Student Engagement Centre
6- 138 ED North
English Language School
Engage - Learn - Succeed
English Language School
Engage - Learn - Succeed
contact: elsinfo@ualberta.ca
The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs, and research stations are primarily located on the traditional territory of Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, and Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe nations; lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7, and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations.
How have you done this term? You are more than your grades. Have you learned about yourself and your community? We hope you feel more confident and knowledgeable as you take the next step in your learning journey.
Come to the SEC this week for tricks with our pet therapy dog Skoki, the LAST Kahoot, eggnog & candy canes, the LAST regular Conversation Club, and hot chocolate with marshmallows.
EAP 136 students: Good luck on your final exams on Dec 9 (written) and Dec 10/11 (oral).
Do you feel ready for your final exams? The Student Engagement Centre can help. Drop by to chat, make friends, relax, and practice English. We want to help you be successful this term!
As an extra special treat, come try a Nanaimo Bar on Tuesday. They are very Canadian and very tasty!
Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your English language skills this week in the SEC!
Thank you to our friendly and kind Conversation Club volunteers!
We really appreciate the students and community members who help facilitate our weekly Thursday Conversation Club. We will have a few more sessions this term: Nov 7, Nov 21, Nov 28, and Dec 5. We will be back in January with more opportunities to chat, share, and connect!
Trick or treat! Halloween is on October 31st.
What is Halloween? Canadians have different views. For some, Halloween is a fun celebration focused on costumes and candy. Others view it as a meaningful time to honour the dead or engage with supernatural themes. At the English Language School, we treat Halloween as a lighthearted, fun event.
If you want to wear a costume, feel free to dress up for your class and Conversation Club on Thursday. If you want to try some Halloween treats, come to the SEC on Tuesday.
Here are some upcoming Wellness Supports events that you might want to attend.
Wellness Supports Social: Frozen Mic Night
Nov. 6 | 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. MDT | Orion room, Students' Union Building basement, North Campus
Join us for an evening of fun as we belt out our favourite tunes and get creative with cozy winter crafts! Whether you're here to sing your heart out or make something festive, there's something for everyone. Don't miss out on the perfect combo of music, crafts, and good vibes! Be sure to RSVP using this link and bring a friend or two!
Unitea Collective Tea Time: Maintaining Motivation Levels: Share your tips and learn new tricks
Nov. 7 | 2:30 p.m. MDT | 1-17 Henderson Hall, Rutherford Library South, North Campus
How are you being sustainable in your daily life?
What does sustainability mean to you?
What are some examples of how you choose to live sustainably?
Join us this week in the SEC to explore the theme of sustainability.
There is no Simon Says video this week.
Check out the SEC calendar to see when the space is open/closed this week.
Join Vicky at the U of A Golden Bears hockey on Friday evening.
As we head into midterms, we need to remember to take care of ourselves! Get enough sleep. Eat healthy food. Spend time doing things you enjoy. Connect with people. Ask for help if you need it.
This week we are talking about Culture Shock. Drop by the SEC and share your stories about surprising things you’ve encountered in Canada or things that would never happen back home.
"When it comes to what's considered normal, it simply depends on where we are on the map." - author unknown
In October, we can expect some fun (Thanksgiving! Halloween!) and maybe some stress (midterms?) The weather will start to get colder and the leaves will start to fall.
This is a short week in the SEC. Come try some bannock on jam on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we will go to the U of A bookstore at 11:30 am to watch some traditional Indigenous drumming and dancing. On Friday, we will go to Kinsmen Park for a campfire where we will roast marshmallows and enjoy tasty S'mores. Come join us!
Time management is an essential skill for University students! It can help you achieve academic success, have a work/life balance, reduce stress, and improve your focus and productivity. We will learn more about this topic in the EAP 136 seminar on Wednesday.
We hope you will spend some of your valuable time this week joining some of the fun and helpful activities in the SEC.
Are you an autonomous learner? Do you set goals for your learning? How do you track your progress? This week in the EAP 136 seminar we will be talking about autonomous learning, learning how logs can help us achieve our goals, and writing about our language learning journeys.
