ESL Standard

Upper Madison College

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Course description

1. Integrated Study

a) Different class structure to core ESL classes, which provide variety.
b) Several classes with same teacher for beginner students to feel comfortable.
c) Opportunity for advanced students to practice learnt skills.

2. Effective Communication

a) Focused lesson on the fundamental aspects of oral communication such as pronunciation.
b) Plenty of teacher feedback.
c) Activity, practice and task-based lessons to ensure exciting and active learning.

3. Grammar
a) New concepts are presented in each level.
b) Focus on practical application and usage rather than only theory.
c) Importance on comprehension and understanding rather than the right answer.

4. Reading/ Writing

a) Combination of reading and writing in one class to emphasize language input for maximum output.
b) Novel studies at each level that encourage intensive reading which leads to autonomous learning.
c) Targeted weekly reading and writing skills which allow for organized learning with tangible goals.

5. Speaking

a) Structured classes that are objective-centred with tangible goals.
b) Clear levels which give students a sense of progression.
c) Connection to Effective communication classes to develop fluency alongside accuracy.

Course topics

Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary and Grammar

Class schedule

Course duration
2-52 weeks
Start dates
22 Apr 2024, 21 May 2024, 17 Jun 2024, 15 Jul 2024, 12 Aug 2024, 09 Sep 2024, 07 Oct 2024, 04 Nov 2024 and 02 Dec 2024
Classes per week
20 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 45 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday
School holidays
20 May 2024, 01 Jul 2024, 05 Aug 2024, 02 Sep 2024, 14 Oct 2024, 23 Dec 2024 - 03 Jan 2025

UMC does not hold classes on the holiday dates above. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

Class times

You can choose from the following class times:

Morning session
09:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

All levels, beginner to advanced
You will take a placement test on your first day to determine your class level. You may also take this test before your arrival in Toronto.

Class size

Average 10 students
Maximum 12 students

Student age

Age range 13 - 70 years old
Average 23 years old
(20 in the summer)

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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photos

Photos

  • Common room at Upper Madison College 1/30
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  • Teachers and Staff at Upper Madison College 30/30
reviews

Reviews

83% recommend

based on 6 reviews
5 stars
5
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing

"Clean, friendly, helpful and good to remember to."

Kristof Doboczy, student from Canada

On the first day I was put in the wrong group but apart from that my experience with the school is very good. The teachers are kind, helpful, friendly and so are the students. Right now I can’t think of anything what I didn’t like. The school trips were also very good.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Duration of study
3 weeks
Date of study
10 Jul 2023 - 4 Aug 2023
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.
Lama Rahman, regional Marketing Manager at Upper Madison College responded to this review.
23 August 2023

Thank you kristof for taking the time to write a review. It is highly appreciated.
It was a pleasure having you this Summer.
On behalf of Upper Madison college, I would like to apologize for the first day mistake and the only excuse that we were super busy with the biggest intake during 2023 which push us to act fast to accommodate all the students needs at their first day and as a result I didn't take the time to read carefully the full instructions and sent you to the wrong group. Sorry again for this mistake.
UMC is happy that you had good time during your period of program and looking forward to have you again in the future.
Good luck

"Exceeded my expectations"

Eduardo Da Conceição Alves, student from Brazil

I liked all of the teachers so much. The environment was so good and all the staff were caring.

The school was located at an easily accessible region.

I loved my classmates; all of them came from different parts of the world.

My homestay was awesome. They were attentive and helpful. I recommend them.

I now feel more confident about my English skills. I have improved my English a lot.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
1 week
Date of study
14 Sep 2015 - 25 Sep 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"I absolutely loved UMC for several reasons."

Kamilya Zhumayeva

First, the teachers and staff here were very good. They were always friendly towards students. From the very beginning, they did everything so students would feel home at UMC.

Second, I liked all my classmates! All of them came from different parts of the world, and by talking with them I learned more about different cultures and countries.

UMC was something new for me, and I am happy to have been part of this school!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
11 weeks
Date of study
13 Jul 2015 - 28 Sep 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes

"Excellent!"

Ada Yu

My experience at UMC was great! The staff there were very nice and willing to help whenever I needed their help. The teachers there were patient; if you had questions, they were more than happy to explain it to you. UMC is located right next to the subway station which made the commute easier. UMC also had an English only policy which encourages us to speak English as much as we can on campus. I think this really helped me with my speaking skills.

UMC is located in the centre of north Toronto - there's a big supermarket next to the school which was really convenient.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
11 weeks
Date of study
15 Jun 2015 - 4 Sep 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes

"Best experience in Canada"

Ariel Johh

I really liked UMC; it was my one my best experiences in Canada. The teachers were really friendly and helpful. I made friends with so many people from different countries. I have improved my English a lot. I now feel more confident about my speaking and writing skills.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
5 weeks
Date of study
8 Jun 2015 - 17 Jul 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes

"I really do not recommend this school"

louise FRANCOIS, student from France

If your journey is less than 1 month, don't waste your time in this school. Everyone is nice but the quality of classes is not good. A lot of teachers were absent and during some classes we just played games and watched movies.

The social activities were organized during the class time and not during the weekend. There were no free activities during the weekend.

I reserved a one week super intensive class (30 courses) and I almost did not have any classes. The school didn't want to reimburse me.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Duration of study
1 week
Date of study
3 Aug 2015 - 10 Aug 2015
Would you recommend this school?
No
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.
UMC, Staff at Upper Madison College responded to this review.
27 August 2015

Hi Louise,

On behalf of UMC we would like to apologize for your unpleasant experience. We are sad to hear that you did not enjoy your time at UMC. Unfortunately, you came on a rare week. The week that you started, Monday was a Statuary Holiday, which is why you started on Tuesday, rather than on Monday, which your agent (Language International) informed you before you registered with the school. In addition, you arrived on the last week of the term, which is quite hectic. We have final exams, and activity day and a field trip. Which is probably why you feel there was not enough lessons.

We do not understand why you were expecting activities on the weekend because most schools do not provide such services. We apologize if you were misinformed.

In regards to teachers being absent, this did not happen as we had teachers conducting each class, each day.

Due to the circumstances, we offered you an extra day of classes to supplement the Statuary Holiday that you missed. Unfortunately, you decided not to come.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Thanks,

UMC Team

visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.

Your letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you. If you wish to receive your paperwork by express mail, you will be charged C$ 75 when you register.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Toronto based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from Upper Madison College staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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