polite

to help clear the table after dinner.

You may make local calls and collect calls from

your homestay. Unless you are using a calling

card, you should not make long distance

calls from your homestay. Remember that

you are sharing the telephone with the rest of

the people in the home. Do not spend more

than 15 minutes on the phone at any time. Tell

your friends and family to call you before 9 pm

Vancouver time.

You will be asked to sign a copy of the EF

Homestay Rules and Regulations prior to

leaving your home country. These rules and

regulations outline the guidelines for behavior

in your homestay. Homestay accommodation

is booked for your entire course. You may only

change homestays for very serious reasons.

Requests for change will be considered on an

individual basis. No refunds will be granted for

students who choose to leave their homestay

for personal reasons.

Meals in a homestay

Your host family will provide you with breakfast

and dinner during the week and all your meals

on the weekends. You are responsible for your

own lunch during the week. Lunch is available

at any of the coffee shops and restaurants in

the immediate downtown area.

Meals will only be provided when you are

home to participate. Please be sure to call your

hosts if you do not plan to be home for dinner.

There will be no refund for meals not taken at

home with your family.

You will find that meals in Canada may taste

different from meals at home. Canadians eat

a lot of pasta, stew, chicken, fish, salad, and

vegetables. They rarely eat steak. If you have

any allergies, let your host know right away.

Expect your hosts to serve you Canadian food

or food from their ethnic origin. Don’t expect

them to know how to cook food from your

country. Be adventurous and open-minded.

If you would like to use the kitchen, ask your

host if you can do this. Appliances, such

as toasters, often differ from one country to

another. The first time you use an appliance,

ask your host to show you how. If you happen

to break an appliance, offer to replace it or

repair it.

Residence accommodation

For students interested in a more independent

living arrangement, we offer a diverse variety

of residence accommodation. Students should

be prepared to pay a room deposit if living

in one of our student residence. The deposit

will be returned at the end of the year upon

satisfactory check-out.

Sandman Residence

Luxurious adult residential accommodation

only a 15-minute walk from the school. Offers

twin room accommodation and is self-catering.

Gym and indoor swimming pool are available

for a fee. Mailing address: 1160 Davie Street

Vancouver, BC, V6E 1N1 Canada

Shaughnessy Residence

Offers single room accommodation with break-

fast daily. Additional meals can be purchased

in the onsite restaurant. It is conveniently

located 20 minutes from the school by bus.

Mailing address: 1125 West 12th Avenue,

Vancouver V6H 3Z3 Canada

8. Money MattersCurrency

The Canadian dollar is the basic monetary unit

in Canada and 1 dollar = 100 cents. Paper

currency comes in denominations (values) of $5,

$10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins come in denom-

inations (values) of 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, $1, $2.

Banks

The safest place to keep your money is in a

bank. You can exchange most foreign curren-

cies at any bank. Different banks offer different

exchange rates. You can call around to find

the best rate for your money. It is a good idea

to open a bank account if you will be staying

more than 3 months.

Spending money

We recommend that you have approximately

CAN$350 in cash for expenses upon arrival,

and the rest of your spending money in trav-

eler’s checks. Depending on your lifestyle, we

recommend that you bring between CAN$150

and CAN$350 per week excluding excursions,

and depending on how much travelng, shop-

ping and eating in restaurants you plan to do

during your visit to Vancouver. Please remember

that you will be responsible for some meals.

You will also need to take money for learning

materials used in class and for any language

proficiency exams you plan to take.

Credit cards

EF strongly recommends that students travel

with either a Visa or MasterCard. Credit cards

enable students to rent cars, reserve hotel

rooms and do various activities, which may be

more difficult with cash or traveler’s checks.

9. Telephones, fax & InternetTelephone

All long distance calls must be collect calls,

charged to the person you are calling, or

charged to a prepaid telephone card, which can

be purchased at the EF office. We recommend

that students expecting to stay for a long period

of time come with or purchase a mobile phone.

