Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, Canada has been working on an innovative approach to ensure new English language learners – international students and new Canadians – get a head-start in their preparation for their eventual careers in Canada.
In September 2021, Fanshawe College’s reputed English Language Institute is launching a new and improved career-focused English for Academic Purposes program.
The career-focused EAP program is more in line with the goals and priorities of Fanshawe College and prepares students for success in their post-secondary programs and future careers. Fanshawe College has committed to giving each student a Signature Innovative Learning Experience to help prepare them for the job skills of the future.
“It’s never too early for students to start building their resume and learning about their future careers”
The college sees the value of teaching our English-language learners early on in their academic journey at Fanshawe College about how to build their workplace communication skills and learn more about the careers they are thinking about going into. It’s never too early for students to start building their resume and learning about their future careers.
Through assignments such as researching Canadian labour market trends, comparing Myers-Brigg’s personality test with necessary career skills in their chosen field, and mock job interviews, students will learn more about their career of choice and the skills needed to succeed in that field.
They will read about the careers they’re seeking, learn relevant vocabulary and listen to videos about careers in Business, Tourism and Hospitality, IT, Social Services, and Health – are all popular fields for our EAP graduates to go into. EAP students will also enhance their English skills and knowledge about their future careers.
The ELI has partnered with Fanshawe’s Career Services to conduct workshops throughout the term which help EAP students learn more about what’s important to include in Canadian resumes, the importance of volunteering, and the employment needs within our communities, for example.
Fanshawe’s EAP program will continue to teach the language and academic skills required to help students succeed in post-secondary programs, but will also enhance their knowledge, skills, and awareness of their career of choice.
Fanshawe College is hosting an online information session about the new career-focused EAP program on September 24, 2021 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To register in advance, please click here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. You can also email international@fanshawec.ca for more information.
About the author:
This is a sponsored post from Kristibeth Kelly, Associate Dean of the English Language Institute at Fanshawe College. Kristibeth began her new management role one month before the pandemic was declared. She has also been an educator for the past 15 years and has taught overseas in Pakistan, China and Poland. Before becoming Associate Dean, she taught at Fanshawe College for 12 years in the English for Academic Purposes program in the English Language Institute. She has a Master’s degree in Curriculum Development with a specialisation in Second Language Acquisition from the University of Toronto and has been involved in curriculum development in the EAP program for several years. Kristibeth has also provided curriculum support to non-native speakers of English in many Fanshawe post-secondary programs, including: Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts; Aviation; Electrical Engineering; Gerontology; Nursing. When not working, she enjoys singing in a community choir, reading, stand up paddle boarding, and playing with her five year old son.
