Il secondo più grande paese del mondo, il Canada è una buona scelta per imparare l'inglese. Nonostante la forte economia ha ridotto il divario tra i costi tra corsi di inglese in Canada e negli Stati Uniti è ancora più conveniente oltre ad avere uno standard più elevato della lingua inglese. Sebbene il Canada ha tagliato molti dei legami coloniali con il Regno Unito, il governo è una monarchia costituzionale con la Queen Elizabeth II come capo di Stato.

La popolazione del Canada è solo di circa 32 milioni di persone, il 75% di questi vive entro 150 chilometri di confine con gli Stati Uniti. La capitale è Ottawa, con una popolazione di 813.000 (la quarta città più grande).

Il governo provinciale non si dispone di una regolamentazione ufficiale di lingua inglese delle scuole ai fini delle domande di visto o di garanzia della qualità. Lingue Canada e CAPLS sono i oraganisations che rappresentano scuole di lingua private in Canada. I loro membri sono vincolati da alcune linee guida e la partecipazione di tali organizzazioni implica che una scuola segue le linee guida raccomandate per per la qualità.

Trova Scuole di inglese in Canada

Culture

Canadian culture bears similarities to the US and the UK, it could be said that it is somewhere in between. Canadians are considered less brash and agressive than their southern neighbours and are less insular in their outlook. Canada has developed an undeserved reputation for being boring. This could be due to their politeness, which is said to be a legacy of the British Empire. This means if someone bumps into your they are much more likely to apologise than to tell you how great a country Canada is.

Canada is proud of its multiculturalism. Almost half of the country's population consists of first-generation immigrants. This multiculturalism is evident an acceptance of different languages. The City of Toronto publishes many materials in over 70 languages. Canadians are used to speaking with people on whose first language is not English, but you need to be patient and accommodating at times. For the most part they will find little difference in word usage between the US and Canada.

Canada Culture Links

Some people have the impression of Canada being a frozen wasteland, where as this may be true far north, the Canadian climate has great regional variation. Most of the populated areas have warm and humid summers with normal temperatures of 23Cº. Winters are generally cold when average temperatures stay just above 0C º. Rainfall is highest near the coast and around the great lakes.

More information on Canada’s climate can be found at the Canadian Weather Office.

Temperature and precipitation tables by region can be found at this link.

Concise information on climate by region can be found at this link

The Canadian Dollar (CAD / $ / C$) is the legal currency of Canada. Canada uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. Sine the introduction of the one dollar coin with a picture of a loon on the back (a type of bird) Canadian dollars have become known as loonies.

Compared to the US, Canada is a cheaper alternative. Although the Canadian dollar has risen in value in recent years the courses and course of living are still good value. For accommodation, food and entertainment you should budget $250 per week.

Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 9:30 until 16:30. Some banks and specific branches may be open later and even on Saturdays. ATMs (sometimes refered to as ABMs {Automatic Banking Machines}) are found in most places in Canada.

Banks in Canada usually require proof of legal residency such a visa to open a bank account. Sometimes a passport and a secondary piece of identification are sufficient. However, it is much easier to open a bank from your home country. Check with your local bank to see if there are partnership agreements for opening accounts in Canada or consider opening an account with a bank like HSBC and activating it on arrival.

Tipping

In restaurants it is customary to tip 10 to 15% on the bill. In some restaurants this may be included for large groups. If your food or drinks are not brought to you it is still customary to tip a couple of dollars at the bar. In cafes there is often a tip jar on the counter if you would like to tip there.

Work

Finding work in Canada can be difficult and is only allowed under certain circumstances. It can be hard to even find a job in Canada so students should come with enough money for their stay. Students in English schools are not eligible for work.

Full time students at third level state institutions are entitled to work on campus or in jobs related to their study. Students are allowed to work if they can show that they have run out of money through no fault of their own (spending in the bar isn’t a good idea).

Canada does not have an official au-pair programme meaning only people on working holiday visas or live in caregiver visas can work as au-pairs.

Salary
The minimum wage in Canada differs from state to state, ranging from $7.25 to $8.75 per hour and can be less for students and service industries. Not everyone is entitled to receive minimum wage and there are differences across industries.

Some websites for job seekers;

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa to enter Canada, provided that the stay does not exceed six months.

If you think you might continue your studies after this point it is a good idea to apply as the application has to be made in your home country.

If you are a minor (under 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan or under 19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut and the Yukon ) two notarized documents are required. One by the parents or guardian in the home country and one by the custodian in Canada who will be legally responsible for the minor. When traveling two letters of permission (one from the parents and one from the custodian) and the custodians contact details are required. Further information can be found at this link.

Standard custodian form letter

Visa Application Procedure

• Contact the school or complete an on-line booking form listing the type of course and the exact dates the course begins and ends.
• The school will request payment. After you pay for your course the school will send notification acknowledging the payment and course dates.
• You apply to your local Canadian Embassy or Consulate with the necessary documents, listed below.

Documents required

The documents required for an entry visa depend on the country. Check with your local embassy to make sure which are necessary. Usually these include;

• Passport (if you do not need a visitor's visa a copy is sufficient)
• Visa Application Form
• 2 passport photos
• Letter of acceptance from your school confirming a course of study.
• Documentation that the fees for the course have been paid in full (usually included in letter of acceptance).
• Evidence that you have enough funds ($10,000 per year minimum) to maintain yourself for the initial part of your stay. Such as a bank statement, solvency statement or a letter from a sponsor.
• Proof of adequate health insurance that is valid in Canada.
• A copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
• Relevant diplomas or educational certificates.
• A statement of purpose explaining why you wish to study in Canada.
• Confirmation you intend to return home. For example a plane ticket, letter from an employer or your university.

General Information on Visa Process

Document checklist

A list of visa application offices can be found at this link.

If you have stayed in a designated country for more than six months in the last year you may need to under go an immigration medical examination.

Accommodation

Homestay
Cost: $400 - $800 per week

Residential
Cost: $80 - $1,000

Hotels, Hostels and B&B


There are several websites that are useful in finding accommodation in Canada such as;

Problems

If you have problems with your land lord there are a number of agencies who can help your resolve the issues or explain your legal options.

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