Blog Page 5 of 5

30 Minutes

Post author By ACLA Admin
Post date July 11, 2020

I used to manage the Lunenburg Visitor Information Centre and Campground and one of the most common things I would hear was, “We are only here for 30 minutes. What is a must-see?” This question always made me a little bummed out because there is so much to see and do in this incredible town, and county, that 30 minutes simply doesn’t do the potential experience justice. If I couldn’t change their minds, usually because of scheduling restrictions like getting back to a cruise ship in Halifax, I would suggest they go down to the waterfront. Seeing the Bluenose II tall ship, the wharves and all the colourful buildings are a must-see.

What I would have liked to say is that they would need days, if not weeks and longer, to do this region justice and that additionally, Lunenburg is so centrally located in Nova Scotia that it makes it a fantastic home base. One hour to the incredible city of Halifax, about an hour and a half to Annapolis Valley and even less time to some of the most amazing beaches in the province. That’s not to mention all the festivals, arts, natural beauty, shops farmers markets and delicious cuisine.

If I could plan their entire day, I would honestly just tell them exactly how I spend my days. One of my favourites is to pack up the car with beach supplies and head for the La Havre ferry (a drive-on cable ferry that crosses the La Havre River). Cross on the ferry and head to the La Havre Bakery for smoked salmon on a bagel and a brownie for dessert. This is a must-see! The food is wonderful, the building is fascinating, there is a crafters co-op in the lower level and a place to skateboard upstairs. It is such a neat spot! FYI: Make sure to use the bathroom while you’re there. The sinks are hand made pottery bowl-sinks from just down the street. Next, I carry on to one of many beaches. Crescent comes up first and is one of the only beaches in the province you can legally drive your car on. Next is Rissers, with a long stretch of beach, ample parking, washrooms, and a canteen. If you continued along, you would come to Green Bay, Cherry Hill, etc. All amazing! If you are of legal age, you can visit the beautiful Petite Rivieres winery before heading back. See?! This is only day 1 and you haven’t even seen The Ovens natural sea caves, Beach Meadows, or the ultimate paradise-Carter’s beach!

It is possible that no one loves this province more than I do, so I am super keen to share all that I can about it. Make sure to check back for more soon!

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Successful Study Tips for ESL Students

Post author By ACLA Admin
Post date July 6, 2020

Studying for any subject can be hard but studying a second language requires extra concentration. Here are some successful study tips for ESL classes.

English is one of the most useful languages you can learn, and we believe Atlantic Canada is the best place to do it. Whatever your reason for studying ESL, whether it’s for business, university goals or moving to a new country, these study tips will help you on your way.

Find your why

It is important to work towards a goal consistently. Something triggered you to start learning English and remembering that reason will help provide motivation when you tire or the going gets tough.

Find your learning style

We all learn differently! One of the best study tips for ESL students is to find what works for you. Do you work best from visual guides, conversation with a friend or learning from books by yourself? Whatever helps you to reinforce your classes and learning is the best way forward for you.

Have a tidy workspace

We don’t mean to be a nag, but you really do need to have a clear and organized space for your studies. Working from your bed while your room is piled high with laundry will never produce the same quality of learning as studying at your clear and organized table. Studies show that less than ideal work environments can cause distractions and make you feel stressed so take 5 minutes to make your study area somewhere you want to be.

Make a habit of it

ESL students who are most successful schedule a consistent time of day for their studies. By building it into their routines, they make sure it becomes non-negotiable – they complete it every day and never miss a session.

Take a break

Even with the best intentions, you have a limit on how long you can focus on your studies. The average person can work at high intensity for 50-90 minutes before needing a break or they will start to lose concentration. Work hard, not long, then refresh your brain with a break.

Avoid Distractions

Our next successful study tip is to silence your phone notifications. While phone notifications aren’t the only thing that drags our mind and eyes from our studies, they are often an easy to fix cause of distraction. Find what distracts you and remove it from your study environment. Whatever it is can wait till your next study break.