Fax

All EF schools use fax machines to conduct

business. The school will charge a small fee

to send long-distance faxes (usually CAN$5).

There are also many places close to the school

that send faxes and charge for the time used.

Ask the front desk for directions to the nearest

fax machine you can use. When you receive

mail or faxes at the school, these will be kept at

the front desk for you until you pick them up.

Internet

The school is equipped with Wi-Fi wireless

Internet. Students are highly encouraged to

bring their personal laptop computers for email

and Internet use on the wireless network.

7 Vancouver, Canada

10. Health Care & InsuranceThe EF staff can recommend nearby hospi-

tals and doctors offices if you need medical

attention. If you have a medical emergency, go

to the emergency department of the hospital

closest to you. Make sure to bring some identi-

fication (i.e. passport) and your insurance card

with you. Walk-in medical clinics are for medi-

cal problems that are not emergencies. There

is no need to make an appointment. You can

simply go see a doctor. Please ask the EF staff

for assistance if you need medical attention.

Immunizations

EF requires that all students attending an EF

school in North America carry proof that he

or she has been immunized against measles I

and II, polio, TBC, mumps, rubella, diphtheria

and tetanus. Please note that it is not sufficient

to have had the diseases as a child. If you do

not bring this documentation with you, you will

be required upon arrival at the school to obtain

the immunizations at an area hospital. The

cost to students is approximately CAN$50 (this

amount is not covered by insurance).

Insurance

All students traveling to Canada are required

to have medical and accident insurance upon

starting their program of study.

All students are required to bring proof of insur-

ance in English to show that they have proper

health insurance when a medical emergency

occurs. Students who do not bring proof of in-

surance will be required to purchase insurance

through EF at the school.

Erika Travel Insurance

Because security is EF’s number one priority,

we have negotiated a comprehensive tailor-

made travel insurance package for EF students

with Erika Travel Insurance, an international

insurance expert. The policy protects you

against expenses incurred through accident

or illness, and provides coverage for loss or

theft of baggage and personal effects. It also

provides coverage against interruption of your

EF program due to illness as well as liability

and legal expenses.

The EF staff is trained to assist with your Erika

Travel Insurance questions and claims. When

you are sick or injured the last thing you want

to do is deal with such issues. Let us help you!

11. Activities & ExcursionsExtracurricular activities contribute greatly

to your social and academic success. Your

school’s activities and trips give you the oppor-

tunity to apply your life skills, practice English

in real situations and familiarize yourself with

Canadian culture.

Activity Program

The Activities Coordinator arranges a regular

schedule of local activities, day-trips, and

weekend excursions to area attractions. The

cost of these trips is not included in the tuition.

Weekend excursions and day trips

The school arranges weekend excursions and

day trips to local attractions. The number of trips

and the cost depend upon the time of year and

the number of students wishing to participate.

Excursions can be paid for in cash or with trav-

eler’s cheques. Credit cards are not accepted.

Some of these excursions will only run if a cer-

tain amount of people pay and seasonal only;

for example: skiing (winter only), white water

rafting/kayaking (summer only) or Canadian

Rockies Tour (May-October).

The following are typical excursions and the

prices are estimates and do not include meals:

z Victoria, B.C. (day trip by ferry) CAN$109.00

z Whistler Resort (hiking, shopping) CAN$85.00

z Seattle (day trip) CAN$100.00

z Grouse Mountain Skyride, Capilano and

Suspension Bridge (summer only) CAN$30

z Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park Zoo

(summer only) CAN$30

z White water rafting (summer only) CAN$

120-$450

z Whistler / Blackcomb Mountains ski weekend

CAN$400

z Whale watching (1 night hotel, 4 hours

watching, summer only) CAN$250

z Canadian Rockies (long weekend trip)

CAN$370.00

Visiting the United States

If you plan to visit the USA during your stay in

Canada, you may need a multiple-entry visa. It

is very difficult to get the tourist visa once the

student has arrived in Canada, so we strongly

recommend that you apply for a US visa before

coming to Canada.

