www.ecenglish.com | 1 Contents DISCLAIMER 4 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE 4 WELCOME TO TORONTO 5 WHY LEARN ENGLISH IN TORONTO? 8 10 WAYS TO PRACTISE YOUR ENGLISH IN TORONTO 11 1. Find the hidden gem on the 5th floor of the Toronto Reference Library 12 2. Join an English conversation circle 12 3. Go on an art tour at the University of Toronto 13 4. Watch a movie in unique surroundings 13 5. Shop at St. Lawrence’s Market 13 6. Go to a live concert 14 7. Order up at the restaurant 14 8. Go on a street-art tour 14 9. Go to the Islands 15 10. Read and watch CTV 15 WHAT TO SEE & EXPERIENCE IN THE “QUEEN CITY” 16 CN TOWER 17 ROGERS CENTRE 19 TORONTO CITY HALL 21 RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM OF CANADA 23 TORONTO ZOO 24 GRAFFITI ALLEY 27 THE LOCAL TORONTO 31 Eat and drink on patios 32 Eat and shop at Kensington Market 32 Eat from a food truck 33 Attend a festival or event 33 Have brunch at the weekend 34 TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO 35 1. Dance with dinosaurs 36 2. Go to a live music performance 36 3. Go to the Islands 37 4. Sample some Craft Beer 37 5. Go on a food tour 38 6. Go to the Beach 38 www.ecenglish.com | 2 7. Catch a sports game 39 8. Travel on a streetcar 40 9. Play Bubble Soccer 40 10. Go to beaches 40 SURVIVAL GUIDE 41 Getting to Toronto 42 Getting around Toronto 42 Fun & useful info about Toronto 44 Emergency Phone Numbers 44 Useful Links 45 Useful Apps 46 Final Tips 46 www.ecenglish.com | 3 DISCLAIMER Whilst all efforts have been made by the author to ensure that the information herein is accurate at the time of writing, the reader is advised to double check the information at the time of travel to ensure it is still relevant. As the data can be changed by third parties, the author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the data herein. The information presented is intended as a guide only to help the reader during the trip, and no data is intended as advertising or other purposes. All prices are in Canadian Dollars. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE This guide will offer you challenges to practise your language skills in addition to showing you what to see and why to study in Toronto. You will find tips scattered throughout the book with instructions such as: BEGINNER LEVEL TIP Step out of your comfort zone by talking to someone at the library, whether they are a member of the staff or a library user (whisper, of course, since it’s a library). Ask for help with finding a particular book or genre. Each tip will advise you on the level of English required – Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced. However, feel free to try everything and challenge your English skills. Remember, practice makes perfect! www.ecenglish.com | 4 WELCOME TO TORONTO www.ecenglish.com | 5 If you’re looking for vibrant city life, a mix of historical architecture, massive modern skyscrapers, and taste of Canadian culture, then Toronto is the place for you! Toronto offers cosmopolitan life at its very best, however, before we lay down the basics, let’s take a quick look at the extraordinary: • The entertainment district in Toronto is the place to be for 30,000 clubbers every Saturday night. How’s that for awesome night life! • Toronto has the biggest zoo in Canada. Unless you’re an experienced zoologist, you are guaranteed to find a species you’ve never even seen before. • Toronto is a multicultural epicentre, with half of its population born outside Canada. You`re never going to feel out of place in this city! • You can enjoy an adrenaline-filled, 360-degree “walk” around a building 356 ft. above ground level. You guessed it; this is the iconic CN Tower, once the tallest skyscraper in the world. • Oh yes! And you can dance with dinosaurs. Read on we’ll tell u how. www.ecenglish.com | 6 Toronto: The Basics Toronto is the capital city of Ontario, home to 2.6 million inhabitants. Often referred to as” The New York of Canada”, Toronto is also the largest city in Canada. Located in a prime position, on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario, the city features a 46-kilometre (29 mile) long waterfront shoreline. If you’re into sightseeing, Toronto will charm you with a beautiful blend of historic buildings and modern, cutting-edge architecture. As one would expect from a vibrant cosmopolitan city, the entertainment goes on 24/7 and includes great shopping, food extravaganzas, live music, sports activities, and great nightlife! There are 5 impossible-to-miss things that will make your stay in Toronto truly