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Junior Camp at ILSC Toronto

Welcome to the ILSC Toronto Junior Camp!

Here you will find everything you need to enjoy the amazing language and cultural experience ahead of you.

Bookmark this page so you can come back to it later and use the language button at the bottom to translate to your language.

Before you arrive

Juniors Digital Setup Guide

Set up your ILSC digital account and your personal ILSC Junior Camp email account. 

Visit the Juniors Digital Setup Guide for step-by-step instructions.

ILSC Online English Assessment

At the beginning of June, you will receive an email with a link to complete your ILSC Juniors Online
English Placement Test . The link will be sent to your personal email and your ILSC student email account. The test will assess your English reading, writing, grammar and speaking skills and will take about 60-75 minutes to complete. We use these test results so we can make sure to place you in a General English class appropriate for your level or ensure you meet the level requirements of the Skills Plus option. If after attending your first class at the Junior Camp, you feel that you were placed in a class that does not match your English level, our Academic team will re-assess you and if needed, will move you to a class better suited to your English level.

Technical Requirements:
• Internet connection
• Audio
• Camera and microphone to record videos for the speaking part of the assessment.

Pre-arrival Orientations

We will be holding Junior Camp orientation sessions in 7 different languages. Please visit the Junior Camps Orientations page for more information on the dates and times of these sessions.

When you arrive

Arriving at the Airport

  • If you are coming from an international flight, you will be arriving at the international arrivals’ terminal of the airport.

    If you are coming from a Canadian connecting flight, you will be arriving in the domestic arrivals terminal of the airport.

Airport Pick Up

  • There will be an ILSC Junior Camps staff member waiting for you inside the terminal. The person will be waiting for you with a sign with the ILSC logo and your name. The Junior Camp staff will greet you and help you find the driver assigned to pick you up and take you to your homestay.

    See the Important Information page for the emergency phone number (activated 2 weeks before Start Date)

First Day Information

  • On your first day, arrive on campus in the morning. Orientation will begin at 9am. Your host family will explain how to get to campus using public transport. Bring your water bottle and any school supplies you need for your class.

Life at the Homestay

Our Student Accommodation Department will match you with a homestay family based on the information you included on your application (i.e., age, allergies, preferences). Prior to your arrival, you will receive a description of your homestay family including names of the family members, their ages, professions, and interests. You are strongly encouraged to communicate with your family by e-mail or by phone before you arrive. Sending them a picture is also a good idea. They are as curious about you as you are about them!

Your homestay is your home away from home – a place where you can relax and experience Canadian family life. Your host family will provide you with a comfortable place to stay, meals and any guidance or support if and when you need it.

The Homestay

Host Family

We carefully select our host families by inspecting their homes and interviewing them before accepting them as appropriate families for our Junior Camp students. We advise our host families of our expectations in providing our students with the care and attention they need.

Canada is a diverse country and our host families come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, races, religions, abilities and sexual orientations. Our host families are also diverse in their structure – two-parent families, single parent families, parents who work from home, or retirees.

Features of a host family

A clean home in a safe neighbourhood that provides our students with a private furnished room, shared bathroom, access to laundry facilities, and 3 meals per day.

A home that is accessible by public transportation and is approximately a 45-60 minute commute by bus or train.

Schedules

Canadians typically leave for work between 6:00 AM and 8:30 AM and arrive home around 6:00 PM. Dinner is usually served between 6:00 PM- 7:00 PM. Bedtime is usually between 9:00 PM-11:00 PM.

Tell Us About It

If you have a problem with your host family, please tell the Junior Camp staff or the Accommodations Manager, and we will help
you.

Meals and Cleaning

Meals

Meals with host families should not be missed. If you have any food concerns, discuss them with your host parents. Tell them if there is a particular type of food you dislike or if you desire another type of food.

Cleaning

In Canada, family members usually help with the household tasks. You may be asked to help with some of these tasks and you will be expected to keep your room and the washroom neat and tidy.

3 Meals a Day

Breakfast is usually self-serve (prepared by student) and families often do not eat together. Canadian breakfasts typically consist of : Cereal, toasted bread with jam and/or peanut butter or cheese or yogurt and fruit. Breakfast is usually between 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM (Monday-Saturday)and 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM on Sundays.

Lunch in Canada is not a large meal and will usually be a packed lunch to be eaten at school or on the field trip. Canadian lunches typically consist of leftovers (uneaten food from dinner the night before), or a sandwich with meat and/or cheese, tomato, and lettuce. Snacks consist of fruit, granola bars, or yogurt. Water is usually the preferred drink choice and is very safe to drink. Lunch takes place between 1:30pm-2:30pm (Monday-Saturday) and between 12:00pm-2:00pm on Sundays.

Dinner is the largest meal of the day and is usually eaten together with the host family.

Dinner meals may include meat, potatoes, vegetables/salad, pasta or stir fry and rice. Desserts are not usually offered but your host family may offer fruit.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Rooms

You will be living in private furnished room, with a shared bathroom and access to laundry facilities.

If you are tired or just want some time alone, it is okay to go to your bedroom. If you want privacy, close the door to your room. You do not have to stay with the homestay family at all times.

