Program I: The Oxford style tutorial
This program is designed for Canadian immigrants, international students and native speakers who are already living in Canada. This program includes Basic Writing; Grade 11 Reading and Writing; and High School Grade 12 Examination Workshops. Classes are limited to 5 students.
Basic Writing Workshop
Fall: September to June (10 months)
Grades: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Instructor: Kim Gaines-Baran B.A., MA. (SFU) ~ PhD Exam (UBC)
Workshop Schedule: One workshop a week
Workshop Format: ZOOM and email
These workshop classes will develop student's basic writing skills enabling them to improve their in-class English, Social Studies and other written work. Also, they will create the writing foundation for students to progress to Graduate Literacy Assessment Examination (GLA) Workshop. Each two-hour workshop will begin with a one-hour lecture on brainstorming, the analytical, persuasive, narrative, comparative, synthesis essays, as well as summary and critique. Each lecture will explore structure, topic sentence development, and paragraph unity, as well as sentence structures and grammar.
Then, students will be given a one-hour tutorial designed to critique their writing strategies. During these tutorials, the instructor will review the student's written work, and give correction and suggestions. At the end of class, writing homework will be assigned. All homework will be graded and returned to the students.
Grade 11 Reading and Writing Workshop
Fall: September to June (10 months)
Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Instructor: Kim Gaines-Baran B.A. M.A. (SFU) ~ PhD exam (UBC)
Prerequisite: Students must have completed Basic Writing for enrolment
Workshop Schedule: One workshop a week
Workshop Format: ZOOM and email
These workshop classes will give students the contextual knowledge needed to understand Western Literature as well as reading and interpretative skills enabling them to advance their English grade toward an A. In each two-hour workshop, students will read the works of famous authors such as Virginia Wolf, James Joyce, Ernest Hemmingway and Margaret Atwood. Students will then discuss the work, and write a narrative essay for homework. All homework will be graded and returned to the students.
High School English Grade 12 Examination Workshop
Fall: September to May (9 months)
Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Students must have completed Basic Writing and Grade 11 Reading and Writing for enrolment
Instructor: Kim Gaines-Baran B.A., MA. (SFU) ~PhD Exam (UBC)
Workshop Schedule: One workshop a week
Workshop Format: ZOOM and email
These workshop classes will develop students' understanding of literary interpretation and writing skills enabling them to improve their English grades and examination scores. Each two-hour workshop will begin with a lecture on the use of literary devices. Then, students will be given in-class writing exercises designed to improve their interpretation strategies. During these exercises, the instructor will circulate among the student's giving correction and suggestions. At the end of class, writing homework will be assigned. All homework will be graded and returned to the students.
Spring: June (1 month)
These workshop classes will sharpen students' examination skills by giving them practice and evaluation on their examination performance. In each three-hour workshop, students will take a previously held B.C. English Provincial Examination. The examinations will be graded by the instructor and suggestions for improvement will be given. At the end of class writing homework will be assigned.
Program II: Abroad Study
Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Instructor: Kim Gaines-Baran B.A. M.A. (SFU) ~ PhD exam (UBC)
Teaching Assistants: experienced native speakers with Bachelor or Master degrees.
The abroad study program is designed for international students from all over the globe who want to improve their English writing skills while living in their home countries.
It is a 3 years intensive program designed to equip international students with the English writing skills required to successfully complete university degrees in Canada, America, and Britain. The program is skill based so students must make a commitment to taking lectures, tutorials, and completing vocabulary, grammar and writing assignments. Students in grades 8-12 who have completed a mid-intermediate English level are able to enroll after passing an assessment examination.
These classes include both one-hour lectures given by the instructor followed by one-hour tutorials given by a teaching assistant. Each lecture has space for 12 students who are then divided into 3 tutorials of 4 students each. The tutorials focus on each student’s written work and offer strategies for improvement.
Year one: Basic Writing
Year two: Grade 11 Reading and Writing
Year three: High school Grade 12 Examination Workshop
See Program I for content, however classes are structured differently.
