ESL Programs

• Low tuition
• NO hidden costs (materials included in tuition fees)
• Year round ESL classes (4 semesters – winter, spring, summer and fall)
• Flexible intakes (intake every Monday except month of December)
• 25 hours of instruction per week
• 5 levels of instruction to meet students’ needs and abilities
• Small class sizes, average 15 students per class (lots of individual attention)
• Dedicated, experienced, and highly qualified instructors
• Opportunities to experience Canadian culture through weekly excursions and activities (FREE for students enrolled in ESL)
• Personalized service & support
• Assistance with admissions and registration
• Strict English only policy is enforced in the classroom

The curriculum is designed to help students learn in the shortest time possible so that students can progress into our college or university transfer programs.

There are 5 levels of ESL:

ESLI 026 ESL Basic – Levels Five through Two
ESLI 099 ESL Advanced – Level One (highest level)

Each level of study takes one semester (4 months in Fall & Winter, 2 months in Spring & Summer) to complete.  A placement test is given to students on the first day of classes which determines what level the student will start in. 

Highly qualified instructors using various methods of instruction and media make our ESL classes both interesting and informative.  Textbooks, film, television, newspapers, magazines, music, fieldtrips, and guest speakers are combined to motivate the students enabling them to be successful in their studies.  Our 5 level ESL program consists of the following classes:

Vocabulary: The goal of this class is to expand on a student’s existing vocabulary.  They focus how to learn new vocabulary through form, meaning and use. Students learn new words as well as take the learning skills to other academic subjects outside ESL.

Grammar: The goal of this class is to bring students from basic sentence structures to more complex structures.  The class focuses not only on written form, but also speaking skills.

Conversation: The goal of this class is to give the students opportunity to speak freely in a relaxed atmosphere outside the confines of a structured class.

Reading: The goal of this class is to introduce students to the elements of literature while improving upon all aspects of reading skills including comprehension, vocabulary and reading strategies.  These skills will help the student succeed in an academic environment.

Writing: The goal of this class is to bring students from a beginner level of sentence structure, to cohesive paragraphs, to the basic essay and eventually the research paper.  Writing skills are essential for both ESL classes and academic courses outside ESL.

Listening: The goal of this class is to help the students improve listening skills through various media as well through conversation skills.  Students practice and develop skills for taking notes, evaluating information and simply listening in social settings.

Film Studies: Once a week, we offer students the opportunity to apply the skills they are learning from classes by watching English spoken movies.  Discussions and planned activities based on the movie’s themes give students the opportunity to apply their English skills.  Through films, students listen to colloquial English, read subtitles, listen for information and apply their knowledge of elements of literature.

Cultural Activities: Every Friday afternoon we offer Canadian culture activity class.  International students are given the opportunity to experience Canadian culture by participating in activities such as hockey, ice skating, museum, tours and barbecues, and even the Rocky Mountains!

The ESL program is designed to suit varying levels of English ability.  Students with an official TOEFL score of less than 61 (iBT)/173 (computer based)/500 (paper based), (students in Levels 3, 4, or 5) must concentrate exclusively on the ESL program and may not take additional college or university level courses.

Students with a TOEFL score above 61 (iBT)/173 (computer based)/500 (paper based) (students in Levels 1 & 2) are able to take up to 2 College level or University Transfer courses while enrolled in ESL.  These courses are at no additional charge (FREE)!

After successfully completing ESL Advanced (ESLI 099), students may be accepted into Medicine Hat College certificate, diploma, applied degree or university transfer programs.  In addition, all other academic entrance requirements of the program must be met prior to acceptance.  In programs with more applicants than places, acceptance is based on academic merit with places in the program awarded to the most academically qualified.  Students considering application to one of Medicine Hat College’s certificate, diploma, applied degree, or university transfer programs need to allow sufficient time (up to several months prior to application deadlines) for assessment of previous education and transcripts.  All transcripts/credentials must be evaluated by the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).

Students may transfer to other colleges or universities after completing one or two years at Medicine Hat College.  Please note that you may have to fulfil the English proficiencies of the institution to which you apply, as they may be different from those at Medicine Hat College.  If you are considering a transfer, please check the English proficiency requirements of the institution to which you want to transfer by contacting them directly or by speaking with an Academic Advisor at Medicine Hat College.