FAQ's

• What can I expect on my first day of classes at ECSL?
• How much spending money should I bring with me?
• What is the weather like in Halifax?
• How do I know that ECSL will place me in the appropriate level?
• Do my homestay dates have to be the same as the dates that I'm taking classes?
• Can I contact my Homestay family before I arrive?
• Do you arrange activities after class?
• Can I extend my Study Permit if I decide to stay longer at ECSL?
• Will I be able to use the Internet at the school?
• Do I need health insurance to attend ECSL?
• How strict is ECSL about speaking English on school premises?
• Are beginners accepted at ECSL?

What can I expect on my first day of classes at ECSL?

8:00 - 9:00	Welcome to ECSL by Director of Student Services, Registration and survey
9:00 - 9:30	Tour of school & information sessions
9:30-11:15	Level Assessment Test
1130-12:00	Speaking Test Meet & Greet students and staff
12:00-1:00	Lunch
1:00	ECP, EFB, EAP Students: Class Academic TOEFL and TOEFL students: Test
3:30	Finish for the Day

How much spending money should I bring with me?

This is a difficult question to answer. Some students have a strict budget and others plan on buying lots of things and visiting lots of places. Meals can vary between $1.00 for a slice of pizza to $75.00 in an expensive restaurant. Movies are about $10.00. Night clubs might cost you between $10.00 and $40.00 depending on how much you consume. A monthly bus pass costs about $64.00 and can be used as much as you like within the month.

What is the weather like in Halifax?

Halifax is a city with four very different seasons : winter, spring, summer, and fall. The city is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and therefore offers a temperate weather. Summers are warm with a range of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
The snow usually begins in late December. January and February are the coldest months with temperatures which range from -15 to 0 degrees Celsius.
Spring arrives late March when the weather starts to get warmer.

How do I know that ECSL will place me in the appropriate level?

There is a placement test on the first morning followed by a speaking test which helps the Director of Studies to place you in the most appropriate level. ECSL has 5 levels of English.

Do my homestay dates have to be the same as the dates that I'm taking classes?

No. You can stay for as long as you need. The homestay fee is due to the hostfamily as soon as you arrive. This fee is $640.00 for 4 weeks. Most students arrive on the weekend before the start day but some arrive a week beforehand to adjust to life in Halifax.

Please make sure you inform your host family and the homestay coordinator of your plans to extend your time with the family. The homestay family might make other plans such as vacation time or accepting other students if they think you are leaving.

Can I contact my Homestay family before I arrive?

All students receive a Host Family Profile when they register at ECSL. Included in the profile is their new host family's contact information. Most of our families have an email address and we encourage both the families and our future students to correspond before arriving.

Do you arrange activities after class?

Yes, ECSL has a Social Activities Coordinator, who arranges the weekly social activities and after school activities. There are also weekend trips organized to places like PEI, Cape Breton and the South Shore of Nova Scotia.

Can I extend my Study Permit if I decide to stay longer at ECSL?

Students do not need a Study Permit for study programs that are six months or less. However, students can apply for a study permit even if they are going to study for six months or less. If you are thinking of possibly studying for more than six months, you should apply for a study permit in your home country. Students can extend their study permit from within Canada, but they cannot get a study permit within Canada.

Will I be able to use the Internet at the school?

Yes. We have a new computer lab with flat screens which are all set up with high speed internet. These computers are accessible to students before class, lunch time and after class every day.

Do I need health insurance to attend ECSL?

Yes. All ECSL students are required to have health coverage while studying at ECSL. We do offer students the possibility of purchasing health insurance at our school. If you purchase insurance elsewhere, you must provide proof of your health insurance on your first day of school.

How strict is ECSL about speaking English on school premises?

ECSL is proud to have an English-Only Policy at the school. All students are required to sign the policy promising to speak English while at ECSL. This includes break times. The first time a student is heard speaking his/her native tongue, he or she will not be permitted to attend classes the following day. The second time a student speaks his/her own language, he/she will miss 3 days of school. If a student speaks his/her language a third time, he or she will be suspended from the school. This policy was created to help improve students’ English communication skills and to respect the various nationalities which encompass ECSL.

Are beginners accepted at ECSL?

ECSL offers 25 hours per week tuition to Pre-Intermediate to Advanced students. In special circumstances, students who are unable to participate in the 100 Level program, our lowest level, will have 12 hours per week of preparatory studies until they have the necessary skills for class placement.

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