Technical and Trade Sector

BC Institute of Technology (BCIT)

Professional English Language Development (PELD)

PELD is a great option for English as another language (EAL) and non-EAL speakers who need an English upgrade to enter BCIT or other post-secondary programs at institutes across BC. It is designed for students who are at least at the upper-intermediate levels as a starting point; thus, no beginner or lower level courses are available.

English competency assessments

BCIT provides two English competency assessments, COMM 0015 and COMM 0033. Both are computer-based assessments designed to help determine if your reading, writing, and sentence skills, and your speaking and listening skills, are at a level necessary to meet the entrance requirements of BCIT full-time programs and part-time studies courses.

• COMM 0015 English Competency Assessment

• COMM 0033 English Speaking and Listening Assessment

Technical Communication Skills for ESL Students 1 (COMM 0071)

An introductory course for students who intend to study technology and trades at the college level. The course provides a foundation in English language skills, such as reading, writing, speaking and listening, and prepares them for future Professional English Language Development courses at BCIT. Each week, students cover topics based on themes found in business, technology, and trades.

Requirements: Students must have one of the following:

• COMM 0015 within the past 12 months
• CLB/LINC or CELPIP score of 5 or better in both reading and writing within the last 12 months
• IELTS (academic format only) of 4.5 or better in both reading and writing within the last 24 months
• Completion of ELSK 420 through the VCC Pathway program
• Completion of LEAP 4 through the Langara LEAP program OR (6) TOEFL overall score of 32 or better within the last 24 months

Technical Communication for ESL Students 2 (COMM 0003)

This course provides students with writing, speaking, listening, and reading skills useful for technical communication. Students will practice grammar skills and language structures including writing and speaking about their background, writing formal definitions and descriptions, summarizing, and making presentations.

Requirements: Students must have one of the following:

• COMM 0015 within the past 12 months
• CLB/LINC or CELPIP score of 6 or better in both reading and writing within the last 12 months
• IELTS (academic format only) of 5.0 or better in both reading and writing within the last 24 months
• Completion of ELSK 520 through the VCC Pathway program
• Completion of ISEP Level 4 with 50% or better in each course (if taken before January 2021)
• TAE 3 with 50% (if taken after January 2021)
• Completion of LEAP 5 through the Langara LEAP program

TOEFL overall score of 35 or better within the last 24 months

Technical Communication Skills for ESL Students 3 (COMM 0004)

In this course students will practice grammar skills and language structures useful for technical communication, including writing and speaking about their background, writing formal definitions and descriptions, summarizing, and making presentations.

Requirements: Students must have one of the following:

• COMM 0015 within the past 12 months
• CLB/LINC or CELPIP score of 7 or better in both reading and writing within the last 12 months
• IELTS (academic format only) of 5.5 or better in both reading and writing within the last 24 months
• Completion of ELSK 620 through the VCC Pathway program
• Completion of ISEP Level 4 with 60% or better in each course (if taken before January 2021)
• TAE 3 with 60% (if taken after January 2021)
• Completion of LEAP 6 through the Langara LEAP program
• TOEFL score of 46 or better within the last 24 months

Technical Communication for ESL Students 4 (COMM 0005)

This course prepares students to develop writing, reading, speaking, listening and study skills necessary for BCIT full-time programs. It covers many essentials of business language skills. A grade of 50% in this course equals a “P” in English 12.

Requirements: Students must have one of the following:

• COMM 0015 within the past 12 months
• CLB/LINC or CELPIP score of 8 in both reading and writing within the last 12 months
• IELTS (academic format only) of 6.0 or better in both reading and writing within the last 24 months
• Completion of ELSK 820 through the VCC Pathway program
• Completion of ISEP Level 5 with 50% or better in each course (if taken before January 2021)
• TAE 4 with 50% (if taken after January 2021)
• Previous completion of English 12 with a minimum score of 50%
• An official placement into COMM 0005 from the Immigrant Services Society (ISS)
• TOEFL overall score of 60 or better within the last 24 months
• Completion of LEAP 7 and 8 or LEAP 8 in the Langara LEAP program

Speaking and Listening Skills for ESL Students 2 (COMM 0030)

This course emphasizes language required for trades, business and science/technology environments, as well as the jargon of specific fields of study and work. It concentrates on pronunciation, intonation and on-the-job speaking skills. Individuals learn the essential aspects of speaking and listening in English and develop proficiency in conversation, group discussion, meetings, and interviews. Extensive out-of-class resources such as audio laboratory and online assignments will broaden students’ communications skills required for the workplace.