Music Studies

Successful study tips always mention music, and with good reason, but did you know the type of music can help or hinder your progress? Listening to soft music in the background with few words can aid concentration as you focus. But listening to music that is loud can be distracting. Music with lots of words can drag your concentration, and if you are listening to music in your native language while you study English it is no wonder your brain can get confused!

Work. Study. Live. in Atlantic Canada

If you are looking for somewhere to study English as a second language, why not look at Atlantic Canada? Eurocentres Atlantic Canada is a unique experience which combines language skills and cultural exposure to give you a true Canadian experience. It’s perfect for those who are looking at relocation to Canada, wish to attend our universities or just want to experience something different while they learn. If you’re ready to start your English language journey, get in touch to chat with our amazing team.

Eurocentres – let language be your passport to new opportunities.

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Canadian Culture From Home

Post author By ACLA Admin
Post date June 15, 2020

If you are currently waiting for restrictions to be lifted to allow you to travel and study in Canada, you can still get to know our country and our culture, right from your living room. These free resources allow you to see some of our treasures and great sites online.

While it is not a replacement for the real thing, digital tours are a wonderful way to enjoy some Canadian culture from around the globe. Check out these fun activities and start your journey to Canada today!

Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium has put up livestreams of its much-adored penguins, otters and more. Get ready to lose track of time watching these adorable creatures.

Banff National Park

Banff National Park has shared a variety of backgrounds and video footage. Banff is our country’s oldest national park and an unforgettable experience.

The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre

The stunning Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto has put up a virtual tour that will have you chomping at the bit to visit in person.

Virtual Exhibits

What’s better than seeing exhibits from one Canadian museum? Having a collection from multiple museums at your fingertips! This superb (and free!) collection will guide you through exhibits relating to art, history, science, nature and more from a wide variety of Canadian museums and heritage organizations.

Whether you are into modern design, natural history, or Canadian anthropology this collection has something for you.

Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History has put up a wide variety of the museum’s exhibits, including Alex Janvier’s famous “Morning Star” and an exhibit about the history of Canadian fashion.

Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum has put up a series of tantalizing pictures from its exhibits through Google Street Views. Art, world culture and national history are brought together with brightly colored museum interiors in a memory-making way.

Vancouver Art Gallery

The Vancouver Art Gallery has also used Google Street Views to display some of its most requested works.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has displayed a series of articles that explore contemporary and historic human rights stories, from Canada and around the world. It’s not easy reading, but it is an enlightening experience.

Come Visit Us

Canada is a nation of wonders both big and small, and we are proud of all of them. We are also proud of our educational facilities and what we can offer to those looking to study English in Canada. If you study with us, we also give you an education in Canadian culture; perfect for those who want to live here, or just want to make the most of their time in Canada.

If you want more information about studying in Canada please get in touch with our team.

Atlantic Canada Language Academy – let language be your passport to new opportunities.

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Fun facts about Canada that all Students should know

Post author By ACLA Admin
Post date May 15, 2020

Canada is a beautiful and friendly country but if you are interested in studying in Canada, you will enjoy these fun facts about it. Let’s jump straight in!

Leisure Time

The Bay of Fundy, not far from us, has the highest tides in the world. Those interested in surfing will be delighted to know the waves can reach heights of more than thirteen metres high!
We love our national holidays! They include Groundhog Day (just like the movie), Islander Day, Family Day (our personal favourite) and National Tartan Day so pack your kilt.
We are well known for our ice hockey and have more than 2,800 hockey rinks, however, it’s our second most-practised sport for over 15-year-olds. The first is golf!