Most European Union students, Swiss and

Japanese students do not need a visitor’s visa

to visit the US. They can enter the country

under the Visa Waiver program. However

students from other countries must obtain the

visitor’s visa prior to arrival in Canada.

If you decide to obtain a visa once in Canada

you will need to visit the US Embassy or

Consulate office. For more information on how

to obtain a visa while in Canada, ask a staff

person in the school office.

Sports and activities

The school also organizes ice-skating, theatre

and restaurant nights, group sports events

(soccer, volleyball, bowling), international dinners

and outings to see professional sports, such as

Vancouver Canucks hockey and CFL football

games in season. The Activities Coordinator will

also organize sports games and tournaments,

depending on student interest and participation.

There are several fitness clubs in the down-

town Vancouver area, as well as in homestay

neighborhoods. Membership fees and trans-

portation are your responsibility. There are of-

ten special student rates available for monthly

membership, with discounts for groups.

Vancouver offers an abundance of parks and

beaches, including Stanley Park (tennis courts

$10 per hour), Queen Elizabeth Park, and the

Kitsilano Beach and Park which offer a variety

of recreational facilities, including tennis courts,

hiking trails, nature walks, and swimming

pools. These parks are open to the public, but

charge a small fee in some cases for special

8 Vancouver, Canada

attractions. Most of them are all accessible by

transit bus from downtown Vancouver.

12. TransportationPublic transportation

Boasting the second largest fleet of buses

in North America, the public transportation

system in Vancouver is excellent. It is both

affordable and reliable, so take advantage of

every opportunity to use it.

The Skytrain and Seabus offer service to and

from some surrounding suburbs, while the

Transit buses cover local transportation

more extensively.

Prices are the same for all types of public

transportation:

z one-way ticket, depending on zone CAN$2-$4

z day pass (unlimited use for 24 hours) CAN$7

z book of 20 tickets CAN$15-$30

z monthly pass (unlimited use) CAN$65-$150

Car rentals

Some students choose to rent a car during their

stay in Vancouver. To rent a car in Canada, you

must have an International Driver’s license and a

major credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Ameri-

can Express.) for a security deposit. Rental car

agencies will only rent to people who are 21

years or older. If you decide to rent a car at the

airport, you will have to find transportation to

and from the airport for pick-up and drop-off,

which is a cost that you should consider when

making your decision. For more information on

how to rent a car, please ask at the front desk

or at in the activities office.

Another alternative is to make your arrange-

ments before you leave home. Sometimes it

is less expensive to contact an international

rental car company in your home country and

get a special “Visit Canada” package deal.

Please note: you should not expect to park at

the school. As it is in the downtown area, there

is limited parking available and parking lots

can be very costly. Public transportation is ex-

tensive and reliable and offers easy access to

and from the downtown area, so we strongly

recommend that you use it.

Buying a car

Some students may decide to buy a car for

the duration of the program. If you plan to buy

a car, you should budget CAN$3,000-$6,000,

depending on the make and year of the car

you are buying. You should also plan to pay

all additional sales tax costs, registration fees,

license plate fees and auto insurance. You

must have a valid driver’s license to buy a car.

An International License is valid for 3 months in

Canada, after this you must take the Canadian

test and obtain a Canadian license. All drivers

in Canada must also have insurance.

Please note: you should not expect to park

at the school. As it is in the downtown area,

there is limited parking available and parking

lots can be very costly. Public transportation is

extensive and reliable and offers easy access

to and from the downtown area, we strongly

recommend that you use it.

Flights

The Vancouver area is well served by the

Vancouver International Airport, located on Sea

Island just 11 km south of the downtown area.

The school staff can help you with any flight

arrangements while you are at the school.

