Why do I need an EAP or ESL program?
An English Language Program prepares students for English communication and composition skills. They are often called English for Academic Purpose (EAP) program or English as a Second Language (ESL)program.
If you are not from an English speaking country, you often need to complete a course or pass the IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo test in order to start your studies abroad.
ESL programs are not cheap. A 1-week preparation could cost £750¹, a 4-week immersion course could cost C$1800², and a 16 week program could be just under C$4500³, and an academic pathway program that comes with a conditional offer could cost C$3765⁴ each level. However, if you choose a good preparation course for your need, it could be worth their cost.
Even if you have studied English from primary school, using and understanding the language effectively could still be challenging. This can range from everyday settings:
- When your new friend says “Yeah, no, that’s it” and you really don’t know if it’s a yes or no
- When you are in a video call with unstable internet connection, and you have to guess your way through 50% of the call
To academic disadvantages:
- When your professor says in class “I will not pause to ask if you have questions. Please interrupt me anytime if you need clarifications. ”
- When your 40% marks term paper requires that you “communicate your methods with clarity. Highlight key features of your results, illustrate your results in simple sentences and supplement your assumptions with relevant readings. ”
To serious academic/career moments:
- When you want to run for a student club election but the 3 minutes speech in the annual general meeting holds you back.
- You cannot get admitted to university without a satisfactory English test score.
- You are in an interview. The other interviewee cracked a joke and the interviewer laughed.
Bottom line:
Be it English, Japanese, German, or other languages, not having sufficient language command in a foreign language environment holds you back from a lot of fun and opportunities. You may have studied English from 1st grade through to secondary school, but applying it in an academic or all-immersive setting requires adaptation. There are many reasons why university years can be challenging, but don’t let it be due to language insufficiency.
