Frequently Asked Questions

1. You are called Immigrant Services Society, but can visa students study there?

Yes, they most certainly can! Although we are an immigrant serving agency, the main focus of the ACE Program is to help newcomers who want to improve their English, whether they are a landed immigrant, on student, work or visitor visa.

2. Do you give school letters?

A school letter, or Letter of Acceptance is required for those wishing to obtain or extend a student visa. ISS is accredited under the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA), so we are permitted to issue a Letter of Acceptance. Students who pay for their course fees can obtain a Letter of Acceptance within 24 hours.

3. How do I know my level of English?

Prior to attending a course, an assessment is given to determine a student's level of English. Appointments for assessments are preferred, however, drop-ins are always welcome. Assessments are given at the same time as registration and payment for courses.
For students registering outside BC, assessments are done when they arrive in Vancouver. The exceptions are TOEFL and TOEIC Preparation, where a comprehensive examination is given on the first day of each term.

4. How can I pay for my courses?

We have a number of options: Cash, traveller's cheques, personal cheques, VISA, MasterCard, bank draft (in Canadian funds) and money order (in Canadian funds).

5. What do you teach in your comprehensive ESL classes?

The course is designed to target the four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing, together with grammar and pronunciation. Students also spend time in the computer lab, improving their English using various ESL software.

6. Can I register my friend in a class?

Yes, you can. You can simply fill out the application form and provide the tuition fee on behalf of your friend.

7. Can I reserve a seat for a class?

All of our seats are based on a first-come, first-served basis; so, whenever a course is paid in full, a seat will automatically be reserved. To ensure a seat, it is best to register as early as possible.

8. How soon can I start my class?

As mentioned in the previous question, all of our seats are based on a first-come, first-served basis. However, students can normally start within 2-4 weeks upon full registration. In terms of the Special English courses and the Computer courses, please see Courses Offered for specific start dates.

9. Is there an application fee to join a course?

There is a $20 application fee ($40 for TOEFL) to process your registration form and to take an assessment; however, the application fee is used to offset your tuition fees. For example, if you register for one term of TOEIC Preparation, the total cost is $120, not $140.

10. Where do the students come from?

We are pleased to say that our classes offer a multicultural mix of students from all around the world, including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Central America and South America.

11. Do you have computer facilities?

Yes, we do. The students' study room, where students are free to access the Internet and study at the workstations, is available to all ISS students.

12. Do you arrange Medical Insurance for overseas students?

Currently we do not arrange Medical Insurance, however we highly recommend that students obtain Medical Insurance in their country before leaving.

We welcome any enquiries to include in this site. If you have a question that hasn't already been asked, please type it in the box below and submit it to the ACE Program. Also, please don't forget to include your e-mail address so we can respond to your enquiry directly.