留学课程是一个长达3年的加强型课程，它特别适用于帮助中国学生能成功就读加拿大，美国和英国大学，达到西方大学要求的英语和写作水平。Kim 老师的3年留学课程着重于论文技能掌握，学生必须全面参与老师讲座，辅导课，和要求的功课作业。中国学校8年级到12年纪都可以参与，学生必须达到中高英语水平。所有学生必须通过英语评定考试。
Program III: Elementary
September to June, and Summer School
Grades 5, 6, 7
Instructor: experienced native speakers with a Bachelor or Master degrees
Prerequisite: none
Workshop Schedule: One workshop a week
Workshop Format: ZOOM and email
This program is designed to improve elementary students’ reading and writing skills allowing them to prepare for high school. Each 2-hour workshop focuses on, reading to improve vocabulary, and comprehension, grammar exercises, and basic essay development including sentence structure and paragraph development. At the end of class, students will be assigned vocabulary, reading, grammar and writing homework. All homework will be marked and return to the students. After completing this 10-month program, students are able to take the GWI assessment examination and attend the basic writing workshop.
Program IV: Transitional English: from Mandarin to English
Grades: preschool to Grades: 1, 2, 3, 4
Instructor: Sarah Yu Huang: Zhejiang Foreign Language Institute (China): Diploma; B.A. University of Hertfordshire (UK); M.Sc. University of Luton (UK)
Workshop Schedule: One workshop a week
Workshop Format: ZOOM and email
These small group classes have a maximum of 4 students during each 1.5 hour-session. These classes develop students’ English: pronunciation, speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar skills in a friendly and patient learning environment. The instructor gives individual attention to each student, and adapts lessons to his or her individual learning needs. At the end of each class, homework is given which is marked, returned to the student, and reviewed for problem during the next class.
Other courses offered…
Graduate Literacy Assessment Examination Workshop
FALL: September to August
Grades: 10, 12
Instructor: Kim Gaines-Baran B.A., MA. (SFU) ~PhD Exam (UBC)
Workshop Schedule: One workshop a week
Workshop Format: ZOOM and email
These workshop classes will develop student's basic writing skills enabling them to improve their in-class English, and Social Studies written work. Also, they will create the writing foundation for students to progress to the Graduate Literacy Examinations. Each two-hour workshop will begin with a one-hour lecture on brainstorming, the analytical, persuasive, and expository essays, as well as reading and summary. Each lecture will explore essay structure, topic sentence development, and paragraph unity, as well as sentence structures and grammar.
Then, students will be given a one-hour tutorial designed to critique their writing strategies. During these tutorials, the instructor will review the student's written work, and give correction and suggestions. At the end of class, writing and grammar homework will be assigned. All homework will be graded and returned to the students.
Other courses offered…
University Writing Workshop
Summer: July to August
Instructor: Kim Gaines-Baran B.A. M.A. (SFU) ~ PhD exam (UBC)
Workshop Schedule: One workshop a week
Workshop Format: ZOOM and email
These workshops will develop students' conceptual understanding of traditional university writing conventions enabling them to improve their in-class and term-paper assignments. Each two-hour workshops will begin with a lecture on the conceptual components of the university essay including the purpose of writing; narrowing, and researching the topic, as well as effective reading and note taking strategies. Then, students will be given exercises to develop these conceptual skills. During this time, the instructor will circulate among the students giving correction and suggestions. All exercises will be graded and returned to the students.
These workshops will also develop students' structural understanding of traditional university writing conventions enabling them to improve their in-class and term-paper assignments. Each two-hour workshop will begin with a lecture on the structural components of the university essay including strategies for introduction: broad and narrow thesis construction; body paragraph development: appropriate paraphrase, quotation and citation methods; as well as analytical or interpretive strategies; conclusion: restatement of thesis, summary and closing statement; proper footnote and bibliographical citation. Then, students will be given exercises to develop their thesis construction, paraphrase, analytical and summary skills. During these exercises, the instructor will circulate among the students, giving correction and suggestions.