IELTS
QHS after-school IELTS preparation courses are taught by QHS’s full-time teachers who are former IELTS examiners and senior IELTS teachers. The courses are offered to QHS students year-round without being interrupted by summer or winter vacations and focus on intensive training to help students improve their band scores in a short time. Students also can enroll in an IELTS foundation class at any time, and attend the training sessions in multiple rounds until they graduate from QHS.
IELTS preparation courses are scheduled from Monday to Thursday from 16:00 to 18:30. IELTS instructors are full-time teachers at QHS who have many years of IELTS teaching experience. Generally, students who pass the IELTS preparation courses can improve their average scores by 0.5 ~1 in a short time.
In the 2020-2021 school year, QHS adds an “Examiner Tutorial Module” to the IELTS preparation courses, which is taught by QHS teachers who have been IELTS examiners and are familiar with the IELTS assessment criteria. They can analyze students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and design intensive training plans for them according to their weaknesses. This module also provides mock IELTS tests, which are reviewed by former IELTS examiners. This can not only help students improve their English skills, but also increase their exam-taking experiences and improve their confidence in the real test.
QHS International College has been an IELTS testing venue since 2010, serving QHS students.
A total of 6 IELTS Tests are held annually from December to May. Students who attend the QHS IELTS preparation courses can register for the IELTS test at their IELTS teachers or the QHS Guidance Office, which means they can take the test in a familiar environment. The QHS Guidance Office will assist students to contact the IELTS testing center, help them register for the test, and send their IELTS results to universities.
QHS’s ESL program is based on the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum documents.
The learning content covers four important areas of English: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It focuses on improving both language skills and learning skills.
As for the new students, if their native language is not English and their previous courses are not completed in English, they are required to take the QHS English entry test. They will be assigned to a different level of English as Second Language (ESL) courses according to their test results.
QHS’s ESL Program is divided into four levels: ESL Foundation, ESLCO, ESLDO and ESLEO. The ESLEO level is the highest level in this program.
Before registering at QHS, students who have obtained IELTS band 6.0, or TOEFL (computer-based test) 80 can be exempted from the ESL courses, and may be directly enrolled in the Grade 11 English course. If they have obtained IELTS band 6.5 or TOEFL (computer-based test) 93, they may be considered to enroll in the Grade 12 English course.
ESL Foundation
Students will use beginning English language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing for everyday and essential academic purposes. They will engage in short conversations using basic English language structures and simple sentence patterns; read short adapted texts; and write phrases and short sentences. The course also provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to begin to adapt to their new lives in Canada.
ESLDO
This course prepares students to use English with increasing fluency and accuracy in classroom and social situations and to participate in Canadian society as informed citizens. Students will develop the oral-presentation, reading, and writing skills required for success in all school subjects. They will extend listening and speaking skills through participation in discussions and seminars; study and interpret a variety of grade-level texts; write narratives, articles, and summaries in English; and respond critically to a variety of print and media texts.
ESLCO
This course further extends students’ skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English for a variety of everyday and academic purposes. Students will make short classroom oral presentations; read a variety of adapted and original texts in English; and write using a variety of text forms. As well, students will expand their academic vocabulary and their study skills to facilitate their transition to the mainstream school program.
ESLEO
This course provides students with the skills and strategies they need to make the transition to college and university preparation courses in English and other secondary school disciplines. Students will be encouraged to develop independence in a range of academic tasks. They will participate in debates and lead classroom workshops; read and interpret literary works and academic texts; write essays, narratives, and reports; and apply a range of learning strategies and research skills effectively. Students will further develop their ability to respond critically to print and media texts.