Q.WHAT ARE YOUR COURSE FEES?
A. After Covid struck, our unique operating structure, i.e. in-house programs, was converted into online instruction. The majority of your fees go directly to paying the teachers salaries. Buying workbooks, CDs and textbooks can be quite expensive, but our prices are ALL INCLUSIVE. Simply take our hourly rate, multiply by the number of hours and participants, and you have the cost of the program. When you contact us, we will offer you a complimentary evaluation and discuss the cost of your program.
Q. HOW IS MY LEVEL DETERMINED?
A. By means of a Language Evaluation and Training Needs Form, we ensure you start off at the right level. The program is tailored to the participants language level and to the specific requirements of his/her position. All our energy will then be devoted to reaching the goals laid out in the assessment
Q. ARE PROGRESS REPORTS AVAILABLE?
A. Clients want proof that their financial investment is delivering concrete results. Attendance and progress reports, as well as individual feedback, are available if requested.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR SCHEDULE?
A. At ELC, we understand that flexible scheduling is very important to many companies. To ensure that we can offer you a program that meets your company's needs, we propose an evaluation during which we determine the participants level, the language goals, and preferred time slots. Based on this information, we can suggest a convenient schedule. Most companies prefer fixed schedules for their group lessons, whereas an individual who travels needs much more flexibility. In the case of a client who wants intensive training, ELC would arrange more frequent lessons. As you can see, different scenarios are possible, depending upon your needs. For our general programs, we recommend 40 hours. 10-hour increments are possible, as well as pay-as-you-go.
Q. IS THERE HOMEWORK?
A. We recommend that students do their assigned exercises following a class. Homework is an out-of-classroom activity. For those individuals who are serious about learning a foreign language, the work they do outside the classroom is as important as the work done in the classroom. If a student encounters a problem with an exercise, they are encouraged to bring it up with the instructor.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
A. All we require is that you give us 24-hour notification. That missed class will be made up at a later date.
Q. DO YOU HAVE FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAMS?
A. Being in English speaking Ontario, we can't offer genuine immersion programs. However, we do have semi-immersion programs that can prepare you for a full immersion program in Quebec. Students can start learning French part time with ELC before the immersion, and continue to practice and improve after returning from Quebec. We can recommend programs in Quebec for those interested in the experience of living and breathing in French.
Q. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO BECOME BILINGUAL?
A. It all depends on what level of bilingualism you wish to obtain. For most business communication, a functional level of fluency can be obtained after 500 hours of instruction. But, if your goal is effective communication, not perfectionism, you would obviously need fewer hours. Our students are able to say and understand some basic sentences in French or English starting with the first lesson. Please refer to level outlines to see what one is capable of saying and understanding after a 40- or an 80-hour program. Different people have different aptitudes, and it can be difficult to initially predict a persons rate of progress in a fixed time frame. We cannot guarantee instant success, but if the student is self-motivated, we can guarantee that with every lesson, we will bring them closer to their language goal.
Q. HOW MANY TEACHERS WILL I HAVE? WHAT ARE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS?
A. The stellar reputation of ELC is due overwhelmingly to our excellent teachers. All our teachers are university graduates with years of teaching experience. We firmly believe in having one teacher for the duration of the program. The close rapport between the students and the teacher produces much better results. The teacher can quickly pinpoint their students diverse language needs, learning styles and progress, and in turn adapt the program to the particular situation. Our programs are structured, but not rigid to the point where the teacher has to follow a pre-established assembly line program. If there is constantly a change of teachers, it interferes with a smooth progression.
Q. DO YOU TEACH QUEBECOIS?
A. At ELC, we teach standard French. It is not Parisian, nor Patois. We use resource material from both Quebec and Europe. We point out to our clients that French grammar is French grammar, regardless of which side of the Atlantic it finds itself. Yet, for those clients dealing with the Quebec market, we make them aware of common Quebec words. Our teachers also demonstrate different accents that may occur, as well as local expressions and cultural points of interest.