{"id":65815,"date":"2020-05-13T09:29:11","date_gmt":"2020-05-13T13:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=65815"},"modified":"2020-05-13T15:07:05","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T19:07:05","slug":"brock-esl-programs-attracting-global-audience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/05\/brock-esl-programs-attracting-global-audience\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock ESL programs attracting global audience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine learning a new language entirely online.<\/span><\/p>\n

For English as a Second Language (ESL) student Yuri Maeno from Japan, it became a new reality after the COVID-19 pandemic moved programming online.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I was worried about taking online classes,\u201d said Maeno.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite unprecedented circumstances, Brock ESL Services was able to develop purpose-built programming for online delivery for the start of the Spring Term.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I\u2019m relieved that I\u2019m used to classes and there are enough chances to speak English,\u201d Maeno added.<\/span><\/p>\n

To accommodate students living around the world, Brock ESL Services offers their programming in multiple time zones. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStudents can practice their English whether they\u2019re living in St. Catharines or across the world in China,\u201d said Geoffrey H. Eden Associate Director, ESL Services at Brock University.<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, Brock University is one of the only post-secondary institutions in Canada offering online ESL classes and students looking to improve their English-language proficiency are taking note.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first time to study the online course,\u201d said Hannanxuan Lu, an ESL student from China. \u201cIt gives me a new experience that makes me feel less nervous when I answer questions in class.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

ESL Instructor Jun Du is shown teaching the Intensive English Language Program to students online in China.<\/p><\/div>\n

The programs are delivered through Microsoft Teams, as well as Sakai, Brock\u2019s online learning management system. Instructors also use various other online platforms that facilitate sharing of ideas and resources to provide an experience that is similar to in-person learning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur online platforms facilitate multiple approaches to grouping and interactions between students and their instructors, allowing for personalization and convenience.\u201d said Eden<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students are also able to share their feedback, comments and questions with their Instructor through these channels to increase student engagement and satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The online course gives me a chance to show my idea to others,\u201d said Lu. \u201cThat makes me feel wonderful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Self-study is facilitated through use of our various online tools and resources to increase flexibility, lower students\u2019 inhibitions and encourage their creativity and risk-taking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assignments focus on brainstorming, discussions, individual and group presentations and role-plays and the crafting of critical personal responses, both oral and written, that integrate and synthesize information from various sources.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students also participate in daily live conversation practice and have the opportunity to participate in online activities such as Netflix watch parties, virtual book clubs and cooking demonstrations to interact and engage with other students and program leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Our student\u2019s experience remains high, even in a virtual world,” said Eden.<\/span><\/p>\n

Limited space is still available in ESL programs at all levels, including the eight-week <\/span>Accelerated English Language Program (AELP)<\/a><\/span> from July 6 to August 28. Graduates of AELP will meet the <\/span>English proficiency requirements<\/a><\/span> for Brock programs that require an IELTS 6.5\/TOEFL 88.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prospective students can email <\/span>international@brocku.ca<\/a><\/span> with any questions about available ESL programs or status of their academic application.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Imagine learning a new language entirely online. For English as a Second Language (ESL) student Yuri Maeno from Japan, it became a new reality after the COVID-19 pandemic moved programming online.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":65825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1,4],"tags":[8856,159,7409,8791],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65815"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65815"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65867,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65815\/revisions\/65867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}