Guidelines

1. Student Support

CLLC encourages you to speak with CLLC staff at any time and for any reason. We have an “open door” policy regarding any aspect of your experience while studying at CLLC. If you would like to speak with a member of the Administrative Team, please see your Student Services Counsellor. For any unresolved or private matters, you may speak with your Academic Manager or Campus Director.

2. Placement Test

On your first day of school, you will complete a written placement test and you will be interviewed. The test and interview will determine your level. Students often feel stressed and worried on the first day, so you may not do as well as you could on your placement test. Don’t worry, in your first week of classes, your teachers will observe you and will speak with you if they believe you would do better in another level. Because of this, please don’t write in your textbooks during the first week to avoid having to buy another set if you are moved.

3. Goal Setting Plan

During your interview with the Academic Manager, your goals will be discussed and you will be given a Goal Setting Plan, complete with a timeline. For example, some of our students are here for a short time and would like to improve their speaking confidence.

Your Academic Manager will let your teachers know this important goal and may make suggestions and recommend Plus One classes to help you reach your goal. Some other students are here for a longer time. Your Academic Manager will be able to tell you how many weeks you will likely need to study in your program. They will also be happy to meet you at a future time to be sure that you are on track so you can achieve your goals.

4. Speaking Only English

English is the only language to be spoken at CLLC. This includes hallways, washrooms, and elevators. Speaking English helps you improve your language skills and shows respect to other students. If you are caught speaking another language you will be expected to attend your classes, but it will be noted on your file that you have spoken another language and you will lose five attendance hours. This will affect your overall hour count. If this happens a second or third time, you will speak with the Academic Manager and may be given an extra assignment to do, such as a presentation or essay. If this happens four times, you may be asked to go home for the day. If you break the English Only Policy five times, you may be asked to leave CLLC permanently.

5. Monday Classes

Monday classes are special classes at CLLC where you will be taught using external materials and provided with a unique learning experience. Monday classes are used by teachers to take up the weekly test, to review difficult material from the previous week, to introduce the upcoming week’s topic in a fun and interesting way, to take you on a field trip, or to customize the class to meet some specific goals. In this way, you will have the opportunity to expand your learning beyond the textbook.

6. Weekly Tests

Every Friday students have a test in their classes. During the week you will learn new grammar, vocabulary, and other skills. The weekly test gives you a chance to practice and apply everything you have learned that week. It also gives you and your teachers a chance to check your progress and ensure that you are improving.

7. Understanding Monthly Reports

At the beginning of each month you will receive your monthly report for the previous month of study (e.g., September reports are given in October). These reports contain the average grades for Attendance, Homework, Assignments, and Tests, in addition to an overall letter grade and percentage (e.g. 75% = B). The report also contain comments from your teachers. These comments are motivational and will point out one general area you should work on. For example, you may be told that you have great participation in class (so you are motivated to keep participating) and also that you must come to class on time (the area you need to improve). Your monthly report helps you to see your progress.

8. Plagiarism

Plagiarism means to use someone else’s words or ideas as your own. In Canadian schools, this is considered a serious offense. At CLLC, you are expected to use your own words in your work. It is only by using your words that you will learn how to improve. In your classes, your teacher will show you how to properly cite or paraphrase the words or ideas of others. If your teacher sees that you have plagiarized, he or she will speak with you about it, and will ask you to redo the work. If this happens a second time, you may get ‘zero’ on the assignment, depending how much of it was plagiarized, and you may be asked to speak with your Academic Manager. If you plagiarize a third time, you will be asked to attend a Probationary Meeting with your Academic Manager and Campus Director. At this meeting, the consequences of plagiarizing will be discussed. For example, you may be placed on academic probation, or you may be asked to attend a remedial class, or you may be asked to move down a level.

Learning how to properly cite and paraphrase takes practice. If you do not understand how to do this, speak with your teacher so that you don’t plagiarize by mistake.

