Vancouver English Centre (VEC) provides English language instruction to people from all over the world. Courses are from one week to one year in duration. The school can arrange very carefully selected and monitored homestays nearby. Vancouver English Centre uses communicative teaching methods with an emphasis on speaking and listening skills. Classes are small and interactive, and the teachers are trained professionals. All students have unlimited access to the Internet with school computers every day of the week. The newest CD-ROM ESL software is also available to all students. Vancouver English Centre is registered with the Private Post-Secondary Education Commission of British Columbia. Students receive certificates upon completion of their studies. VEC is an official TOEIC Testing Centre. All students in level five or higher are entitled to a free TOEIC test. These students also receive official TOEIC score reports.

The Vancouver English Centre curriculum is designed to develop English skills that can be applied in a practical way to real situations. Grammar is taught in a communicative manner with an emphasis on using the structures orally. Communicative methodology is also used for the development of vocabulary, idioms, and pronunciation. Teachers work with weekly themes in afternoon classes. They use various pair and group activities related to the theme to improve students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Everyday English, such as how to ask someone for directions, is also covered in the afternoon classes. To evaluate our students' abilities, tests are given on the first day of the course and every four weeks thereafter. The VEC Director of Studies then places the students in suitable levels. There are 16 levels. All students are placed in separate levels according to their grammar and conversation skills. Students usually progress to higher levels every four weeks. From arrival to departure, students have access to 24-hour staff support. Study English or Spanish in Guadalajara or Vancouver, or both!

Students at the Vancouver English Centre who require a home to stay at while staying in Vancouver are given the choice of requesting the homestay service. In which case, the student will be placed with a host family in the vicinity of the school. Homestay Fee (2005-2006): CAD $23.00 per night (includes 3 meals per day).

There are a lot of activities throughout the year for the student to participate in, for example, skiing at Whistler or going to hockey games.

There is a Conversation Club and a Music Club available for students to join.

At Vancouver English Centre, there are four computer labs at the disposal of the students. Students can use the 60 plus fiber-optic Internet computers at no charge, 7 days a week. The newest CD-ROM ESL software is also available. Students are welcome to receive faxes and send them internationally with a phone card.

Vancouver English Centre has developed linkage programs with British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), George Brown College, City University, and Seattle Central Community College.

The Intensive Program and Business Program fees do not include Homestay Fee, Homestay Placement Fee, Airport Reception Fee, or Airport Drop-off Fee. The Vacation Study Program fees do include Homestay Fee, Homestay Placement Fee, and Airport Reception Fee. There are no additional charges for supplies or taxes. There are additional charges for some optional leisure activities. The Airport Reception Fee applies only to Business Program and Intensive Program students who wish to be picked up at the airport. A $25.00 Re-registration Fee will be charged if you extend your program after the last week of your term begins. A $25.00 Homestay Change Fee will be charged if you request a second homestay. We use VEC's Language Power and Just Say It! textbooks for Levels 1A to 6B. These books are issued at the beginning of the session. These books ensure that all VEC course material is covered in a methodical way without any accidental repetition or omission of important topics.