worthwhile: ● The 360-degree view from atop the CN Tower ● The variety of excellent nightlife (clubs & bars open 24\7) ● The large number and wide variety of free festivals and events ● The fast-paced, business-orientated environment that will inspire and motivate you ● The bargain: $3 streetcar fee to get around the city (super cheap for a modern city)! www.ecenglish.com | 7 WHY LEARN ENGLISH IN TORONTO? www.ecenglish.com | 8 Iconic, exciting, clean, and safe - Toronto is the place to be in Canada! If you are free-spirited, eager to learn, and curious to explore, Toronto is bound to impress you. The city has a unique way of offering the excitement of a fast-paced, cosmopolitan life, combined with the friendliness and warmth of Canadian hospitality and culture - but Toronto is not just about having fun! World-Class Education In Toronto you can benefit from access to world-class educational facilities. The schools here take pride in being leading educational bodies and a beacon of education in North America and the rest of the world. ADVANCED LEVEL TIP: Use your time around the city to practise. The best way to do that is to ask for directions. Try to speak to at least one person a day, whether a restaurant server, or the person sitting next to you in the bus. Take every available opportunity to practise your English in REAL LIFE situations. Multicultural Community of Students There is a reason why Toronto is world-famous for its multiculturalism; the city welcomes and embraces all cultures, attracting more than 10 million tourists and 800,000 students every year. When you study English in Toronto, you get to connect with an amazing community of students from all over the world. Imagine the memories you’ll make, friendships you’ll build, and potential job opportunities you could create! Endless Opportunities & Resources Studying English abroad is more than a learning journey - it’s a new chapter of your life, an opportunity to discover new things, experience a new place, and grow alongside new people! www.ecenglish.com | 9 Toronto has it all, with something to see and do to suit everyone’s tastes offering endless opportunities and resources to practise your English in and out of the classroom! Fun, Fun, Fun If you love Toronto and want to take your education to the next level, studying English here is the way to go. After all, the city is known to have one of the most highly-educated populations in the world. The University of Toronto is the largest and highest-ranked in Canada, and is a World Top 20 university. Even if you are not planning to apply to study here, it’s well worth paying a visit. www.ecenglish.com | 10 10 WAYS TO PRACTISE YOUR ENGLISH IN TORONTO www.ecenglish.com | 11 You’ll learn a lot about the English language in class, but what’s the best way to put your newly-acquired skills to use outside the classroom? The busy streets of Toronto offer many fantastic opportunities to practise your English language skills. Let’s take a look at 10 ways to challenge your knowledge of the language and learn to use it in a variety of real-life situations. 1. Find the hidden gem on the 5th floor of the Toronto Reference Library Check out the Language Centre on the 5th floor of the Toronto Reference Library, which can be found at 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8. Here, you can practise your listening and pronunciation skills for free, since the centre is equipped with headphones and audio/DVD/video-players. This is also the perfect place to make some new friends! You’ll be surrounded by other students just like you, looking to connect and practise English. Find out more info about this at the official website for the Toronto Reference Library. http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=LIB018 BEGINNER LEVEL TIP: Step out of your comfort zone by talking to someone at the library, whether it’s a member of staff or a fellow library user (whisper, because it’s a library). Ask for help with finding a specific book or genre. www.ecenglish.com | 12 2. Join an English conversation circle You should also visit the TPL (Toronto Public Library) and hang around for an English conversation circle. This is open to anyone who would like to practise their speaking skills, and is designed to help speakers immerse themselves in Canadian culture. Find out more about this program and how to join on the official TPL website. 3. Go on an art tour at the University of Toronto Do you want a 3-in-1 experience when you visit the University of Toronto? Go on a free art tour of the Hart House, hosted by a university student.