9. Cheating on Tests

Like plagiarism, cheating on tests is considered a serious offence. You can cheat by looking at someone else’s test and copying their answers. You can also cheat by writing out answers ahead of time on your desk, a piece of paper, or by willingly sharing your answers with another student. Cheating never helps and if you cheat you will not know how to improve. If you are suspected of cheating during a test, your teacher will ask to speak with you after class and you will be asked to rewrite the test. If you are caught cheating a second time, you will receive “zero” on your test. If you are caught cheating a third time, you will be asked to attend a probationary meeting with your Academic Manager and Campus Director. At this meeting, the consequences of your cheating will be discussed. For example, you may be placed on academic probation, you may be moved to a remedial class, you may be moved down a level, or you may be asked to leave CLLC.

10. Attending and Missing Classes

Attending your classes will help you learn, practice, and improve your English. You need a minimum of 160 class hours to qualify to write a Move Up test. At some point you may need to miss a class. In this case, you are permitted to miss three classes per month, provided you speak with your teacher or receive permission from your Academic Manager. If you need to miss more than three classes, you will be asked to bring in an acceptable note to your Academic Manager, who will excuse you from class. Without these notes, you will be marked absent and will lose your attendance marks.

11. Absence Due to Illness

If you are sick, please do not come to class. Please see a doctor. It is better for you and for other students and staff if you take the time to recover before returning to school.

You should not come to school if you are contagious. It is important that you notify your Academic Manager by email that you are ill so that we can let your teachers know. If you are absent for more than two days in a row, please be sure you bring us a note from your doctor.

12. Coming to Class on Time

We expect you to come to class on time. If you are late, the class is disrupted and teachers must begin all over. You will be able to attend class if you are less than 10 minutes late. If you are late more than 10 minutes, please go to the student lounge and wait until the break to attend class. Please do not ask your teacher if you can enter your class. If you have a very good reason for being late, then please see your Student Services Counsellor and explain why you were late. He or she will will give you a slip of paper saying you can go to class. If you are later than one hour, you will need to wait for the next break or the next class.

13. Passing and Failing Classes

You are expected to attend all classes, do your homework and assignments, and study for tests. Doing this will help you do well in your courses. The passing grade is “B” or 75%. The failing grade is “F” or 55%. To ensure that you are on the right track, your Academic Manager will meet with you if you receive a grade of “C” on your monthly report. In this meeting, you can discuss any areas of difficulty you are having in your classes and your Academic Manager will offer you advice. If you receive a failing grade of “F”two months in a row, you will be asked to meet with your Academic Manager and sign a Probationary contract. This contract will outline requirements you need to meet in order to raise your grades and continue studying at CLLC. For example, you may be asked to attend all of your classes and not be late, do all of your homework, or improve your test and assignment marks. If you continue to fail your classes, you may be moved to a lower level, a different class, or you may be asked to leave CLLC. Remember, we are here to help you! So if you are struggling in your level, it is very important to speak with your teachers. You can also speak with your Academic Manager about your progress and he or she will suggest helpful study strategies, Plus One’s, and prepare a program to help you improve. Remember, ask for help as soon as you feel you are struggling.

14. Critical Care Academic Plan (CCAP)

The CCAP is CLLC’s unique plan to support you if you receive a score between 60% – 74% on your Move Up test. In the CCAP you will be permitted to move up to the next level but must agree to certain conditions. You must:

1. maintain a minimum of 75% attendance
2. complete all of your homework
3. complete additional work that your Academic Manager gives you to help you
4. meet with your Academic Manager weekly to discuss your progress for as long as he or she thinks it is needed.

* If you do not fulfill these conditions you will meet with the Academic Manager and may be placed on academic probation.

15. Changing Schedules and Classes

CLLC offers you a very flexible schedule. Depending on the size of the student body, you may be placed in one of three different schedules. If you would like to change your schedule, please speak with your Academic Manager. Sometimes, we cannot change your schedule because there is no class available, or the available class is full. You may also ask to change your class or teacher. Your Academic Manager will be happy to meet with you to discuss options that are available at that time. Please note that all schedule and class changes are made at the beginning of the week and cannot be done midweek.