Nature Facts

The Narcisse Snake Dens conservation area is home to thousands of snakes. They frequently pile on to of each other, making them impossible to count.
Churchill, Manitoba is a small town, with only 1,000 people calling it home. During Autumn, the population doubles… with bears! 1,000 bears gather waiting for the bay to freeze each year, so make sure to say thank you to the police deployed to shoo the bears should you go and visit!
While mapping the Earth’s gravity fields in the 1960s, scientists discovered that in our Hudson Bay area a person weighing 150lbs feels 1/10 ounce less pressure. Well, that’s a weight off our shoulders!
We have one desert in the nation. Located in British Columbia, it is the world’s only desert with a boardwalk for visitors.

Everything else

If you fancy a walk down the street, it could be longer than you think! Yonge Street in Ontario runs from Lake Ontario north through Ontario and all the way to the Minnesota border. This is a staggering 2,000km!
Speaking of large things, our Rogers Centre in Toronto (formerly the SkyDome) houses the largest Sony screen in the world – a whopping 10 m x 33.6 m.
In 1915, a bear cub named Winnipeg was transferred from Canada to London Zoo. Christopher Robin Milne adored the bear and called him Winnie. Such was their friendship, that his father (A.A. Milne) was inspired to write Winnie-the-Pooh.
We also house what was formerly the world’s largest coin. Named “The Big Nickel” and located in Sudbury, Ontario, the coin is a reproduction of a 1951 nickel and has a diameter of 9m.

Come Visit Us

If you want more information about studying in Canada please get in touch with our team.

Eurocentres – let language be your passport to new opportunities.

Our Team

Get to Know Me. Jacqueline Huynh, Asian Recruitment Manager

Post author By ACLA Admin
Post date April 28, 2020

Get to know Jacqueline Huynh

What languages do you speak?

Vietnamese and English

Where are you originally from?

Vietnam

What countries have you lived in?

Vietnam

Where is your favorite place in the world and why?

Canada. It’s safe.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Kind, enthusiastic, dedicated

What is your favorite things about working for Eurocentres Atlantic Canada?

Working with amazing and friendly people

What one piece of advice would you give to international students starting their ESL journey at Eurocentres?

Immerse yourself in English and the culture, inside and outside the classroom

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Our Top Reasons to Learn English as a Second Language

Post author By ACLA Admin
Post date April 15, 2020

Let Language Bring Us Together

The recent world crisis has brought one thing home – we are all connected, and far more than we often recognise. We are now and will continue to be a global population and with that, we experience such wonders as studying and working abroad with those from across the globe. Current events show us how cosmopolitan we truly are, so use this time to improve your language skills, opening more avenues to explore once restrictions are lifted.

Why Should you Learn English?

There are so many great reasons to learn another language. Humans are social creatures, and communication with others is a key part of living a satisfying life. With each language you learn, you open a whole new world of communication and interaction. One of the more popular second languages to learn is English because of the wealth of opportunities it can bring.

Approximately 375 Million people speak English in over 60 countries across the world! With this number constantly growing, you might be asking yourself “what is so great about learning English?” Here are a few of our favourite reasons to learn English right now!

Helps Improve Brain Function!

Learning a new language is like exercise for your brain. The more you practice, the healthier and stronger your brain will become. Our brain health is remarkably like our physical health. Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains need exercise in order to stay healthy.

Speaking more than one language can help keep our brains in great shape for longer and boosts overall brain function. So, learning the English language is a GREAT way to help keep your brain healthy and happy!

To Further Your Education

As we mentioned, English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world today. Most of the world’s most prestigious Universities and Colleges are in English-speaking countries such as England, the USA, and Canada.

To attend these schools, you will need to be fluent in English to a strong academic level. Studying at Atlantic Canada Language Academy can help you achieve that, and we are proud to say our students leave feeling comfortable and confident in their newfound language skills.

Our Pathway Program is ideal for students with strong academic grades who are struggling with English proficiency. Our teachers help students elevate their English skills to the level required to gain acceptance to their desired school. For more information about our Pathway Program and the Canadian Universities and Colleges we are partnered with, click here!

Increases work opportunities

Within the business world, English is recognized as one of the most prominent languages. Having English fluency on your C.V. will help you acquire high-paying jobs in international companies and will help you perform to the best of your ability once you are in the role.