13. ExpectationsExpectations are a normal part of anticipating a

new experience. Remember that many of your

expectations may have been formed by the

unreal world of TV and movies. Arrive at your

course center with an open mind!

What you can expect from EF:

z Supportive staff, available for guidance and

encouragement.

z An academic program which combines lan-

guage, special interest, and culture-oriented

classes.

z Full program of local activities and excursions

at special EF rates.

z Accommodation in either homestay or stu-

dent residence.

z All designated meals.

z EF Academic Year Abroad Diploma for

Academic Year Abroad students with 80%

attendance per term and good academic

standing and academic records

z EF Course Certificate for International Lan-

guage Students with 80% attendance and

good academic standing.

z Preparation classes and/or materials for appro-

priate standardized language exams and avail-

ability of University Placement Service (UPS).

What EF expects of you:

z To develop a greater understanding of the

world around you.

z To attend at least 80% of all classes and to

do your best in class at all times.

z To be respectful of your homestay hosts, your

classmates, your teachers and your community.

z To keep your room and shared areas clean.

z To speak English at all times.

z To abide by all laws, rules and regulations of

your host country, state, campus and school.

What you can expect from your homestay hosts:

z A comfortable, clean place to live.

z Prepared meals or accessibility to food to

prepare yourself according to the meal plan.

z Access to the school in approximately one

hour by public transportation. All transporta-

tion costs are your responsibility.

14. Canadian culture & living tipsSafety

Canada is a very clean and safe country. How-

ever, use the same caution that you would take

in your own country. Be aware of the people

around you and of your surroundings. Try to

appear as though you know where you are

going, even if you do not.

The following tips may be helpful:

z Do not carry large sums of cash. Try to plan

your cash needs so that you use the bank

machine during daylight hours. If you must

use the bank machine after dark, go with

someone you know.

z When you are in restaurants or outside the

school, keep your purse or backpack beside

you.

z Use caution when you travel on public transit

at night. You may choose to take a taxi

instead which is more expensive but a safer

option.

z When you go out at night, go with another

person. Stay on streets that are well lit.

z If you are going out alone, tell someone

where you will be and what time you will be

home. Call if you are going to be late.

z Do not give your address or phone number

to strangers, such as people you meet in

bars or on the street.

9 Vancouver, Canada

Mail

All local postal stations are open 8 am 5:30 pm

weekdays. Substation hours vary depending

on the location. Many locations are listed under

Canada Post Corporation in the white pages of

the telephone directory. Important: Canadian

postage must be used on mail posted from

any point in Canada. The letter and postcard

rate within Canada is 52 cents. Letters and

postcards mailed to destinations other than

Canada and the U.S. are CAN$1.60. Please

note that rates may vary depending on weight.

Vancouver drinking and smoking laws

The drinking age in British Columbia is 19;

students under 19 will not be able to purchase

alcohol or enter bars and discos. Most places

that serve alcohol will ask for proof of age before

they let you in. You need to show picture identi-

fication, such as your passport. These rules also

apply to purchasing alcohol at a liquor store.

z In British Columbia (Vancouver), you must be

19 years of age or older.

z In Quebec, you must be 18 years of age or older.

z In the U.S., you must be 21 years of age or older.

Smoking is prohibited in all public buildings,

elevators, lobbies, stairwells, shopping malls,

cinemas, and sports facilities unless signs say

that you may smoke. Smoking is allowed in

restaurants only where there are smoking areas.

If you smoke in a “smoke free” place, you could

be fined up to $5,000. You must be 19 years of

age or older to purchase cigarettes. Most host

families only allow smoking outside the house

and EF prohibits smoking inside the school.

Taxes

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a 5% tax

that is charged on most goods and services

sold or provided in Canada. There is also a

Provincial Services Tax (PST) of 8%, which ap-

plies to goods and services sold within Ontario.

