ESL
Sheridan offers full-time, intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for students who want to improve their English skills for personal, professional or academic reasons.
The highest level, English for Academic Purposes (EAP) can provide students with a conditional acceptance into a diploma, degree or post-graduate certificate at Sheridan.
5 levels of instruction
- Foundations: Module A (7 weeks; 25 hours/week) and Module B (7 weeks; 25 hours/week)
- Pre-Intermediate: Module A (7 weeks; 25 hours/week) and Module B (7 weeks; 25 hours/week)
- Intermediate: Module A (7 weeks; 25 hours/week) and Module B (7 weeks; 25 hours/week)
- Advanced: Module A (7 weeks; 25 hours/week) and Module B (7 weeks; 25 hours/week)
- English for Academic Purposes (EAP): (14 weeks continuous; 22 hours/week)
Level placement
This chart is effective Fall 2024
| Level | CEFR Entry / CLB | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT Home Edition | Duolingo English Test | iTEP Placement Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Foundations |
A1+ |
1.5–2.5 (lowest skill at 1.5) |
<32 (no score below 6) |
10–25 (lowest skill at 10) |
2.0–3.0 (no skill at 0.0) |
|
Pre-intermediate |
A1+,A2 |
3.0–3.5 (lowest skill at 3.0) |
32 (no score below 8) |
30–50 (lowest skill at 30) |
4.0 (final placement dependent on individual skills scores) |
|
Intermediate |
A2+,B1 |
4.0–4.5 (lowest skill at 4.0) |
34 (no score below 12) |
55–70 (lowest skill at 55) |
5.0 (final placement dependent on individual skills scores) |
|
Advanced |
B1,B1+ |
5.0 (lowest skill at 5.0) |
45 (no score below 14) |
75–80 (lowest skill at 75) |
6.0 (final placement dependent on individual skills scores) |
|
EAP |
B1+,B2/B2+ |
5.5–6.0 (lowest skill at 5.5) |
59 (no score below 18) |
85–100 (lowest skill at 85) |
6.0–7.0 (final placement dependent on individual skills scores) |
- Please note that final placement with the iTEP Placement Plus may not always match the chart above. Final placement is dependent on how students perform in their individual skills scores on the iTEP test.
- Students are placed in an ESL level according to their lowest individual skills score as listed in the above chart. For example:
- If an applicant has an IELTS Academic 5.0 for Speaking and Listening, an IELTS Academic 4.5 for Reading and an IELTS Academic 4.0 for Writing, the student will be placed in the Intermediate level.
- If an applicant has an overall iTEP placement test below 2.0, they will be placed in Pre-Foundations.
- If an applicant has an overall iTEP score between 2.0 and 3.0, they will still be placed as Pre-Foundations if any of their individual scores are 0.0.
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition and iTEP Academic are accepted until further notice.
Courses include:
- Grammar
- Language Lab
- Listening and Speaking
- Pronunciation
- Reading and Writing
- Business Communication
- Computer Applications
Program fees
Refer to the "Fees & Financial Aid" tab on the ESL program page.
For international students:
The Fee Estimate enclosed in your Letter of Acceptance will include the fee and payment details for the intake you will be attending.
The fees displayed are for each 7-week session.
EAP level is a 14-week continuous session. Tuition fees are equal to two 7-week sessions.
Start dates
- Canadian students may apply to start the ESL program in September, January or May.
- International students may apply to start the ESL program in September, late October, January, March, May or July.
- EAP level is only offered in January, May and September.
Location
The ESL program is offered at the Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville and the Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga.
Credential
Upon successful completion of all the courses in the English for Academic Purposes program (including a General Education course), students will receive a General Arts and Science Ontario College Certificate. Successful graduates can apply to other programs at Sheridan with no further testing required if their overall GPA is 70% (for certificate and diploma programs) and 75% (for all other programs).