Program overview

Douglas College is a public post-secondary institution that has been providing top-quality learning experiences for over forty years. Students in the ESL Program enjoy the benefits of the college's vast resources, professionally-designed courses, and highly-qualified and experienced instructors that only a publicly-funded institution can offer.

The ESL population at Douglas College is made up of students from diverse cultural backgrounds and a range of age groups. You may find yourself in a class with people from Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, or Africa; they may be in their late teens, parents of teenagers, or recently retired. Learners who are Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents, or International Students all study together in the same classes.

Classes begin in September, January and May and are offered at both the New Westminster and Coquitlam campuses.

International students may study at the Beginning, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced, and Academic Preparatory levels. You may be placed in classes based on a standardized test score or high school grades (details), but should take our Douglas College ESL assessment, if possible.

Domestic students may study at the Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced, and Academic Preparatory levels at Douglas College. As part of the application process, you will need to take a Douglas College ESL assessment to determine your level. Students should be at an intermediate level, finish ELSA 5, or be in their last month of ELSA 5, before they take the Douglas College ESL assessment.

There are a number of ways to study ESL at Douglas College:

The department's core program, Academic Preparatory English, is designed to help you improve your reading, writing, listening, speaking and study skills for success in college, university, or a career. After completing this program, many students move into an academic field like economics or psychology and complete degrees at Douglas College, Simon Fraser University or the University of British Columbia.

There are also special programs such as English for Foreign-Trained Professionals, Immersion and TESL Citation.