Requirements: Students must have one of the following completed:

• COMM 0033 (placement at the COMM 0030 level) within the past 12 months
• CLB/LINC or CELPIP score of 7 and/or 8 in both speaking and listening within the last 12 months
• IELTS (academic format only) of 6.0 or better in both speaking and listening within the last 24 months
• Completion of ELSK 615 through the VCC Pathway program
• Completion of ISEP Level 5 with 50% or better in each course
• TAE 4 with 50% (if taken after January 2021)
• Completion of LEAP 7 and 8 or LEAP 8 through the Langara LEAP program
• Successful completion of English 12 or equivalent with a minimum grade of 50%
• TOEFL overall score of 60 or better within the last 24 months

Camosun College

Technical and Professional English ELD 097

This course for non-native English speakers develops the critical thinking, reading/ writing and oral skills needed to be successful in technical/business programs and professions. Students write essays, business reports, summaries, research essays and analyses of graphic information. Students learn to interpret and integrate information in technical, instructional and informational texts.

Requirements: Students must have one of the following:

• C in ELD 072
• Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 8
• IELTS 6

Co-requisite: C in ELD 074, or C in ELD 080

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

ENGQ 1092 Professional and Technical English 12

Students will prepare for post-secondary studies through the acquisition of skills in critical reading, listening/viewing, speaking and technical writing. They will apply oral and writing skills by studying, preparing and presenting a variety of business and technical communications and essays.

Requirements: One of the following:

• English 12, English 12 First Peoples or English 11 (B)
• ENGQ 1089, ENGQ 1098 or ENGQ 1079 (B)
• ELST 0381 (B-) and ELST 0383 (B-)
• Language Proficiency Index (LPI) Essay Score of 26 (English Usage (EU) score of 6 and Reading Comprehension (RC) score of 16)
• Academic and Career Preparation (ACP) English Assessment placement at Level 9
• KPU English Placement (EPT) into ENGQ 1091, ENGQ 1092 or ENGQ 1099
• International English Language Testing System ( IELTS) Overall Band 6.0 (Listening Band 6.0, Reading Band 6.0, Writing Band 6.0, and Speaking Band 6.0)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT 80

Co-requisite(s): Students who are entering with a C grade in ENGL 12 are strongly recommended to take ENGQ 1096 concurrently.

English for Trades

Students will develop the basic oral and written communication skills needed to complete their trade’s courses and to function efficiently on the job site. They will practice and develop skills in active listening and speaking and learn correct presentation for classroom and work-related writing. Students will also develop skills in technical reading.

Requirements: contact institution

Sprott Shaw Language College

English 4 Work

Offers an array of English courses in the following industries:

• Information and Communications Technology (ITC)
• Professional Accounting
• Hotel and Hospitality Positions
• Medical Professionals
• Office Managers and Administrators

Requirements: contact institution

Vancouver Community College

Communication for Engineering and Technology (ELSK 0730)

Communication for Engineering and Technology is designed to enhance workplace communication of Internationally Trained Engineers and Technologists in order to improve employability and communications in the workplace. This course teaches culturally appropriate speaking, listening, and language specific for the Engineering and Technology workplace.

Requirements: Must be an internationally trained Engineer or Technologist with on of the following:

• ELSK 0715 and ELSK 0720
• CLBPT/CLB with a minimum of CLB 7 Reading, CLB 7 Writing, CLB 7 Listening, CLB 7 Speaking
• IELTS 6.0 overall with no band lower than a 5.5
• ELA score of minimum 36 in Reading, 13 in Essay, 20 in Listening, 24 in Speaking