International Language Academy of Canada
Encyclopedia
The International Language Academy of Canada ("ILAC") specializes in providing English language
lessons to international students from over 70 countries. The company currently runs campuses in downtown Toronto
and Vancouver
, Canada
.
The company also offers night school courses as well as summer
and winter camp programs for high school
students. Additionally, the company offers a range of courses including TESOL
, TOEFL
and IELTS
preparation and Business English
courses.
The International Language Academy of Canada also provides University
and College
placement services and post-secondary counseling. Their University preparation course is recognized by more than 30 Universities and Colleges.
, ILAC was founded by Jonathan Kolber and Bernardo Riveros; two entrepreneur
s who met at a language school
. Bernardo was a student and Jonathan was a teacher. The pair noticed a lack of essential student services and structure at the school and decided to begin planning for opening their own language academy. They opened their first academy in July 1997. Later, entrepreneur Ilan Cohen joined the pair as Executive Director.
ILAC quickly differentiated themselves from other language schools by placing emphasis on their student
s – everything from classroom size to social activities for students. Their goal was to provide a memorable, lasting experience for students.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lessons to international students from over 70 countries. The company currently runs campuses in downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The company also offers night school courses as well as summer
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
and winter camp programs for high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students. Additionally, the company offers a range of courses including TESOL
TESOL
TESOL may refer to:* The acronym "Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages", used in English as a Foreign or Second Language * TESOL Inc., a professional organization based in the United States for people working in this field...
, TOEFL
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL , evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting....
and IELTS
IELTS
IELTS , or 'International English Language Testing System', is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, and was established in 1989.There are two versions of...
preparation and Business English
Business English
Business English is English language especially related to international trade. It is a part of English for Specific Purposes and can be considered a specialism within English language learning and teaching; for example, the teachers' organisation IATEFL has a special interest group called BESIG...
courses.
The International Language Academy of Canada also provides University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
and College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
placement services and post-secondary counseling. Their University preparation course is recognized by more than 30 Universities and Colleges.
History
According to a promotional video on YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, ILAC was founded by Jonathan Kolber and Bernardo Riveros; two entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
s who met at a language school
Language school
A language school is a school where one studies a foreign language. Classes at a language school are usually geared towards, but not limited to, communicative competence in a foreign language...
. Bernardo was a student and Jonathan was a teacher. The pair noticed a lack of essential student services and structure at the school and decided to begin planning for opening their own language academy. They opened their first academy in July 1997. Later, entrepreneur Ilan Cohen joined the pair as Executive Director.
ILAC quickly differentiated themselves from other language schools by placing emphasis on their student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s – everything from classroom size to social activities for students. Their goal was to provide a memorable, lasting experience for students.
Student Nationalities
While enrollment numbers are continually changing, the International Language Academy of Canada generally maintains the following ratio of students:- 1/3 from AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
- 1/3 from Latin AmericaLatin AmericaLatin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
- 1/3 from EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
Awards
The International Language Academy has received the following awards:- Language Travel Magazine’s Star English Language School: North America 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Top Choice Awards: Top Language School of the Year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Japan Best School Award 2010, Vancouver Campus
- Eye WeeklyEye WeeklyEye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
: Voted Best Language School in Toronto 2005
Accreditation and Group Memberships
The International Language Academy of Canada is accredited by and an active member of the following industry associations:- Language Industry Association (AILIA)
- Industry CanadaIndustry CanadaIndustry Canada is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for regional economic development, investment, and innovation/research and development. The department employs 6104 FTEs across Canada....
- TESL Canada
- ETS Authorized TOEFL iBT Center
- Cambridge ESOL Examinations Centre