Explore English Program 2017

Student ‘s Pre-Departure Handbook

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 2121 WEST MALL, VANCOUVER, BC

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Table of Contents

Contact Information ...................................................................................................................... 2

Welcome to Vancouver................................................................................................................. 3

First Day of the Program ............................................................................................................... 4

Late Arrivals .................................................................................................................................. 4

Cancellation and Refund Policy ................................................................................................... 4

Course Credit ................................................................................................................................. 5

Cost of Living ................................................................................................................................. 5

Meals .............................................................................................................................................. 5

Miscellaneous Expenses................................................................................................................ 6

Health / Medical Insurance ........................................................................................................... 6

ELI Accommodation Services ........................................................................................................ 6

Campus Residence Accommodation ............................................................................................ 7

Homestay Accommodation .......................................................................................................... 7

Banking........................................................................................................................................... 9

Languages at Work ........................................................................................................................ 9

Public Transport .......................................................................................................................... 10

What Should I Pack? .................................................................................................................... 11

Personal Safety ............................................................................................................................ 11

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Contact Information

UBC English Language Institute 2121 West Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada

Phone 604-822-1555 fax 604-822-1477 explore.english@ubc.ca

UBC English Language Institute www.eli.ubc.ca

University of British Columbia www.ubc.ca

Vancouver Tourist Information www.tourism-vancouver.org

Tourism British Columbia www.travel.bc.ca

Vancouver International Airport www.yvr.ca

Public Transportation (buses) www.translink.ca

UBC’s motto is “Tuum Est” which is Latin for “It’s up to you”. Taking this motto to heart will benefit your experience during the Explore English Program.

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Welcome to Vancouver Vancouver is British Columbia’s largest and Canada’s third largest city (by population).

Vancouver has spectacular natural surroundings and parks.

Vancouver offers a wide variety of cultural, recreational, and entertainment opportunities.

There are many beautiful areas of the city to visit. Enjoy a sunset walk along Stanley Park’s seawall. Picnic on the beach and watch the busy city nearby. Hike in the mountains or swim in the ocean and enjoy all the resources of a dynamic, multicultural city. We are sure you will find studying at the ELI to be a fulfilling experience and we look forward to meeting you! Keep in mind that you are coming to Vancouver to study English, and total immersion in the language is the best way to improve your skills. The ELI promotes an English only environment to encourage students to speak English at all times. The most successful students are those with a positive attitude who treat every event as a learning experience and are willing to try new things. Although there may be similarities between the way of life in Vancouver and your hometown, there will also be differences. Culture shock is caused by cultural and environmental changes. For some people, adjusting to a new culture can be difficult – be patient, it may take a little time for you to feel comfortable in Vancouver but you will soon discover that cultural differences are not “right” or “wrong”, just different. It is natural to experience periods of disorientation and anxiety. Remember that you can always turn to the staff at the ELI for support, information, and advice. Set yourself realistic goals and you will have the greatest chance of a successful and positive experience. Good Luck!

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The First Day of the Program The first day of the Explore English Program will begin at 13:00 at the Place Vanier Residence (1935 Lower Mall). You will receive more information about the program once you have arrived. After arrival, you will be interviewed to determine your level of English. There will also be an orientation to the program, to the campus and its recreational facilities and to life in Vancouver. Students living in residence will receive an orientation of Place Vanier Residence. Students living in homestay, will attend an orientation before meeting their host family.

Late Arrivals ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE FIRST DAY OF THE PROGRAM.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the ELI by email of any change in plans before the program starts.

Students who anticipate arriving late must obtain approval from the ELI before they arrive. Unapproved late arrivals will not be accepted into the program.

Cancellation and Refund Policy CANCELLATION BEFORE THE PROGRAM START DATE DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS and supported by documentation from a medical professional = Deposit of $250.00 and Registration fee of $275.00 ($525.00) will be refunded.

CANCELLATION MORE THAN ONE WEEK BEFORE THE PROGRAM START DATE and not due to medical reasons = Deposit of $250.00 will be refunded only.

CANCELLATION WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE PROGRAM START DATE and not due to medical reasons = No refund (neither the deposit nor the registration fee will be refunded). NOTE: refunds can only be credited to the credit card used to pay the fees.

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Course Credit UBC does not give credit for the course but students can get credit from their institution.

