Langara English for Academic Purposes (LEAP)

Akane Nakano
LEAP Graduate

When I graduated from high school I decided not to go to university in my home country, and I came to Canada. When I first came here, all I wanted to do was study English. But studying English required much more than I expected. In the LEAP Program, I was constantly being challenged. The LEAP Program not only improved my English, but also taught the importance of critical thinking and the knowledge that is necessary to practice it. It was a new concept that was foreign to me, but without it, you wouldn’t truly enjoy the learning experiences in Canada. Completing this program gave me a sense of confidence that I needed as a young international student.

After graduating from LEAP in 2008, I studied in the University Transfer program at Langara. After my studies at Langara, I transferred to York University in Toronto where I’m now doing a double major in Human Rights and Equity Studies and Political Science. As a political science student, I’ve been facing the complicated reality of world politics. I find it fascinating and impossible to ignore, and I’m sure that I will keep learning about it forever.

I am now taking a year-off from school and starting an internship program at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Tokyo. My hope is to help those who are the most vulnerable in times of political unrest. I am very excited and looking forward to what this will lead to in the future.

My advice for you is to stay open-minded. Be open-minded for others as well as yourself. Don’t limit yourself, because the world is your classroom.

Erin Gao, China
LEAP Graduate

"LEAP did not only prepare me for my academic study, but also helped me build a solid foundation of my personal life.

I started taking LEAP 8 years ago when I just arrived in Canada. I started in Level 6, but I failed it. At that time, I didn't even know what a thesis statement was, and during a 2 minute presentation, I forgot my speech and just stood there for almost a minute. I had to admit that my confidence in my good English skills was shaken. But in order to challenge myself, I retook it for a second time and did it better. Then I also finished Level 7 and Level 8. Now when I look back, I am proud of myself that I didn't quit when I failed my first Level 6. The LEAP program is the best Academic Preparation Program, it helped me a lot to build a strong foundation and prepared me better for my future study. I think every single thing I learned from LEAP was applied to my further study. After LEAP, I took my 1st year and 2nd year university transfer courses at Langara, and then transferred to UBC. I got my bachelor's degree specializing in Logistics and Transportation. Before I had my son last summer, I was working in an international logistic company located at the Vancouver International Airport.

Starting from LEAP, I had a new life in Canada. Accompanied with the academic achievements, I was lucky enough to develop some wonderful friendships with my classmates from LEAP. We witnessed each other's growth and stood by each other in the up and downs of life.

We all thank LEAP for giving us the platform to unearth our potential to achieve our dreams".

Rajaa Fallatah, Saudi Arabia
LEAP Graduate
"I studied in the LEAP Program LEAP 6 to LEAP 8. I can say honestly that my experience in the program was really enthusiastic, full of fun, full of knowledge, and most important, full of new academic skills in each level. We had seminar discussions and gave research presentations. In LEAP 8, I wrote a research paper related to my area of interest and I'm using it to apply to Canadian and non-Canadian universities. We learned tons of useful skills from the very qualified, knowledgeable, and helpful instructors!"

Yumi, Japan
LEAP graduate
"I like the style of the LEAP Program: a different topic each week, small classes, and two different teachers. The different topics give me many ideas when I am studying, which is very interesting to me".

Thi Hoai Thu, Vietnam
LEAP graduate
"I am very happy to have attended each level of LEAP. Everybody already knows that LEAP teaches academic English, but I want to say one special thing that LEAP gave to me: knowledge. As a student in Vietnam, I studied very little about social issues. However, the day I started in LEAP, my knowledge grew bigger and bigger. I started to understand more things and I became more interested in the "real life" surrounding me. All I want to say is "thank you" to all the teachers and the people working in LEAP that gave me many opportunities. Thanks for everything."

Bita, Iran
LEAP graduate
"The LEAP Program is a very useful English program because it helps students to improve their academic English skills, such as reading, writing and listening for university courses. The classes are very active because students have to work in groups to do their work. I would like to recommend the LEAP Program to students who want to improve their English skills, because they not only learn English, but also about Canada and different cultures."

Paul Abbott, MA, BA, TESL
Instructor
Paul has an MA in Counselling Psychology (UBC), a BA in English and Political Science (UBC), and a TESL Diploma (UBC). He has taught English in Vancouver since 1993.

Carmita Bartel, MEd in TESL/TEFL, BSc
Instructor
Carmita has an MEd in TESL/TEFL and a BSc from the University of Manitoba. She has developed and taught classes in ESL, EAP, exam preparation, and teaching training programs for almost 20 years. Her teaching experiences have been in private institutes and universities in Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, the USA, and Vancouver.

"For me, an energetic, engaging, and interactive classroom environment is the key to creating an effective learning experience for my students."

Christine Brown, BSc, SME, TESL
Instructor
Christine has a BSc from SFU, SME Diploma from UBC and a TESL Certificate from VCC. She has been teaching English to new Canadian immigrants and international students in the Vancouver Lower Mainland since 1993.

"It's great to see students improve their confidence in English both inside and outside of the classroom over such a short period of time.  The new skills they learn in class are further developed out in the community, where they can explore new places, participate in fun and interesting activities and meet people from different cultures in Vancouver."

