English as a Second Language

English language skills, including listening, reading, writing, and speaking, are critical to achieving academic and career success in an English-speaking country. While becoming fluent in another language may appear daunting to non-native English speakers, NFCI’s elaborate support system strives to simplify the process and facilitate student success.

NFCI Exchange Student Studies have shown that a quality language environment is of paramount importance to the successful acquisition of a new language. NFCI has a strict English-only policy that applies to all students and staff to maximize student’s exposure to and use of English.

Peer Learning

The friendly and positive learning environment at NFCI promotes student collaboration and cooperation. Students can advance their language skills through learning with and from each other in after-school clubs and workshops that seek to ignite their passion for the English language.

Flexible Program for Learning English as a Second language (ESL)

Many of our students come to us from non- English speaking countries, and require a unique language learning experience in order to gain the skills and confidence needed to function both academically and socially in Canada. NFCI’s ESL program is designed to meet our students diverse English Language learning needs, and is complemented by the academic assistance that is provided to all students on a daily basis.

ESL students will complete a series of linguistic training sessions led by native English-speaking linguistic experts who have extensive experience in working with ESL students. Students will acquire important verbal and non-verbal communication skills that are essential to achieving success.

Components of the ESL Program

NFCI’s ESL program consists of the following components:

• Step-by-step learning regimen to build a solid language foundation,
• Interactive lessons promote student involvement in the learning progress,
• Independent and group activities to enhance student enthusiasm, individual learning and teamwork skills,
• Opportunities to collaborate with students from other local schools to strengthen social communication skills, and
• A supportive learning environment to boost and reinforce student’s confidence and self-efficacy

Students are required to complete an English placement test before enrolling in the ESL program to determine language proficiency and course level placement. The placement test may be repeated at the end of an ESL course if considered appropriate by the teacher for possible acceleration beyond the next level.

Completion of any of the five ESL courses qualifies the student to receive up to three full credit towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), with the fourth credit from a Grade 12 compulsory English course. Once students have completed the ESL program, they will move on to academic English courses, which begin with grade 9 English through to grade 12 University English courses.

The ESL Program Curriculum