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FAQ
| Douglas College will not be offering the Explore program in 2012. |
Who participates in this program?
Will my classmates be Anglophones? When will I spend time with Anglophones? How much money should I bring?
Can I stay with relatives?
Can you accommodate children?
Can I live in a dorm?
Can my friend/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/spouse and I live together?
Can my homestay family take me early?
Can I arrive late because of final exams or flights?
How early can I book my flight for on departure day?
How do I get the money for my bursary?
Is the focus on phonetics, grammar, reading, writing?
What level will I be in?
My friend was in your program last year and really enjoyed the activities. Will you do the same activities this year?
Will I need to buy a textbook?
Do I get credit?
Who participates in this program?
We usually accommodate approximately 75 students in each program. Most years, about 50 of these students are from Quebec. Most of the other students come from Asia (especially Japan, Thailand, China, Taiwan, and Korea) and some come from Latin America or other parts of the world. This diversity encourages the use of English and the sharing of cultures.
Our students range in age from 18 to about 60 years old, though most are around 22 or 23 years old. All of our students have post secondary experience (CEGEP, college, university).
Will my classmates be Anglophones? When will I spend time with Anglophones?
This program is designed for students who do not speak English as their first language, so your classmates will not be Anglophones. However, you will have a lot of opportunities to speak English with Anglophones. All of the immersion team members speak English as their first language or have achieved a very high level of English. Your homestay family members will also speak English fluently, even if it isn't their first language. We encourage you to participate in the many college activities open to all Douglas College students.
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How much money should I bring?
Our general recommendation is to bring $100 to $150 per week for pocket money plus approximately $175 to $200 for transit, but the amount you need will depend on your spending habits and what you want to shop for. If you plan to buy a lot of souvenirs, clothing, or other items while you are here or if you plan to eat at restaurants or go to clubs, you will likely need about $150 per week. Consider how much you spend on average at home and make sure that you bring more than that.
We have not included the cost of any optional overnight trips in this estimate.
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Can I stay with relatives?
You can stay with your relatives before and after the Explore program, but you must live with a homestay family from arrival day to departure day.
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Can you accommodate children?
We cannot accommodate children in homestays and we do not provide daycare. However, there are programs at other schools which can accommodate children.
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Can I live in a dorm?
Douglas College does not have dorms. All students will live with homestay families for the duration of the program.
Your experience with your homestay family will be one of the most important and wonderful parts of the program. We hope that you will take every opportunity to practice your English with your homestay family.
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Can my friend/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/spouse and I live together?
No. You must live in a homestay for the duration of the program. Your friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, partner, or spouse cannot live with you and will not be assigned to the same homestay if they are also part of the Explore program.
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Can my homestay family take me early?
Some homestay families are able to accommodate students before arrival day and/or after departure day. You will be responsible for paying for room and board, which is approximately $25.00 per day. Homestay families are not required to accommodate students before arrival day or after departure day.
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Can I arrive late because of final exams or flights?
No. You must arrive in time for the assessments on opening day and should arrive the day before classes start (arrival day) to get settled.
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How early can I book my flight for on departure day?
Please note that Saturday is departure day and your homestay placement includes Friday night. If you must leave Friday, the flight must be no earlier than 6pm.
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How do I get the money for my bursary?
The bursary will be sent directly to the institution you will be attending. You will not receive the money.
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Is the focus on phonetics, grammar, reading, writing?
It is an integrated skills approach with a focus on fluency and accuracy.
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What level will I be in?
During the first two days of the program, we will assess your level and place you in a group that will be best suited for helping you make the most of your five weeks. You may not be bilingual at the end of the program, but you will have made amazing progress.
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My friend was in your program last year and really enjoyed the activities. Will you do the same activities this year?
The general structure of the program and many of the activities may be the same, but the program changes each year. We ask for feedback at the end of each program to make the next year's program even better. We also draw on the strengths and interests of each year's staff and faculty to plan for the students.
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Will I need to buy a textbook?
No. If your class needs a novel or textbook, this will be provided by the College. However, you should bring or buy a good English/English (monolingual) dictionary. Bilingual dictionaries will not be permitted in class.
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Do I get credit?
We recommend that you ask your registrar's office about their policy regarding transfer credits for Explore. Your program at Douglas College is a three credit course, but you must check with your home institution to make sure it will accept these credits and how they may be considered a part of your program.
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