Watch Simon Says to find out what is happening this week at the English Language School. This is a great way to practice your English!
Want some HELP? Come see Zuzana or Shona on Monday for one-on-one help. Skoki (our pet therapy dog) will be here at lunch time. She loves doing tricks and meeting new people!
Want to have FUN? Come to the SEC on Tuesday to try a Canadian treat and play Kahoot at 12 pm. Shona will also be running skills workshops to improve your English.
Want to be SUCCESSFUL? Come hear Dr. Ranta's talk on Wednesday on how to be successful in learning at university.
Want to CHAT? Come to Conversation Club on Thursday to chat with our amazing volunteers and other students.
Want to EXPLORE the U of A Campus? Join us for a campus adventure on Friday at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm.
Have you seen our Friday Fun Reels on Instagram? 🥳
Walkth through the Old Strathcona gardens
Wee Book Inn on Whyte Avenue
Do you love to read, too?
All smiles!
S'mores are great!
Are black s'mores edible?
Multitasking! What's my word?
UNO for all!
Can I trust you?
Two way tag
What? Where? How?
Where should I go?
A little while ago we asked our former EAP student, Reihaneh, about her transition from the English Language School to university. How did it go, what do you think?
If you are curious about how to practice English outside the classroom, SEC activities offer the easiest option. Make a habit of attending the Conversation Club on Thursdays, and on Fridays, hang out with us as we explore the campus and the community. This way you can make new friends while working on your language skills.
Stay tuned and check out the SEC schedule!
Shona Nichols (she/her)
SEC and EAP instructor
slwebste@ualberta.ca
Whether I'm helping students in the Student Engagement Centre or teaching in the classroom, I have three learning philosophies:
Learning should be fun!
Everyone can be successful.
Just trying is the best way to start.
Come chat with me so I can get to know you! I want you to feel joy, get connected with people and services, and be supported in your personal and academic journey. I'm always available to listen and strategize with you. I also have some ideas about how you can improve your English and be an effective learner.
Come visit me in the SEC (ED 6-138) or email me at slwebste@ualberta.ca.
Zuzana Buchanan (she/her)
SEC and EAP instructor
zuzana@ualberta.ca
I love working at the Student Engagement Centre because it gives me the chance to enjoy fun activities with students outside the classroom. It's important to me to show that learning and language practice don’t just happen in class—they happen everywhere. When you join SEC activities, you get to immerse yourself more in the community, which can really help improve your language skills and make adapting to your new surroundings easier.
Even if you're shy, why not join me for a Friday Fun event sometime? It’s a great way to explore what the community has to offer, and we can practice English along the way. Don’t forget to bring a friend or invite someone who could use one!
If Shona isn’t available, feel free to email me with any questions at zuzana@ualberta.ca
Vicky Chang (she/her)
SEC assistant
chiachi@ualberta.ca
Hi, I'm Vicky. I'm a former ELS student so I know how hard it is to study at university in a second language!
I can share some tips and tricks for making friends, finding fun things to do, and being successful in your classes. I want to help make your time in Canada a great experience!
Come visit me in the SEC (ED 6-138) or email me @chiachi@ualberta.ca.
Join us in welcoming Skoki, our therapy dog, to the SEC (ED 6-138)
Everyone is invited to meet Skoki and choose how they'd like to interact with our furry friend. You can pet her, teach her a new trick, offer a treat, simply watch her, or engage in a friendly chat.
Research shows that interacting with a therapy dog can lead to less overall stress, an increased sense of belonging to the campus community, and more opportunities for international students to practice English (Binfet & Passmore, 2016). It also enhances student well-being, reduces anxiety, and improves mood (Grajfoner et al., 2017).
Come and experience the proven benefits of dog therapy for yourself, and if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Shona.
I love posing for pictures with students! I also love playing hide and seek with students and going on little trips and adventures around Edmonton. Take me along!
Sometimes I really enjoy listening to the students during the break. I think they have lots of secrets.
Fun fact: I have three cousins: Moose, the moose, and Ron, the polar bear!