Tipping

It is the custom in Canada to leave your waiter/

waitress a “tip” for good service. You leave the

tip on the table when you leave the restaurant.

The general rule is to leave 15% of your total

bill before the tax. The easiest way to calculate

this amount is to add the P.S.T. and the G.S.T.

(taxes) together.

Recommended reading

z Let’s Go Canada, Harvard Student Agencies,

Inc. Great student travel guide for where to

go, how to get around, where to stay and

what to eat.

14. Adjusting to a New Culture The Academic Year Abroad community is

more than a group of students who have come

together to learn English, it is a also a multi-cul-

tural group of young adults, eager to share their

own culture and learn the culture of their host

country and fellow classmates. One’s culture is

a made up of values, beliefs, arts, tradition and

practices of a specific community or popula-

tion. Our culture affects how we view ourselves,

how we relate to others and what we value as

important in life. We are often unaware of how

much our culture affects our lives.

You may have already had some exposure to

the new culture you are about to experience.

You may have seen television shows, read

books, or studied in school about North Ameri-

ca. While some parts of this culture may already

seem familiar to you, experiencing a new culture

first hand will prove exciting. What’s more, you

will be meeting students from all over the world

who, like you, are looking forward to spending

a year learning and living a language both inside

and outside the classroom.

As a visitor to a new culture, you may experience

some times when you are uncomfortable with the

new culture. Culture shock is what sometimes

happens when we try to meet challenges of our

new culture by using the values, beliefs, and

attitudes of our own culture. As visitors to a new

culture, we must learn that cultural differences

are merely different, not right or wrong.

Tips on coping with change

Remember, change does not come with-

out some effort! We humans need a certain

amount of stress to motivate us to learn ways

of being. Learning always involves some form

of change. You should try the following:

z While you might be tempted to surround

yourself with things that are familiar to you,

try not to isolate yourself by being only with

others from your home country. Keep reaching

out to your host family and other students.

z Put off making major decisions- such as

changing to a new host family- until you feel

more “at home” with the culture in general.

z Talk to us about your worries or problems.

EF Staff are here to help and would prefer to

know about any problem you may have so

that they can help you.

z Set goals no matter how big or small and

accomplish them! You will feel good about

yourself in doing so, and you will reduce the

negative feelings associated with culture

shock. (For example: Set the goal to only use

English with your classmates!)

z Remind yourself that you came to this

country to experience a new culture. Relax,

take a deep breath, and reflect back on the

days before leaving your home country when

you were excited about your new adventure.

Try to refocus this former excitement towards

your experience again.

Keep a journal

One way to keep track of emotions and

changes that take place over the year is to

keep a journal. By recording your experiences

and feelings on a regular basis (daily or weekly),

you will be able to reduce the impact of culture

shock. You will have a record of your academic

and personal progress to look back on in days

and years to come. Be sure to note changes in:

z Language skills

z School performance and involvement

z Campus/host adjustment

z Individual learning and growth

Keeping a journal will help to remind you that

culture shock is truly a temporary phase of

adjustment.

Bring pictures and items from home

Each spring students present an International

Fair to the staff, students and community. We

have seen costumes and drums from Korea,

dancing and music from Austria, a piñata and

tortillas from Mexico. If you have room in your

suitcases for some music, a costume, pictures,

some typical crafts it will be good to show

other students and will decorate your room to

make it seem like home.

Important telephone numbers

16. EF School CalendarAcademic Year Schedule

The Academic Year is divided into three terms.

(See the applicable start date below for your

program’s specific term and break schedule).

