Welcome to the ILSC Junior Camp at UBC!
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 to translate to your language.
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.
Arriving at the Airport
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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
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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 take you to the UBC residence, where you will have a brief orientation. Your $100 security deposit in cash for the residence will be collected then, and you will receive your key to your room.
See the Important Information page for the emergency phone number (activated 2 weeks before Start Date)
First Day Information
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If you are staying in the residence, on your first day of camp, Junior Staff will meet you in the residence lobby after breakfast. They will introduce you to your teachers, who will accompany you to your first class. Bring your water bottle and any school supplies you need for your class.
If you are not staying in the residence, please meet the Junior Camp program staff in the UBC residence lobby at 8:30 am for your Orientation.
The Residence
Meals and Laundry
Meals
You will receive 3 meals a day. These are typically hot meals from the cafeteria, served buffet style. On full day excursions (once per week), you will receive a boxed lunch and restaurant dinner.
Laundry
Machines located within the residence cost approximately $2 CAD per wash and $2 CAD per dry
Rooms and Bathrooms
Rooms
You will be living in a single or double room. While most of the rooms are for single accommodation, double accommodation rooms are available and typically reserved for our younger students. Boys and girls live in separate sections of the residence. Bed linens are provided and changed weekly; however, you should bring your own towel.
Bathrooms
Large shared bathrooms on each floor featuring showers, sinks and toilets—bathroom amenities are available at a ratio of approximately 1:6 students
Facilities and Internet
Facilities
The residence features large common spaces and a kitchen with a fridge and kettles. Totem Park has a large open field space for recreational sports. The campus also features a botanical garden and world class museums.
Internet
Wireless Internet is available in all common spaces within Totem Park
UBC Classes and Campus
Learn
All our classes take place on the UBC campus. Classrooms are typically a 5-to-10-minute walk from the residence.
Number of lessons: 17 lessons, 15 hours per week
Number of students per class: 16 students maximum
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.
BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
We want to help planet earth! So remember the three R’s:
» Reduce: Bring your own cup
» Recycle: use the right recycling bins, for beverage bottle and cartons, food scraps (compost) and paper
» Reuse: Bring your lunch in re-usable containers
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.
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.
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.
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
Skills Plus Content
Students at the Intermediate 2 level or higher can opt to replace their English class with
the Influencing Through Social Media class – develop your skills as a social media communicator and build your
social media presence by learning about the qualities of a successful brand identity such as authenticity,
credibility, expertise, and relatability.
Certificate
Students will receive a progress report and an end of course certificate upon completion of the program.
Enjoy an activities program that combines afternoon and evening activities on UBC campus and outings and off-campus activities.
Afternoon Activities at UBC: Students can participate in a variety of afternoon activities every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the UBC campus. Activities include group sports, games, as well as performing and visual arts activities. Activity options vary from week to week.
Evening Activities at UBC: In the evenings, you will participate in social activities such as scavenger hunts, dance parties, performance nights or team quiz competitions.
About the city
Come and discover Vancouver, a modern, magical city set among lush green mountain forests and beaches lapped by the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the friendly multicultural atmosphere of Western Canada’s largest metropolis, where you can enjoy shopping, museums, and many outdoor adventures. ILSC–Vancouver’s campuses are in the city’s downtown, close to public transport, banks, restaurants, and shopping options.
Public Transport and Phones
Public Transport is a great way to explore Vancouver. Click on the images for more information or go to https://www.translink.ca/ for information on fares, zones and where to buy tickets.
However, all your activities will use a chartered bus and Junior Camps staff will accompany the students always.
Sky Train
The city’s three automated rapid transit SkyTrain lines take you all around Metro Vancouver:
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Expo Line connects Downtown Vancouver with the cities of Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey.
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Millennium Line takes you from East Vancouver through to Burnaby and into Port Moody and Coquitlam.
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Canada Line travels between Downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Richmond.
SeaBus
The SeaBus is Vancouver’s passenger ferry that crosses the Burrard Inlet, connecting Downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver. Each ferry can seat up to 395 passengers at a time, and departs every 15 minutes during the day. It takes a short 12 minutes to cross the Inlet.
The SeaBus runs seven days a week from early in the morning to late at night — for first and last SeaBus info, see First and Last SeaBus.
Bus and Metro
The city’s network of buses, trolleys and Community Shuttles link to various hubs, exchanges, SkyTrain stations and tourist destinations throughout Metro Vancouver. NightBus routes (late-night service) start with “N”. RapidBus routes (frequent bus service) start with “R”.
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-$45/ 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 Vancouver
There are three area codes within Vancouver (604), (236), and (778).
You must always dial the area code, along with the number.
If you are making a long-distance call, you must always dial 1 + the country code (011-55 +, or 011-886+, etc.) followed by the phone number.
911 is the Emergency number that can be dialed for FREE from any telephone. 1-800 numbers or 1-888 numbers are free.
