McLeod’s Academic English program for ESL learners is more than basic language study. To succeed in Canada, or in any country whose main language is different from your own, you need a lot of skills. These skills include knowing how to use language effectively in many different, sometimes critical, situations.
For example, think about the language used at a job interview, an important business meeting or in a university tutorial session. We call this type of language “academic” or “formal” English. All of these situations are tests of any person’s skills, but especially of ESL learners. One must be able to “listen between the lines”, understand where others “are coming from”, avoid inappropriate expressions, speak clearly and with precision, anticipate questions, and much, much more. Also, in today’s “connected” world of work, there are more and more situations where employees at all levels must write effectively, using appropriate English.
In 2001-2002, McLeod conducted an extensive research study of our ESL learners’ needs and issues. The Manitoba government funded the study. As one result of that study, we have come to understand how important an understanding of Canadian culture is for ESL learners in terms of achieving true success in situations like the ones described above.