At the end of the program students will receive a certificate that includes the dates of the program and the hours attended. Transcripts will be mailed a few weeks after the program end date. If the program is to be used for credit, please contact the ELI directly if you require any additional documentation

The Cost of Living in Vancouver Vancouver has the highest cost of living and the highest house prices in Canada. However, with the program bursary paying for accommodation and subsidizing the cost of meals, it is possible to be comfortable and enjoy the city on a modest budget. The bursary covers:

Accommodation from the first evening of the program to the last day of the program. Meal subsidy of $13 per day (from the first evening of the program to noon of the last

day of the program). Class materials and activities Some Sociocultural activities

The bursary does not cover:

Transportation to Vancouver Transportation within Vancouver Some sociocultural activities

There is a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 7% and a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% on most goods and services purchased in BC.

Meals (NOTE: HOMESTAY INCLUDES 3 MEALS PER DAY)

The $13 meal subsidy will not cover all your daily food costs. The approximate daily cost of meals will be about $30.

On-Campus (cafeterias)

Off-Campus (restaurants)

Off-Campus (groceries)

Breakfast $6 $8

Lunch $8 $10

Dinner $10 $20

Total per day $24 $38

x 30 days = $720 = $1140 = $400 *All prices are subject to change

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Miscellaneous Expenditure We estimate $175 - $250 per month for miscellaneous expenses. These estimated costs should be used as a guideline only. There are additional costs associated with many of the extra-curricular activities. In previous years students have enjoyed day trips to Victoria and weekend trips to Whistler. Joining the activities is optional, but if you were to join the overnight and day trip activities as well as some of the fun evening and weekend activities the cost will be in the region of $400 plus spending money. Registration for many of the activities will be available online before the program starts. You will be notified when registration becomes available.

Health/Medical Insurance Your provincial medical plan will cover you, up to a certain amount, while you are attending UBC. Students should bring their provincial medical card. Students who are taking prescription medications should not forget to bring their prescription if they will need a refill. There is a walk-in clinic near campus, but students with Quebec medical cards must pay $40.00 before seeing a doctor and then pay for any treatment received. This process is standard for most walk-in clinics. You are covered to the extent you would be in Quebec, but your medical expenses must be claimed back from your Quebec medical plan. For more details check: La Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec. We encourage all students to take out additional insurance if you are not covered adequately by your current insurance.

ELI Accommodation Services UBC will arrange your accommodation for the duration of the program. Students are not able to move from residence to homestay or from homestay to residence once they have been placed. The placement of students in homestay will depend on the availably of families. If homestay is not available, students will be placed in residence. Students who wish to arrive a few days before the program and/or stay a few days after the program, can make arrangements to stay in campus residence. Please book directly with the Pacific Spirit Hostel. The residence’s front desk is open 24 hours a day for check-in.

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CAMPUS RESIDENCE ACCOMMODATION

Students live in the campus residence chosen by the Explore English Program. The residences are a few blocks from the buildings where classes are held. The residences are a 10-minute hike from the beach and a 20 minute walk from the nearest grocery store. The Student Union Building, which has a number of food outlets, is about a 10 minute walk from the residences.

UBC residences offer single-size beds in single bedrooms. Linens are provided but students

need to bring their own towels.

There is a shared TV lounge, bathrooms, and a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and sink.

Please note that eating and cooking utensils are not provided.

There are no cooking facilities in residence and the residence cafeteria is closed during the

Explore English Program. There is one small kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and sink on

each floor of the residence. It is possible to heat leftovers and keep food in the fridge, but the

fridge gets very full quickly. There is no hotplate, stove, or oven and you are not allowed to

bring your own for safety reasons, but you may wish to bring your own kettle to keep in your

room. Students may wish to bring a knife, fork and spoon and a couple of microwave-safe

dishes.

There are grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes on and near the UBC campus.

HOMESTAY ACCOMMODATION

Homestay is available for the program dates only. Homestay gives you the opportunity to live with a local family, improve your English, and learn more about West Coast life and culture. Living with a host family is not like living in a hotel. In homestay you will be expected to participate in the family’s daily activities. This includes helping out with daily work, such as setting the table or washing the dishes. Helping your host family is a good way to practice English. You are expected to accept and respect the host family and their rules. You must give yourself and the host family a chance to get used to each other, this usually takes a few days. It is your responsibility to adjust to your new environment. ELI staff are available to assist you with any difficulties you may encounter. It is our goal to ensure that the homestay experience is fulfilling and rewarding for both students and host families. Please note that smoking is not permitted inside most buildings in Vancouver. Unless otherwise specified, smoking is not permitted in the host family’s home. Many families will accept students who smoke, however you may have to go outside to smoke.