January 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 6 Jan - Sun 8 Jan

Term 1: Mon 9 Jan - Fri 9 Mar

Holiday: Sat 10 Mar - Sun 25 Mar

Term 2: Mon 26 Mar - Fri 1 Jun

Semester Departure: 2 Jun 2012

Holiday: Sat 2 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 3: (Year) Mon 11 Jun - Fri 17 Aug

Departure: 18 Aug 2012

April 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 13 Apr - Sun 15 Apr

Term 1: Mon 16 Apr - Fri 1 Jun

Holiday: Sat 2 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 2: Mon 11 Jun - Fri 7 Sep

Semester Departure: 8 Sep 2012

Holiday: Sat 8 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 3: (Year) Mon 24 Sep - Fri 30 Nov

Departure: 1 Dec 2012

September 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 21 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 1: Mon 24 Sep - Fri 14 Dec

Holiday: Sat 15 Dec - Sun 6 Jan

Term 2: Mon 7 Jan - Fri 8 Mar

Semester Departure: 9 Mar 2013

Holiday: Sat 9 Mar - Sun 24 Mar

Term 3: (Year) Mon 25 Mar - Fri 31 May

Departure: 1 June 2013

January 2013

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 4 Jan - Sun 6 Jan

Term 1: Mon 7 Jan - Fri 8 Mar

Holiday: Sat 9 Mar - Sun 24 Mar

Term 2: Mon 25 Mar - Fri 7 Jun

Semester Departure: 8 Jun 2013

Holiday: Sat 8 Jun - Sun 16 Jun

Term 3: (Year) Mon 17 Jun - Fri 16 Aug

Departure: 17 Aug 2013

Please note: there will be no classes on

public holidays.

School holidays

EF International Language Centers in Van-

couver recognize the following public holidays

when there will be no classes. If your arrival

falls on one of these dates, please check with

the school staff upon your arrival for an exact

orientation schedule.

2012

1 January - New Year’s Day

6 April - Good Friday

21 May - Victoria Day

1 July - Canada Day

6 August - British Columbia Day

3 September - Labour Day

8 October - Thanksgiving

11 November - Remembrance Day

25 December - Christmas Day

26 December - Boxing Day

2013

1 January - New Year’s Day

29 March - Good Friday

1 April - Easter Monday

20 May - Victoria Day

1 July - Canada Day

5 August - British Columbia Day

2 September - Labour Day

14 October - Thanksgiving

11 November - Remembrance Day

25 December - Christmas Day

26 December - Boxing Day

17. Checklist ■ Valid passport (with visa where necessary)

It’s a good idea to make copies of these

and pack them in your suitcase just in

case. You don’t need to carry your pass-

port with you while you are in the Canada

but you must keep it and your other docu-

ments in a safe place while you are in

the country.

■ Passport Photos (4) for EF student

identification cards, travel cards and other

possible documents

■ Flight ticket

■ Luggage correctly labeled

■ EF Confirmation letter & other

EF documents

■ Make sure all EF forms are complete,

especially the Health Certificate

■ Medical and travel insurance documents

with proof of insurance in English. If you

have secured Erika Travel Insurance from

EF, you do not need to have anything

translated.

■ Immunization documents with a copy of

them in English

■ Basic medical supplies, any medication

you take regularly and a spare pair of con-

tact lenses or glasses if you wear them.

■ An International Driving License if you are

planning on hiring or buying a car.

■ Local currency for first week and for any

learning materials that are not included in

the cost of the course.

■ Money in the form of an ATM card

(Automatic Transaction Card), credit cards

and/or traveler’s checks (Do NOT bring

large amounts of cash in any currency!).

■ Electric adaptor for any electrical appli-

ances you plan to bring with you.

■ Pencil and/or pen and notebook.

■ Items from your hometown or country so you can share your culture with friends, homestay hosts and teachers.

■ Personal sports equipment.

■ Favorite books, photos and a camera.

■ Homestay or student residence details and emergency numbers.

Homestay host’s or student residence name:

________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence address:

________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence telephone number(s):

________________________________________

EF Sales Office telephone number:

________________________________________

EF School telephone number:

+(1) 604 633 0505________________________________________

EF School emergency telephone number:

+1 604 889 0608________________________________________