General & ESP English courses in Vancouver

International House Vancouver:
Study English in beautiful Vancouver, Canada at International House Vancouver (IHV)! We provide quality English language courses to international students (adults, teenagers, and children) from around the world. Taught by highly qualified and experienced professionals, our accredited programs are truly unique in the flexibility that we offer to our students. In addition to our English courses for beginners to advanced learners, we offer ESL teacher training programs.

English Language Courses in Vancouver:

General English Courses
- 15, 20, 30 or 35 lessons per week. For Beginners to Upper Advanced Learners.

By using a communicative, student-centered approach, IH Vancouver ensures its students a stimulating classroom environment.

General English focuses on integrating the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing with pronunciation and grammar components.

The overall emphasis is on improving confidence and fluency. Certificates are available to students upon successful completion. All students receive regular progress reports with teacher feedback.

General English classes are held in the morning. In the afternoon, you have a wide range of elective classes to choose from. In addition, we provide Guided English Conversation Classes.

Group classes can also be conveniently combined with individual tuition to focus on special areas of needs of interest.

Elective Classes include:
Pre-Grammar; Grammar and Writing; Academic Writing; Listening Skills; Reading Skills; Pronunciation; IELTS Oral Preparation; TOEIC Preparation; Survival English; Idioms; English Through Media; Vocabulary for Business; Vocabulary and Speaking; Current Events; City Talk; Resume Writing. 


Exam Preparation Courses:
- 15, 20, 30 or 35 lessons per week. 

IH Vancouver offers preparation courses for the following exams:
- TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
- TOEIC - Test of English for International Communication
- IELTS - International English Language Testing System

IH Vancouver also offers Cambridge Exam Preparation: 
Cambridge preparation is suitable for students from Lower-Intermediate level to Advanced levels. Classes focus on reading, speaking, listening, grammar, writing and vocabulary building.

- Cambridge PET (Preliminary English Test)
- Cambridge FCE (First Certificate in English)
- Cambridge CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
- Cambridge TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test) 

Recommended start dates are 12 weeks prior to taking the official examination. Official in-house examinations are available for TOEIC, TOEFL, PET, FCE, CAE & TKT. 


Semi-Private / Private English Tutoring
Suitable for Beginners to Advanced Learners. Classes can be held in the school or at a location of your choice.

Taking semi-private or private English lessons is the best way to improve your English quickly.

At the start of your studies, you will be given an English level test and a detailed assessment to determine the areas which need most improvement.

You will be matched with a qualified and experienced English teacher who will customize a learning program that allows you to target the English language skills that are most relevant for you.

All of the teaching resources at the school are available to you and your teacher. Field trips are designed around your interests and provide a practical way to put new vocabulary into use.

In addition, you will be able to join any of our various social activities. 


Intuition Homestudy: 
- Available year-round on a private or semi-private basis. Suitable for students of all ages & levels.

The IH Vancouver Home Study Program involves living at home with a carefully-selected teacher with whom you study English intensively each day.

Courses run for between 15 and 30 hours per week, and are perfect for students who need accelerated language courses in an English speaking environment. 

In addition to the English tutorials, you will play a part in home life, practicing your English from morning to night, joining in conversations at meal times, and meeting people socially.

Your course is tailored to be as intensive as you want, and to fit in with your schedule. You decide which day you wish to start, and which day you wish to finish.


University Pathway Program for International Students:
Would you like to study at a Canadian university or college?

IH Vancouver provides a Pathway Program that aims to equip international students with the Academic English and cultural skills you need to succeed in North American universities and colleges.

On successful completion of this program, you will be able to write, listen, and speak English at a level that is acceptable for study in Canada.

This program is taught in small classes by highly-qualified instructors who specialize in teaching Academic English.

Program Structure

1. English for Academic Purposes (EAP1) - 8 weeks / 30 lessons of intensive English per week. Successful students finish with an IELTS level of 5.5 or higher.

2. English for Academic Purpose (EAP2) - 8 weeks / 30 lessons of intensive English per week. Successful students finish with an IELTS score 6.5 or higher.

3. IELTS Preparation Course - 4 weeks 

Partnership Schools
We have carefully selected universities and colleges to partner with, who are equally dedicated to offering the best opportunities and education to our students.

We provide ongoing personal academic advice to all IH students during your studies, and assist you throughout the application process and transition to your post secondary studies.


Working Holiday Program:
A working holiday provides a unique way to experience life in Canada! If your country has a working holiday agreement with Canada, and you are aged between 19 and 35, you are eligible to apply for a Working Holiday Visa which allows you to live and work in Canada for up to 12 months.

A working holiday allows you immerse yourself completely in the English language and Canadian culture, as well as providing you with the opportunity to financially support yourself during your extended stay.

IH Vancouver offers a wide range of services for holders of Working Holiday visas. As well as providing English language courses to give you confidence when speaking English, we also offer full job search and placement assistance.


Business English Courses:
Both practical and comprehensive, our Business English classes aim to teach you how to communicate effectively in common business scenarios and situations. They are also a great way to prepare you to take the Cambridge ESOL BEC (Business English Certificate) Examinations.

- Business English Certificate
Upon completion of a minimum of 4 weeks in the program, you are eligible to receive a certificate in Business English.

- Business English Diploma
Our Diploma classes provide exposure to common business concepts and scenarios. You can expect to study business-related topics and everyday tasks such as making presentations, report writing, attending meetings, telephone practice, finance, and more.

Upon completion of 16 weeks in the program, you are eligible to receive a diploma in Business English.


Junior English Courses for Children & Teenagers:

- Winter Junior Program (Homestay)
December - February. Ages 13 - 17

- Summer Junior Program (Homestay)
July - August. Ages 13 - 17

- Children's Adventure Program (Family Program)
July - August. Ages 5 - 12

- Summer Junior Program @ UBC (Residential)
July - August. Ages 9 - 17


ESL Teacher Training Programs:

IHC (International House Certificate) in TESL
130 hours over 4 weeks. Monday to Friday 

A well-rounded initial professional teaching qualification, the IHC in TESL aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful ESL teacher.

Taught by highly-experienced tutors, this course provides a practical focus, with an integrated practicum (teaching practice with real language students) and classroom observation. You will also benefit from a post-course 2 day shadowing at IH Vancouver.

CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) Course
The most widely recognized English language teaching certificate, the CELTA is awarded by Cambridge ESOL and opens doors to good English language teaching jobs around the world.

The CELTA is an introductory course, ideal for people with little or no previous English language teaching experience.  

It is also beneficial for those who have some experience in teaching English but have never attained a recognized teaching qualification.

TESOL Foundation Course
Combining theory and methodology, this 2-week TESOL foundation course has been designed to prepare international students for the IHC TESL course.

ID TESOL Course - International Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
This 10-week program follows a modular approach. A typical program may be:

- TESOL Foundation Course (2 weeks)
- IH Certificate in TESL (4 weeks)
- And (Optional) IH Vancouver Certificate for Young learners (2 weeks) (2 week optional practicum)
- And / or (Optional) IH Course for the Cambridge ESOL Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT ) (2 weeks)
- And / or (Optional) IH Certificate in Business English Teaching (2 weeks)

IHC Online
The first online course that gets the International House stamp of approval! This unique and practical online initial teacher training program allows you to learn at your own pace.

The course is modular and is able to be completed in 12 to 36 weeks. The course requires a minimum 120 hours of input and 80 hours of homework.

It incorporates 10 hours of teaching practice (6 hours assessed) for all candidates and 10 hours observation of experienced teachers.

Observation of your teaching practice is completed by a local tutor, with reports sent to the course tutor. Video observation option is also available.