Levels
Foundation Levels (LEAP Basics, LEAP 1, LEAP 2)
The beginner to intermediate levels of LEAP focus on the environment and culture of Vancouver and Canada. Through a variety of topics, materials, and activities, the classroom is transformed into a living language environment. Students develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while expanding their knowledge of Vancouver, Canada, and the world.
Level and Project Info:
Course Topics
At the Foundation Levels, students develop their language skills by exploring engaging topics that are connected to the local environment and are an important part of Canadian culture. Examples of topics or themes include West Coast fashion trends, popular Canadian musicians, alternative health therapies, Pacific marine mammals, crime in Vancouver, and popular Canadian sports. At the end of each theme, students have an opportunity to apply what they have learned and practice their language skills outside of the classroom with native English speakers. This is achieved through a variety of hands-on workshops and educational outings to special places in Vancouver.
Guest Speakers, Workshops, and Educational Outings
All guest speaker presentations, workshops, and educational outings are closely connected to course topics. Workshops are led by guest speakers and include designing and applying henna tattoos, hand drumming using African percussion instruments, and creating aromatherapy inhalers using healing essential oils. Educational outings include exploring marine life at the Vancouver Aquarium Wet Lab, solving a crime using forensic evidence at the Vancouver Police Museum, and curling at the Vancouver Curling Club.
Presentations and Projects
Projects and presentations are an important part of each level. They encourage students to work creatively and cooperatively, integrate all four language skills, and often require students to explore the local environment. In LEAP 2, students must also do some simple research using texts provided by the instructor. These projects are designed to prepare students for academic projects and presentations in the higher levels of the program.
LEAP Basics
In LEAP Basics, students begin to learn how to express their thoughts and opinions through a variety of engaging communicative activities. Listening comprehension is developed through intensive listening projects which include watching short animated videos and vignettes. Students also develop their reading comprehension skills and build everyday vocabulary by reading short simple stories and passages on topics of general interest.
Explore Langara! Project - LEAP Basics
The focus of this project is to help students become familiar with different student services and facilities on the Langara campus and in the surrounding neighbourhood. First, students work in small groups to gather information about different support services and facilities. Students also interview members of the Langara community including Langara staff and other students. Students then prepare a short video presentation about the information they have gathered to present to their classmates.
LEAP Level 1
In LEAP 1, students continue to build their reading, listening and communication skills by exploring exciting topics related to Vancouver, Canada and the world. Students also explore the local environment through a variety of engaging educational outings and workshops connected to course topics. These activities provide students the opportunity to apply what they have learned and practice their language skills outside of the classroom.
Explore Vancouver! Project - LEAP 1
In this exciting project, students work in small groups to explore different distinctive neighbourhoods in Vancouver. While visiting their assigned neighbourhood, students gather specific information about the services, facilities, and attractions there. They also take pictures of the neighbourhood and have an opportunity to interact with native English speakers. Back in the classroom, students prepare a large poster about their neighbourhood using the pictures and information they have gathered. Students use their posters to give a presentation on their neighbourhood to their classmates and develop basic presentation skills.
LEAP Level 2
In LEAP 2, students expand their reading and listening comprehension skills by working with longer reading and listening passages. Students also develop their presentation skills through a variety of projects and activities where they are required to gather information on a specific topic, prepare a visual and present their information to their classmates. Writing activities focus on building fluency and improving accuracy in using basic grammar and mechanics.
Oh Canada! Project - LEAP 2
In this more formal project, students work in small groups to learn about different Canadian cities, provinces, and territories. First, students gather information about their assigned area from a text provided by the instructor. Students then use this information to prepare a large poster, using key words instead of copying directly from the text. Students must also select appropriate visuals that illustrate or explain important key words on their poster. Students develop presentation skills by presenting their posters to their classmates.
What a Life! Project - LEAP 2
In this final project, students prepare a formal individual presentation about a person who has made a significant contribution to humanity. Students first gather information about their assigned person from a text provided by the instructor. Students then prepare a timeline which contains significant events in the person's life. Students also prepare visuals to illustrate or explain important events and concepts on the timeline. Students then use the timeline and their visuals to present their biography to another classmate.
Academic Preparation (LEAP 3 – LEAP 8)
The content for the intermediate to advanced levels of the LEAP Program is drawn from a wide range of academic disciplines. Each week students practice all of their core language skills in the context of an academic subject. The level of critical thinking skills and the complexity of academic strategies increases as students progress through the program.
LEAP provides a unique learning experience for students by:
- Facilitating development of language and academic skills
- Assisting students to become successful independent learners
- Encouraging student integration into the Langara College academic and social community
- Promoting academic excellence
Level and Project Info:
LEAP Level 3
In LEAP 3, students are exposed to a wide variety of listening and reading input. This rich language environment enhances students' opportunities to use English for meaningful oral communication and information exchange. Writing provides an additional means for students to build vocabulary and express ideas related to weekly topics.
