Program Overview

　　The English Language Learning (ELL) program delivered at Suzhou Centennial College is an intensive, three-level, full-time program designed for international students who wish to improve their English skills. This program can help build English language skills for success in college, university or careers.

　　Three levels of Centennial College’s English Language Learning (ELL) program are offered at Suzhou Centennial College: Level 3 (pre-intermediate), Level 4 (intermediate) and Level 5 (upper-intermediate). Students will be placed in an appropriate level based on a diagnostic placement test (Accuplacer Skills Test) results. Within each level, there are five different modules, and each module runs for three weeks.

　　The ELL program emphasizes academic communication skills and focuses on grammar, reading, writing, listening, speaking and pronunciation. You study in a supportive academic environment and build your language skills through communicative activities, practical exercises, group work, presentations and assignments. You have access to resources such as Suzhou Centennial College computer labs, Centennial College Libraries online resources, and shared library and recreational facilities for students of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP).

　　The ELL program focuses on communicative teaching and learning practices, it also provides a customized learning experience for each student. ELL faculty members are qualified, dedicated ESL teaching professionals who provide support, encouragement, and guidance in addition to language instructions. 

　　Program Outlines

• Level 3 (pre-intermediate)

　　-ELL306 Integrated Core Skills Course

　　-ELL307 Communication Skills Course  

　　-ELL308 Enhanced Academic Skills Course

• Level 4 (intermediate)

　　-ELL406 Integrated Core Skills Course

　　-ELL407 Communication Skills Course 

　　-ELL408 Enhanced Academic Skills Course

• Level 5 (upper-intermediate)

　　-ELL506 Integrated Core Skills Course

　　-ELL507 Communication Skills Course 

　　-ELL508 Enhanced Academic Skills Course

　　Program Highlights

• In the English Language Learning program, students improve their English language skills before the next academic or professional step, while qualifying to study at Centennial College full-time and transition to other Centennial programs. 

• Students who pass all courses in ELL level 3 and 4 are eligible to take Centennial College’s English Assessment test in order to meet the English requirements for Centennial College programs in Toronto, Canada.

• The program gives students the flexibility to be an active participant in their own learning.

• During the time in the program, students have the opportunity to live in the college residence and be part of a supportive and social student community.

• Students receive approximately 320 hours of instruction per semester with continuous assessment to measure their progress.

　　Faculty and Staff

　　CC English Teaching Team boasts a faculty team of expatriates, overseas returnees and local Chinese teachers, majority of who hold master’s degrees, lecturer and associate professor titles. As of now, eight English teachers have been certified to teach Canadian credit-bearing courses. Centennial College keeps assigning a certain number of professors to Suzhou Centennial College to participate in curriculum development and teaching activities every academic year. 

　　Career development

• English language foundations for further studies in colleges and/or universities

• English language skills set for workplace settings

　　Faculty and student photos

ELL Faculty Team

Group Photo of ELL 3 Class

Group Photo of ELL 3 Class

ELL Class Activity

Podcast of ELL Recorded by Canadian Professor

　　What Teachers Say About ELL

　　ELL Coordinator & Associate Professor - Ms. Karen Zhang

　　Teachers of ELL strongly believe that students are individuals, and everyone learns in their own unique way. We use a variety of educational delivery models (linguistic, visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.) to reach our students. Everyone in the ELL classrooms contributes as a student, teacher, and thinker. We are proud of being a member of ELL teaching team. As teachers, we’ve learned from students as much as they’ve learned from us. Students of SCC have been very responsive as they provide useful information for us on what is working in class and what we can improve upon. We are committed to being teachers who can inspire hope, ignite imagination, and instill love of learning.

　　Professor - Ms. Elizabeth Johns (Canadian)

　　Meaningful communication is the main objective of ELLD, and during the courses, the abundance of group activities provides authentic opportunities for communication as it would be on campus, in the work place, or in society. What amazes me, after teaching ELLD online, is that the sense of community continues. While classroom activities provide opportunities for friendships with classmates and bonding with teachers, the online delivery provides a focus that makes the learning development more satisfying while intensifying the interdependence of group members. I am grateful that students of SCC have an opportunity to enhance their linguistic and academic skills before embarking upon their foundational programming. I see it as a solid educational platform that will surely lead to academic success and personal confidence.

　　Faculty - Ms. Elfin Chen

　　Teaching can be a demanding profession. It has been a brilliant experience going through CC English teaching, though it takes a lot of time and hard work. There have been so many challenges, so many celebrations, and so much that I have learned. I am able to form strong connections with students. I love getting to know each of my students' likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. I believe that teaching ELL classes has made me a better teacher and my classroom a happier place to learn.        

　　Faculty - Ms. Qiaoyang Liu

　　In the past year, I have been teaching ELL 08 English Academic Skills modules from level 2 to level 5. In the courses, students have applied their English skills in presentations, posters, and different kinds of writing for the purpose of academic studies. It has been an amazing journey for me to witness all the progress that students have made through the courses, from group presentations on some basic topics to individual writing on more complicated topics. ELL 08 English Academic Skills courses illustrate how English is used in different academic settings, which helps students to apply these language skills in their different fields. 

　　Part-time Teacher - Mr. Sommer Deng

　　Habituate students to irreproachable behaviors

　　Empower students to achieve aspiration

　　Lead students to independent thinking

　　Provide students with quality learning

　　What Students Say About ELL

　　ELL 5 student - Siyi Liu

　　It’s a marvelous experience for me to learn ELL at SCC. The teachers here are very patient and lenient. The ELL classes are very interactive and we are actively engaged. We have individual practice to polish our language skills and team work to improve communication and leadership skills within a team. Teachers are always there if you need any help and they have done their best to give us constructive feedback on our assignments. I really learned a lot here and became much more confident than ever before.

　　ELL 5 student - Fei Wang

　　Our ELL teachers are very creative, enthusiastic and responsible. What amazed me is that they have provided us with an interactive and productive online learning experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online learning experience is more engaging than we have ever expected. I am sure that our teachers have put a lot of efforts in o the curriculum design of online delivery. We are very fortunate to meet them at SCC and we love them very much.