The diversity of our students is quite
remarkable and fascinating. In addition to our Canadian students, many of
our other students have come to live in Canada from nearly all parts of the world
including from Asia, Europe, North America, Central and South America, the
Middle East, and Africa. Our students vary in their culture and
background, and they come from all-walks-of-life.
Our students possess different
learning styles and study skills, and each brings his or her own life
experiences. Regarding school and academic background, the spectrum of
our students varies a great deal. Some have had very little schooling,
while others completed university studies in Canada or abroad. Our
student population is composed of those whose first language is English
(first language speakers), and those who are in the process of learning
English (second language speakers).
Students study and take the many
different courses at our Learning Centre for a wide variety of reasons.
Our adult learners are seeking to either increase their job prospects, or
to meet entry requirement into a college, university, or technical
institute, or to just gain personal satisfaction by further learning and
completing coursework. We offer academic courses from upgrading levels,
to grade 11 and 12 courses leading to secondary school graduation.
Depending on the lifestyle and daily schedule of students, they can choose
to take courses in-class or self-paced.
The following six categories indicate
the more specific education and course paths that many of our students are
following:
Improving English skills and
upgrading basic education and knowledge –
students attend our upgrading English classes and take related coursework
to build basic foundations in English, Math, Social Studies, and Science.
This is often only a short term goal, as these students will usually
continue toward intermediate and then upper English and other higher level
courses.
Pursuing the Adult Graduation
Diploma – students are working through our grade
11 and 12 courses in order to get the Adult Graduation Diploma (the Adult
Dogwood). To complete the Adult Dogwood, The Province of British Columbia
Government Ministry of Education requires adults to complete five grade 11
and 12 courses. We have courses in several academic subject areas
including English, Communications, Computer Studies, Mathematics,
Accounting, Sciences, Social Studies, and Humanities.
Pursuing the British Columbia
Certificate of Graduation - some of our students
did not complete their British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (the
Dogwood) while in Secondary School. Such students typically need to
complete just one, or two, or just a few grade 11 or 12 courses to be
granted the Dogwood. These students choose the appropriate courses from
our pool of available coursework.
Preparing for a post secondary
program - we have students who may or may not
have completed a high school diploma, but are working to complete one or
perhaps two courses in order to be admitted into a trade, vocation,
career, or post secondary program. For example, completing Physics 11 may
be required to enter the Electrician’s program while English 12, Biology
12, and Math 11 may be necessary to enter a Registered Nursing program.
While attending post secondary
studies - as some students progress through post
secondary studies, they occasionally discover that they’re either short of
a prerequisite secondary level course, or they simply wish to take a
course to strengthen their academic skills before continuing with their
post secondary program. For example, a student taking an Accounting
Program at a college may register with us to complete Accounting 11 or 12
in order to strengthen his or her accounting and knowledge skills before
returning to the college to continue with the program.
Better job prospects, career
advancement, or personal satisfaction – a few of
our students attend our Learning Centre to take courses not necessarily
with the specific goal of secondary graduation or pursuing post secondary
studies. These students are taking courses to either help them qualify
for better or more suitable careers, or they just wish to study further
for personal gain and satisfaction. For example, a qualifying student who
enjoys writing and wants to take only one course can certainly register
into our Writing 12 course.
If you’re nineteen years of age or
older, or even if you’re just approaching your nineteenth birthday, then
be sure to attend one of our registration sessions. Join our student
population and its interesting diversity. Our teachers will help you
choose the courses to match your interests and your education and career
plans.
See you at our Learning Centre!
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remembered the information well.
Check these links for helpful
information about our Learning Centre:
How to
Become an ALC Student
Courses Available
Also check these links for further
reference:
Government of
British Columbia, Ministry of Education
AchieveBC
Our
Students and their Studies
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