LEAP 3 Process Project
The Process Project introduces students to simple research and presentation skills. For this project, students research the steps in the processing of a food item. They present their information in small groups using a process flow chart. During the presentation, they are encouraged not to memorize, but to explain the process following the notes on their flow chart.
LEAP Level 4
In LEAP 4, students develop the ability to understand and express themselves on topics of general interest, both orally and in writing. Reading texts and ESL short stories are used to develop reading skills. Listening passages include short conversations, interviews, and monologues. Journal writing enhances writing fluency and paragraph writing encourages students to organize and develop their ideas.
LEAP 4 Famous Canadians Project
The Famous Canadians Project requires students to work in a small group to research a famous Canadian. Students use their research to prepare an oral presentation that focuses on what makes their famous Canadian a great person. This PowerPoint presentation includes visuals and details about the person’s background, interesting and relevant aspects about their family/childhood, education, and information about their accomplishments. For the writing component of this project, each group member individually writes one paragraph about his/her Famous Canadian.
LEAP Level 5
In LEAP 5, students are introduced to note-taking techniques using adapted and authentic readings and listenings. They learn to recognize levels of information and types of support in academic style texts and lectures. Students practice previewing, analyzing questions, and developing ideas to answer these questions. Different styles of academic paragraph writing and longer academic writing, such as the 5-paragraph essay, are core components of this level.
LEAP 5 Poster Presentation
The LEAP 5 Poster Presentation is an oral presentation related to one of the themes studied during the course. Each group will be assigned a different topic. Each group member will research, prepare, and present on a specific sub-topic. As a group, students prepare a poster for an academic presentation incorporating key visual and text information. In addition to taking responsibility for their individual research, students must collaborate with their group members to ensure that the presentation is cohesive and the poster is effective.
LEAP Level 6
In LEAP 6, students practice applying specific strategies and skills that build language proficiency within an academic context. Materials are used not only to develop language, but also to teach students specific strategies and skills that will enable them to be successful college and university students in North America. Students attend authentic college lectures and gain experience taking and organizing their lecture notes into levels of information. They make detailed margin notes from articles, chunk information in a text, and write summaries, paragraphs, and essays which include the synthesis of information from different sources. As students in LEAP 6 are fast approaching university studies, one of the primary goals of this level is to foster independent learning and assist students to become more self-directed in their studies.
LEAP 6 Formal Presentation
In LEAP 6, students are required to work in a group of three to four people to research, prepare, and present a formal presentation. The group divides the topic into three or four subtopics, so that each member of the group has a specific subtopic to present individually. Students do independent research using Internet sources and articles accessed through the College library databases to gather information. Library workshops teach students how to use these resources effectively to do academic research. The project requires students to apply the skills that they learned in the context of writing to an oral presentation: they paraphrase, summarize and synthesize research sources, and organize their information. In addition, they present their information orally to a large group, use audio-visual support materials effectively, and lead small group discussions.
LEAP Level 7
In LEAP 7, students are introduced to academic arguments and the specific strategies and skills that are used to recognize and build written and spoken arguments. Students use active reading and listening strategies to understand information at a deeper level and to think critically about the information in the sources. Proficiency with the skills of argumentation, analyzing and evaluating sources, using inference, recognizing bias and point of view, and using citations and references are core components of LEAP 7. Students at this level also learn to use the College online course management system to access lesson materials, participate in online discussions, and receive instructions on submitting online assignments.
LEAP 7 Debate
In LEAP 7, students prepare and engage in a 40-minute debate. The debate includes the formal sections of argument, question period, rebuttal, and summary. Students do outside research on their debate topic and apply the skills of argumentation developed throughout the course. They present a set of clearly defined premises that illustrate the reasons for the position, evidence that supports these premises, an acknowledgment of the opposition or other points of view, and a convincing conclusion. Students are also required to demonstrate strong presentation skills.
LEAP Level 8
In LEAP 8, students further develop skills to analyze and interpret information from journal articles and lectures. They work in pairs to prepare and lead a seminar group discussion. Students build on academic skills developed at earlier levels to research a topic and write a 2000-word research paper. They are proficient with the use of the College online course management system to access lesson materials, participate in online discussions, and receive instructions on submitting online assignments.
LEAP 8 is the final level of the LEAP Program. Students who graduate from the LEAP Program receive a Langara College certificate. Graduation from LEAP 8 meets the language requirement for entrance into the Arts and Science (University-Transfer) Program at Langara College. Graduation from LEAP 8 also meets the prerequisite for entry into college credit English (English 1107).
LEAP 8 Research Presentation
In LEAP 8, each student prepares and gives a presentation on the information that they have gathered for their research paper. Through this process, students are given the opportunity to share their expertise and a well-researched topic of their choice. Students use key visuals and graphics to explain complex ideas and enhance the presentation. To conclude, the presenter addresses questions from the audience.
Check out photos from the LEAP 8 Graduation Ceremony in the Photo Gallery!