Bathrooms

Your Canadian shower should have a shower door or curtain. If you have a curtain, make sure it is always inside the tub so that water does not drip on the floor. If water gets on the floor, please clean it up. Shower times should not be longer than 15 minutes, and bathroom times should not be more than 20 minutes, as your family may share the bathroom with you.

Facilities and Internet

Laundry

Most host families have a washer and dryer machine and will usually inform wen they explain the house rules if you are expected to do your own laundry or if they will do it for you. If you will be washing your own clothes, please ask your host parents to show you how to use the machines and when is a good time to use them. You should expect to do your laundry once a week.

Internet

Internet is included in your homestay.

Be considerate when using your phone in the evening and use headphones rather than the speaker function on your phone to avoid waking the family. Phone calls should not be made after 9:00 PM.

Life on Campus

Toronto Campus and Classes

Learn

All our classes take place on the ILSC Toronto campus. 

Number of lessons: 17 lessons, 15 hours per week

Number of students per class: 16 students maximum

BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

We want to help planet earth! So, remember the three R’s:
» Reduce: Bring your own cup or bottle
» Recycle: Use the right recycling bins, for beverage bottle and cartons, food scraps (compost) and paper
» Reuse: Bring your lunch in re-usable containers

Our Teaching Philosophy

Learning works better when it is student-centred.

Learning works faster when it’s combined with everyday experiences.

People learn best when they are confident, at ease and happy.

Mobile Phones and Valuables

Respect your teacher and classmates.
Please turn your cell phone off during class times.

Always keep your valuables with you: your wallet, bag, cell phone, electronic dictionary etc.

What and how you study

Language Levels

Our five-level Junior Camp curriculum is designed to meet the diverse needs of our students, to address the range in language skills and abilities, and to challenge each individual student to progress and excel, based on their level.

LATENESS & ABSENTEEISM

You are expected to be on time to classes. Attendance, punctuality and participation are important parts of learning.
Students who come to class every day, on time:
» Learn more English!
» Get the class off to a good start!
Please note: if for any reason you are unable to attend a class or activity, please notify the school IN ADVANCE with a written notice or phone call.

Content

Reading, grammar, vocabulary, and writing are taught in dynamic and interesting ways.
Speaking and listening are practiced through discussion topics that are interesting and relevant to today’s youth.

ENGLISH ONLY POLICY

The English Only environment helps you:
» Think in English
» Improve your English faster
» Learn about other cultures
» Make friends!

Certificates and Skills Plus

Certificates

Students will receive a progress report and an end of course certificate upon completion of the program.

Skills Plus

Students at the Intermediate 2 level or higher can opt to replace their English class with the Global Leadership class – develop essential leadership skills such as critical thinking, communication, empathy, and cultural awareness. 

The Global Leadership class option is available during weeks 2, 3, and 4 of the program for an additional fee. Skills Plus is taken instead of General English. This option requires a minimum level of Intermediate 2. 

Toronto Campus – 443 University Ave, Toronto

Life in Toronto

About the city

Come and discover Toronto, the heart of Canada’s business and cultural life. Toronto is the nation’s centre for finance, art, publishing, theatre, music, film and sports, and pulses with the international energy of six million people.
The ILSC–Toronto campus is located downtown close to major transit hubs, parks, shopping and more. Explore this vibrant metropolis— one of the most multicultural cities in the world.

Public Transport and Phones

Public Transport is a great way to explore Toronto. Click on the images for more information.

The ILSC–Toronto campus is located directly above the St. Patrick subway station. VIA Rail Canada and GO Transit is a short 5-minute subway ride away and some streetcars and buses operate on a 24-hour service.
A Juniors Program staff member will always accompany you on activities and will know the transit routes and fares required.
Students may need to travel on their own between their homestay and the ILSC campus each day. Your homestay family can explain the route and can help you choose the appropriate transit option. Students are responsible for their own public transit fare.

Transport

SUBWAY, BUS, AND STREETCAR

Taking the TTC is the fastest, most economical way of travelling to many exciting destinations in the city. 

Single fare    $3.35

Monthly pass $156

NOTE: Fares are current as of April 2023 and are subject to change.

Taxis

The meter starts at $4.10 and the km price is $2.05.
Tax is included in the price, but it is always polite to tip the driver.
If the sign on top of the taxi is not lit, it is already occupied.

Telephones

SIM CARD AND DATA PLANS

We use the app WhatsApp to communicate with students on their mobile phones.
An international SIM card can lower your roaming and international calling expenses while you are in Canada.
You can use your current mobile phone and by changing the SIM card, you will get a local phone number and data plan!
A SIM card, can cost from $9-$19/week or $35-$55/ month, depending on the plan. For more information, please visit gophonebox.com/plans.

If you would like to purchase a SIM card, please let us know on your first day of class and one of the Junior Program staff will help you.

Telephone Use in Toronto

There are three area codes within Toronto. The city of Toronto uses (416), (647) and (905).
You must always dial the area code, along with the number.
If you are making a long-distance call, you must always dial 011 + the country code (011-55 +, or 011-886+, etc.) followed by the phone number.

It’s best to bring a cell phone with you; however, some pay phones are still available in transit hubs, airports, shopping malls and hotels.
911 is the Emergency number that can be dialed for FREE from any telephone. 1-800 numbers or 1-888 numbers are free.

Useful Resources