Welcome to the English Language Centre
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STUDENT HANDBOOK WELCOME TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE CONTENTS MEET THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE (ELC) TEAM 4 ELC BASICS 5 CLASSROOM BASICS 6 GRADING SYSTEM 8 ACADEMIC SUPPORT 9 POLICIES 10 HEALTH AND WELLNESS 12 MENTAL HEALTH 14 CULTURE SHOCK 15 FITNESS AND ATHLETICS 16 THINGS TO DO IN OSHAWA 17 PLACES TO EAT 18 HELPFUL PLACES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES 20 CAMPUS SECURITY 21 NOTES 22 ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE | 3 MEET THE ELC TEAM KEY PHONE JUDITH HERRINGER CONTACTS MANAGER REGISTRAR’S OFFICE [email protected] 905.721.3190 905.721.8668 extension 6122 CAMPUS SECURITY DESK Ask about Gordon Willey Building, • ELC pathways to UOIT and DC • program administration main entrance • intercultural competence • recruitment 905.721.3211 • partnerships CANADA HOMESTAY NETWORK MATTHEW DEVLIN Shannon Jackson SENIOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SPECIALIST Toronto: [email protected] 416.926.0355 extension 2015 905.721.8668 extension 6182 Oshawa: 289.481.2006 extension 2015 Ask about • academic issues and support • concerns with instructors LOCAL TAXI SERVICES • classroom concerns • placement test BlueLine Taxi: 905.571.1234 HODA MOHAMMAD City-Wide Taxi: STUDENT RESOURCE CO-ORDINATOR 905.579.9393 [email protected] Taxi-Taxi: 905.721.8668 extension 6139 905.571.1234 Ask about TALK TO US! • academic preparation workshops • health and academic support At ELC, your concerns are our • campus clubs/events • identification cards concerns. Please talk to anyone • guard.me insurance plan • learning activities you are comfortable with and they • homestay • Oshawa restaurants and activities will do everything they can to help you resolve your issue. INSTRUCTORS All our instructors are outstanding professionals with teaching experience in another country. All possess a master’s degree and are dedicated to providing an innovative student-centered teaching experience. They have the passion and knowledge to be your language learning guides. 4 | ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE ELC BASICS EMAIL ACADEMIC SUPPORT IDENTIFICATION All students have a university Teachers are available every day CARD email address. This is your UOITnet for extra help. Speak to a teacher When you get to campus you will account. to make an appointment, or visit be issued a student identification To access your UOITnet account, go the Student Resource Co-ordinator (ID) card. during the lunch hour for extra help. to gmail.com and enter your email WHERE TO GET YOUR ID CARD address: PARKING Take a copy of your schedule and [email protected] You can buy a permit through the your passport to the Campus ID It will take you to another page Parking Services office. office (Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, Room G1004). where you enter your username and You must register online at password. uoit.parkadmin.com. Permits can be YOUR ID CARD IS REQUIRED FOR: Username: student number picked up at the Parking Services • Campus Library resources (1006*****) office in the Gordon Willey Building. • Campus Recreation and Password: network password. LIBRARY Wellness Centre WI-FI The Campus Library provides • Durham Region Transit The wireless network is called services such as: computer access, (bus pass) Campus Air. study space, private study room • Flex dollar (food service) reservations (must book in advance), accounts To learn how to set up your wireless printers, photocopiers and access to Information Technology connection on campus, visit e-resources. • itsc.uoit.ca/services/network-services. Services desk Librarians are available to assist: 905.721.3333 MYCAMPUS Weekdays: • Meal plans MyCampus is where you can find 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Media services your offer letter, account summary (until 5 p.m. Fridays) • (equipment rental) and direct access to UOITnet Saturdays and Sundays: Off-site retail discounts and blackboard. To log on, visit, Noon to 6 p.m. • uoit.ca/mycampus. Student Centre Phone: • Username: student number 905.721.8668 extension 3082 • Student discount for other Password: your date of birth transit services and GO Transit (MMDDYY) Text your questions to 905.581.7221 systems ELC provides opportunities for students to develop connections with, and learn from, other cultures. ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE | 5 CLASSROOM BASICS ATTENDANCE You must attend all classes and learning activities. If you are absent due to illness, you must provide a doctor’s note. If you miss 20 hours or more of class time or learning activities, you will need to leave the program. No refund will be available. LATENESS Do not be late to class. Being late counts as missing one hour of class time. SAMPLE SCHEDULE TIME MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 9:30 a.m. to with instructor 12:30 p.m 2 to with with with learning 3:30 p.m. instructor instructor instructor activities 3:30 to learning 5 p.m. activities MATERIALS Be prepared for every class with your pen, paper, completed homework, course notes and laptop (if necessary). Being prepared for class also means you are prepared to participate, to listen actively and take notes, and to always ask questions when you do not understand. 