If you hope to one day immigrate to a country that recognizes English as an official language, many jobs will require strong spoken and written English. The stronger your English is, the better your job and pay prospects will be and the more countries will welcome you.

Helpful when you travel

International travel has become increasingly popular in recent years and most of the popular destinations speak English either as a first language or as a widely spoken second. Being able to speak such a commonly known language can be very handy if you are traveling, whether it is to communicate with locals or organise transportation.

Did you know, there are over 6500 spoken languages in the world? Let’s break that number down by country. There are 195 countries in the world and of those, 67 of them recognize English as an official language. That means that by learning English you can now communicate with 35% of the world population…which is over 2.5 BILLION people!! Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, being able to communicate with over 2 billion people will certainly make the experience more memorable.

Heightens Social & Entertainment Experiences

Whether you like music, movies, or TV shows, a large part of the entertainment world is dominated by English. By learning this language, you will open yourself up to a whole new world of life encounters. Remember those 2.5 billion people English allows you to communicate with? You can now experience a wide variety of media, arts, and entertainment with them too. Not to mention the events such as concerts, festivals, and gallery exhibitions which become so much more powerful once you are able to understand and appreciate them.

Whether you are looking to travel, work, further your education or just embrace more of the worldwide culture, English can be a valuable way to open so many doors. When the world reopens, opportunities both old and new will arise, so use this time wisely to make sure you can embrace them. If you’re ready to start your English language journey, get in touch with our team and we’ll be happy to tell you more.

ACLA – let language be your passport to new opportunities.

Studying

Why Canada is the Best Place for ESL Students

Post author By ACLA Admin
Post date March 15, 2020

The world is a vast and exciting place filled with opportunities… so many opportunities that it can sometimes feel hard to commit to a life-changing decision. You could study English across the globe, but there are some great reasons why you should choose Canada.

It is well-established that to truly become fluent in a second language you should live in a country that predominantly speaks that language. There are 55 countries and 27 non-sovereign entities where English is an official language so that doesn’t narrow the field very much, but we have plenty of reasons to choose Canada.

Education Standards

Our education standards are phenomenal year after year with all our students receiving a high-level education and wealth of opportunities. We have a large and constantly growing population of students from around the world and as such have the infrastructure and the experience to integrate them quickly and easily.

Happy to Welcome you

It’s not just on-campus that you will experience an open and welcoming culture. Our nation is built on acceptance and equality, so you will find yourself welcome wherever your travels take you. You’ll find immigrants and Canadian nationals interwoven and living in a way that appreciates the best of what each culture can bring.

Quality of Life

Canadians are known to be happy and laidback, but it’s not without reason. Our quality of life is superb, with healthcare, education and career opportunities of a high standard. Canada has been chosen as the country with the highest quality of life in the world two years in a row, and we are not looking to break that streak!

Employment Opportunities

International students are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week during term-time and more during scheduled breaks. Canada also allows students to stay and work after they have completed their studies. This starts as an extension to your Visa terms but can be the first step towards becoming a permanent resident!

Beauty you will Never Forget

We Canadians love nothing more than our natural environment – who wouldn’t when they live somewhere with these remarkable views?! We have 42 national parks and park reserves spread throughout every province. These include UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We also have plentiful nature reserve and wildlands, making for plenty of budget-friendly breath-taking weekends.

Value for Money

Our high education quality and impressive standard of living may make you think Canada is out of your budget, but it is one of the most affordable options for its quality. The USA and UK are both more expensive for the average student per year.

Choose Canada. Choose ACLA.

If you’re considering studying English as a second language abroad, Canada has a lot to offer. Atlantic Canada Language Academy is a unique experience which will couple language skills and cultural exposure to prepare you for life in our nation if you choose it. Whatever life has in store for you, you will never forget your time with us. If you’re ready to start your English language journey, get in touch to chat with our amazing team.

ACLA – let language be your passport to new opportunities.