English Language Studies (ESL)

Improve English language skills for college and university study.

Program Overview

Training for all skill levels

Exclusively for learners who speak English as an additional language, this program offers five levels of instruction, from Foundations to English for Academic Purposes (EAP). When you complete the EAP level, you will receive a General Arts and Science Ontario College Certificate and may apply to other Sheridan programs without further language testing.

Hands-on learning

The ESL program encourages classroom interaction. You will work on group projects and assignments that require interaction with your peers and in the community. You will practice speaking, listening, reading, pronunciation and writing in a classroom and in labs. You will also learn to do presentations, research topics, take notes and write texts in English.

Highly qualified educators

Professors in the English Language Studies program are TESL Ontario certified and include educators holding PhDs and master’s degrees. They are knowledgeable in the most innovative and proven methods of teaching English as a second language.

Five levels of instruction

1. Foundations
2. Pre-intermediate
3. Intermediate
4. Advanced
5. English for Academic Purposes

You will be placed in one of these levels based on the results of your ESL Placement Test, IELTS Academic, TOEFL (iBT) or Duolingo scores. See Admission Requirements for details.

Examples of what you will learn to do in this program:

• Express likes and dislikes in everyday situations. (Foundations)
• Produce short stretches of speech while discussing basic topics, employing pronunciation of individual sounds and word and sentence stress with inaccuracies. (Foundations)
• Write a personal message in an informal email to express opinions (Pre-intermediate)
• Participate in conversations for everyday purposes, such as giving opinions and advice and making suggestions and requests. (Intermediate)
• Express opinions supported by details in essay format. (Intermediate)
• Identify suggestions, recommendations and proposed solutions. (Advanced)
• Identify information in complex tables, charts, diagrams and flow charts. (Advanced)
• Demonstrate knowledge and use of level-appropriate grammatical structures and vocabulary. (All levels)

English for Academic Purposes

The program's highest level, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), helps to prepare you to function in an English-speaking college or university environment. At the EAP level, you will take one General Education course of your choice for credit in your postsecondary program along with an introductory "Navigating Digital Environments" course.

Examples of what you will learn to do at the EAP level:

• Demonstrate critical comprehension of an extended oral presentation, lecture or documentary.
• Make contributions to discussions or co-facilitated debates in small groups.
• Interpret key information in complex formatted texts such as tables, graphs, diagrams and website navigation menus.
• Write an expository essay.

ESL program schedule

• ESL program classes can be scheduled any time between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.
• Your classes will be 22–25 hours per week.
• Additional hours every week are requested for completing homework and/or computer-assisted language learning.
• Timetable schedules are released after fee payment, approximately three weeks before classes start.
• The school is unable to accommodate students' preferences or requests for schedule changes.

In-person and virtual program options

You can choose to take the ESL program:

• Online (through virtual/remote learning); or
• In person at Sheridan's Trafalgar Road Campus (Oakville) or Hazel McCallion Campus (Mississauga).

ESL computer requirements

For this program, you will need:

• A laptop with a Windows operating system or a MacBook.
• The following devices do NOT meet the requirements: Smartphone, Chromebook, tablet or iPad.
• Sheridan does not rent, lease or sell laptops.
• A webcam and audio input/output capabilities.
• A headset/microphone is recommended.