6 | ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE ENGLISH ONLY You are expected to speak only English during class and learning activities. You and your class will determine the consequence for breaking this rule. BLACKBOARD Use Blackboard to participate in discussion boards, group assignments, journals, blogs and wikis. Your instructor will use Blackboard to communicate announcements about the course, post assignments, presentations and grades. uoit.blackboard.com Username: student number (1006*****) Password: network password. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT Please behave in a way that is respectful to all members of the university community. As an ELC student, you are a member of the university community and are asked to uphold the institution’s commitment to a safe, encouraging and welcoming environment. All university students must respect the Student Code of Conduct policy. The full policy can be accessed at uoit.ca/codeofconduct. ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE | 7 GRADING SYSTEM EVALUATION CRITERIA The instructor will make proficiency expectations clear and they will communicate the evaluation criteria prior to all assessments and progress evaluations. DEMONSTRATING AND MEASURING PERFORMANCE AND PROGRESS You will have numerous opportunities to show how well you are doing through your assignments and engagement in course work and activities. Instructors will assess the following criteria to evaluate performance and progress: PERCENTAGE DESCRIPTION Engagement 25% Attendance, participation, respect, commitment, collaboration, use of English, etc. Assignment Task 1 (week 2) 25% Quality of tasks and assignments Task 2 (week 4) 25% such as essays, reports and presentations, as per grading Task 3 (week 7) 25% rubrics. While you will receive marks throughout the course, your official transcript will only indicate a pass or fail for each level. 8 | ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE ACADEMIC SUPPORT At the ELC, you have a responsibility to attend all classes, complete all assignments and make every effort to be a model student. With this in mind, the ELC strives to provide students with extra help where needed with the following programs: AFTER-CLASS SUPPORT Instructors are available every day after class for help with assignments, concepts and language practice. Talk to your instructor for more information. ELC TALK A weekly opportunity for students to participate in meaningful and authentic discussions with peers and partners in the community. Each week will highlight a new topic. Talk to your Student Resource Co-ordinator to make suggestions. LEARNING ACTIVITIES Our courses are designed with the international language learner in mind. As part of your course, you are required to participate in many out-of-class learning activities, including: • academic workshops • ELC Talk • community events • outdoor excursions • cultural talks • visiting local attractions Each event allows the language learner to develop relationships, adapt to the culture and develop a sense of belonging. Out-of-class learning opportunities provide cultural enrichment, language development, and community engagement. ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE | 9 POLICIES ENGLISH-ONLY English is the only language that we all have in common when we are together in and out of the classroom, whatever the level. To learn English better and faster, it is necessary to speak it as often as possible. For these reasons, only English is used for communicating in class and during learning activities. Students who do not comply after repeated reminders by the ELC staff and instructors will need to meet with the ELC Manager, and may be asked to leave the program without a refund. ATTENDANCE Attending all classes and all activities is essential to learning English, improving your language skills and being a successful student. We record all absences. Arriving late or leaving early counts as one absence. Missing 20 or more hours* of class time or learning activities for any reason (including health or family issues) will seriously jeopardize continuation in the program. In such cases, students have two options: 1. Stay in the program with no possibility of advancing to the next level. 2. Leave the program, with no refund available. ACADEMIC APPEAL Students have the right to appeal a grade for an assignment/task or level. ACTIONS TO TAKE Assignment/Task Appeal: 1. Talk to your instructor immediately. 2. If you believe your teacher does not understand your appeal, you may speak with your Student Resource Co-ordinator or Senior English Language Specialist. 3. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may speak with the ELC Manager. Level Appeal: A final “Fail” grade appeal 1. Talk to your instructor before 4 p.m. on the Tuesday following the end of the session. 2. Bring in all you marked/graded work with you. * New students absent for academic preparation workshops can miss no more than 15 hours. Students absent the first week of classes can miss no more than 10 hours. 10 | ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY DEFINITIONS • No cheating Appeal • No plagiarism Making a serious request for the ELC students (as with all university students), must respect the reversal of a decision.