• Policy 1 – Combining Two Classes. If there is a class at the same level and same period, which has 4 or fewer students for two weeks consecutively and is combinable with another class in the same city, that class will be combined.
• Policy 2 – Closing a Class. If there is a class that has 4 or fewer students for two weeks consecutively it will be closed if there is space at the same level in a different shift in the same city.
• Policy 3 – Splitting a Class. If there is a class that reaches 100% capacity for two consecutive weeks, the first step before opening a new class would be to determine if there is space in another class in the same city, in the same period, to accommodate the overflow from both the L/S and R/W classes. After fulfilling the requirements in Criteria 1, if there is a class that reaches full capacity for two consecutive weeks, the class will be split after researching potential move-ups and graduates.

16. Using Cell Phones in Class

You are not permitted to use cell phones in class unless approved by your teacher. Using a cell phone disrupts other students and shows that you are not paying attention. Please turn off your cell phones in class. If you disrupt the class by using your phone in any way, your teacher will ask you to put it away. If you continue to use your phone, you will be asked to speak with your Academic Manager. Sometimes, you may need to keep your cell phone on because you are expecting an important call or text message. In this case, please put your phone on vibrate and when you receive the call, quietly leave the class. You may return to class when the call is ended.

17. Taking a Vacation

You are permitted to take vacation after you complete one level up to a maximum of five weeks per year. You should not take vacation in the middle of a level, if possible. If you are sponsored by an external agency, you will need to seek approval from your sponsor in order to take vacation. If there are special circumstances and you need to take a longer vacation or a vacation during your level, please speak with your Academic Manager or Campus Director. If you take a vacation that is longer than approved, you will be marked “finished” and will need to pay a “Reapplication” fee. If you are in the University Pathway Program (UPP) you are not permitted to take vacation during the course.

18. Textbooks

You must own CLLC textbooks (in the proper edition) and bring them to every class. CLLC textbooks have been carefully chosen for their quality and the type of English skills they develop. In class they are used as both a textbook and a workbook. Because you will be writing in these textbooks, you are not permitted to bring a used textbook to class unless it has no writing in it. Any used textbook must be approved by the Student Services Counsellor or Academic Manager. CLLC textbook prices reflect the fact that they are nonprofit. They represent actual book prices after taxes, shipping, storage and tracking by CLLC staff.

19. Moving Up Timeline

Generally, you will be one of the 95% of CLLC students that spends up to 10 weeks in one level for General English. This allows you time to develop the skills needed to be successful in your next level. However, you can write the Move Up test at any given time, once per level. You will write the Move Up test on a Friday and will receive notice of your mark by the following Friday.

20. Choosing a Plus One Class

CLLC offers a variety of Plus One classes on a two-week rotation to allow you to choose what you will study. During your first week of studies, you will attend a Canadian Cultural Orientation during Plus One that will introduce you to your new city, common Canadian customs, and life at CLLC. Following the first week, you can choose from a wide variety of classes that offer a customized learning experience, address areas of needed development, or simply have fun. Plus One classes cover a broad range of topics to suit all needs and abilities. You can choose your class yourself, or you can talk to your teachers for recommendations. If you would like to study something that you don’t see offered, simply suggest it to your teacher or Academic Manager. We will do everything possible to make it happen.

21. Wearing Perfume or Cologne at School

CLLC is a “Scent Free” school. This means that you cannot wear strong scents such as perfume or cologne on campus. Some of our teachers and students are sensitive to different scents and may become sick if you wear scents to class. If you come to school wearing perfume or cologne, you will be asked to go to the washroom and wash it off. If you cannot wash it off (e.g., the scent is in your clothes) you will be asked to go home to change.

22. Respecting Others

CLLC is a warm and open school in which students and staff are like family. At CLLC you cannot make fun of someone for the way they dress or speak, for the beliefs they hold, for their age or for any other reason. Students from all over the world leave their families, friends, and culture to study at CLLC and we ensure that you and all students can study in a safe and comfortable environment. If you feel hurt by what someone has said or done, please speak with your Academic Manager or Campus Director.

23. Being a Great Student

Here’s some great advice to get the most out of your time at CLLC. Spend two hours studying every night. Spend 30 minutes doing homework, review the material you’ve covered for one hour and spend 30 minutes preparing for tomorrow. And remember, we’re always here to help.