Patricia Chan, BA, BEd, TESL
Instructor
Patricia has a BA, a BEd (UBC), and a TESL Certificate (VCC). She has been teaching ESL since 1996.  Patricia has taught in Taiwan and Vancouver.

"I enjoy teaching English in LEAP because I can witness students building their confidence and accomplishing their goals."

Magdalena Dachtera-Wrobel, MA, B.Ed, TESL
Instructor
Magda has an MA in Applied Linguistics (A. Mickiewicz University, Poland), a BEd, and a TESL Diploma (Vancouver Community College). She has been teaching ESL since 2002. She has taught in Poland and Canada, and has experience in working with both international students and newcomers to Canada.

"The best thing about teaching in LEAP is watching students get closer to achieving their academic goals and knowing that I am part of their journey."

Baljit Dhillon, MA, BA, CELTA
Instructor
Baljit has an MA in Expressive Arts Therapy with a minor in Psychology (EGS, Switzerland), a BA and a Diploma in Education (UBC), and a Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (Kwantlen). She has taught English at Langara since 2003.

"I am passionate about engaging students in the learning process. It is rewarding when students utilize their resources and discover their strengths. The LEAP program gives them the structure and support that they need to achieve their educational goals."

Alan Girling, BA, CERTESL
Instructor
Alan has a BA in English, a CERTESL (U. of Saskatchewan), and has been teaching English as a Second Language to adults since 1986. He has taught in Japan and Canada.

Keith Hughes, BA, CELTA
Instructor
Keith has a BA in Communications (SFU), a CELTA Certificate (RSA-Cambridge), and has been teaching English since 1997. Keith has enjoyed teaching in Canada, the USA, and Japan.

Sophie Janota, M.Ed., BA , BEd
Instructor
Sophie has an M.Ed. in Adult Learning and Global Change (UBC), a BA (UVic), and a BEd (U. of Western Ontario). Sophie has been teaching ESL and EAP since 1992, and has taught in colleges and universities in France, Hungary, and Canada.

"I am happy to share my passion for languages and curiosity about life with my students. I aim to help students understand, shape, and enjoy their own learning."

JoAnn Kadooka, MA, BA, TESL
Instructor
JoAnn has an MA (Uni. of Hawai'i), a BA, and TESL Certificate. She has been teaching ESL since 1992. JoAnn has enjoyed teaching post-secondary students in Hawai'i, Japan, and Vancouver.

Ashley Low, BA, TESOL
Instructor
Ashley has a BA in Psychology (UBC) and a TESOL Diploma (VCC). She has taught ESL and EAP in Langley and Vancouver since 2000.

"Being able to teach students from around the world and empowering them to succeed in their settlement and academic goals make my job a very rewarding one."

Leslie-Anne McGugan, BA, BEd
Instructor
Leslie-Anne has a BA in English, and BEd in TESL (Brock U.). She has been teaching ESL since 1992. Leslie-Anne has taught in Japan and the Czech Republic.

"My goal as a teacher in the LEAP program is to help students reach their academic goals by improving their academic English skills. When a former student tells me they have been accepted to UT or other university programs, then I know I have helped them reach that goal."

Farid Mirhady, MA, BA, TESL
Instructor
Farid has an MA in TESL (UBC), a BA in Linguistics, and a TESL Diploma (SFU). He has taught English in Iran and has been teaching adults and college students in Vancouver since 1995.

Branca Mirnic, MEd, BA, TESL
Instructor
Branca has an M.Ed. in English Education (UBC) and a BA in English Language and Literature. She has taught English in Europe and has been teaching English as a Second Language in Vancouver since 1997.

"Through our program students acquire the ability to communicate not only with each other, but also with imagined selves in journals and academic selves in research. I enjoy following their progress through readings, projects, paragraphs, and argumentative essays."

Kim Nowitsky, BA, DELTA, CELTA
Instructor
Kim has a BA in Applied Communications, a Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA), and a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). She has been teaching since 1999. She has taught exam preparation and young learners in Spain for 6 years and 3 years of Cambridge exam preparation in Vancouver.

"Teaching in LEAP, I am motivated everyday because I feel so fortunate to work with such a dynamic group of instructors and because I love helping our dedicated students achieve their academic goals."

Amanda Robbins, BA, BEd, CELTA
Instructor
Amanda has a BA in Education Studies and English (U. of Wolverhampton), a CELTA Certificate (RSA - Cambridge), and a BEd in TESL (U. of Amsterdam). She has taught English in the Netherlands, China, and South Korea and has been teaching English as a Second Language since 2001.

"The LEAP Program allows me to make the learning experience rewarding for students as well as for myself. I learn new things from my students every time I enter the classroom, and my aim is to make sure my students experience the same thing - they learn to be more capable and comfortable with academic English."

Andrea Stevenson, BA, TESL
Instructor
Andrea has a BA in English and History (U. of Western Ontario) and a TESL Certificate. She has been teaching ESL since 1990. She has taught in Slovakia, Japan, and Canada.

Sylvia Symons, BA, TESOL
Instructor
Sylvia has a BA in English Literature from UBC and a TESOL Diploma from Vancouver Community College.

Sylvia has been teaching English since 1994 and has taught both in Vancouver and in South Korea.

"I love watching each student grow in confidence and ability. I am also very interested in students' lives and all the stories they bring with them to Canada!"