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Students’ Responsibilities: Follow basic house rules. Do not smoke inside the house (or on the property at all, if specified). Demonstrate respect and honesty at all times. Show a willingness to prepare own breakfast and lunch, if required. Leave bathroom, kitchen and other areas of the house as clean as they were found. Communicate with host family or Homestay Department if there are problems. Show a willingness to participate and learn about the host family’s way of life. Accept that access to Internet and computers is entirely at the discretion of the host

families and is subject to students’ agreement to not download material or visit inappropriate sites. There are computer labs at the school where students can download any attachments or programs that they may need.

Use telephone cards or call collect for any long distance calls. Do not have overnight guests. Show a willingness to try foods and do not expect specialty foods or items that the

family normally does not eat. Inform families of plans regarding missed meals or late nights. Respect the security of the host family’s home and do not give the family’s name,

address or telephone number to anyone.

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Banking Please note that Caisses Populaires Desjardins is not in Vancouver. You may want to consider opening an account with another bank before coming to BC. The Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank, CIBC, HSBC, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust are all banks that are well represented in Vancouver. As you will receive cheques for your food allowance, you will want to discuss banking strategies with your home financial institution in advance. If you have any questions, make an appointment at your home branch before coming to Vancouver.

There are four banks located on the UBC campus: Bank of Montreal (BMO) Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) #105-2142 Western Parkway UBC Wesbrook Village Vancouver, BC V6T 1V6 5906 Berton Ave Phone 604-665-7076 Vancouver, BC www.bmo.com Phone 604-221-5702 www.rbc.com Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) Scotiabank 5796 University Boulevard 5960 University Boulevard Vancouver, BC V6T 1K6 Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Phone 604-221-3550 Phone 604-225-2265 www.cibc.com www.scotiabank.com

Languages at Work Will someone help me find a job after the program? Explore English will not find work for you, however, you may be able to find work through the Languages at Work program. Languages at Work is designed for Explore bursary recipients, and it offers unique opportunities to continue learning English in a workplace context. Following the completion of the Explore English program, you could have the opportunity to stay in BC for job placements ranging from 3 to 8 weeks.

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Public Transport The Vancouver Transit system uses Compass, a reloadable fare card that works everywhere on transit in Metro Vancouver. It is convenient to buy Compass cards at the vending machines at SkyTrain Stations or online. For full details about the Compass card system please visit http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Compass-Card.aspx

The Trip Planner at www.translink.ca will be very useful while you are in Vancouver. The first route listed will be the quickest.

Fares

Cash (must have correct change) (single journey) $2.75 (1 zone)

Monthly Pass on Compass Card (unlimited journeys) $91.00 (1 zone)

Stored Value (money loaded on Compass Card) (single journey) $2.10 (1 zone)

If you decide to use public transit when you arrive in Vancouver the easiest way to plan your trip is to use the Trip Planner at www.translink.ca. Enter your starting place as “YVR-Airport, Grant McConachie Way, Richmond” and your destination as “UBC Loop, UBC”. The student residence and the ELI are approximately a 10-15 minute walk from the UBC Bus Loop, which is the final bus stop. It is not comfortable to take public transit if you have a lot of luggage. You may be more comfortable taking a taxi from the airport to UBC. The cost of a taxi from the airport to UBC is approximately $40-$46. It is usual to tip the driver 10-15% of the fare.

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What Should I Pack? Consider the climate, temperatures in Vancouver can range from 10° to 25° during May and June.

Vancouver is well known for its rainfall. Although May and June are two of the drier months, you should expect some rain and bring an umbrella and raincoat. The weather in spring and summer can be very pleasant and it is a good time to enjoy the outdoor cafés, beaches, parks, and mountains. Bring mostly informal clothes because people in Vancouver usually dress casually. You will need comfortable shoes because the UBC campus is large.

Personal Safety Vancouver is a fairly safe city. It is important to remember that there is no place in the world that is completely safe. You are advised to be aware of your surroundings, be responsible and practice personal safety at all times. Keep these safety measures in mind:

Do not carry large amounts of money with you. Never leave your belongings unattended. Do not open the door to your room to anyone you do not know. Never get into a car with people you do not know.

The English Language Institute gratefully acknowledges UBC International Student Services for the use of the information from their Pre-Arrival Handbook (31st Edition).