ESL
Tutoring
English as a Second Language tutoring is a big part of VCC's Learning Centre. Our English tutors help with all of VCC's levels of English language studies.
We help students
- understand and practice grammar
- improve pronunciation and speaking skills
- develop vocabulary
- find, understand and avoid errors in speaking and writing
- and more.
For students in ESL courses or students with an ESL background in career courses, we recommend face-to-face tutoring. Just drop into your campus Learning Centre and find out how to get help. We frequently offer workshops on many ESL topics. Our online writing tutoring is also available for advanced students with an ESL background who are able to find and correct their own grammar and spelling mistakes.
Study Resources
The Learning Centre has a good environment for independent study with practice worksheets, textbooks, reference books, listening materials and computer language study programs. We also have Listen and Learn exercises available online for your practice. Our books, tapes and CD's are for use only in the Centre, but they have VCC Library call numbers that make it easy for you to find library copies that you can borrow. We have audio and video players and computer stations. For more resources, check out the Library's ESL subject guide.
Worksheets
The following worksheets are available online. They represent only a small sampling of what we have. The full complement of worksheets is available at the Learning Centre.
| Topic | Worksheet Title | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammar | Adjective Clauses - How to Make Them |
Broadway | |
| Grammar | Adjective Clauses |
Broadway | |
| Grammar | Adjective or Adverb |
Broadway | |
| Grammar | Definite Articles |
Broadway | |
| Grammar | Indefinite Articles |
Broadway | |
| Grammar | Irregular Verbs |
Broadway | |
| Grammar | Useful Grammatical Terms |
Broadway | |
| Grammar Quiz | Grammar Quiz - LA Level |
Broadway | |
| Grammar Quiz | Grammar Quiz - LB Level |
Broadway | |
| Grammar Quiz | Grammar Quiz - LI Level |
Broadway | |
| Grammar Quiz | Grammar Quiz - PI Level |
Broadway | |
| Grammar Quiz | Grammar Quiz - UA Level |
Broadway | |
| Grammar Quiz | Grammar Quiz - UB Level |
Broadway | |
| Grammar Quiz | Grammar Quiz - UI Level |
Broadway | |
| Listening | Listening and Speaking - Tips on Test Taking | Downtown | |
| Listening | How to Improve Your Listening Comprehension | Downtown | |
| Pronunciation | Phonetic Symbols and Spelling |
Broadway | |
| Study Skills | Tips on Test Taking - Grammar and Reading | Downtown |
Links
| Dave's ESL Café | The famous ESL website - phrasal verb info, quizzes, and chatrooms. |
| Dictionary of English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions |
An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words. This can make idioms hard for ESL students/learners to understand. Here, a searchable dictionary of 3,440+ English idiomatic expressions with definitions is provided. |
| English for My Job |
English practice exercises for hospitality industry workers. If you work in a hotel, a restaurant, a travel-related industry, etc ..., you will have to use English for work. This site will teach you how to speak English to some of your customers. |
| English Idioms and Proverbs |
Illustrated English idioms and proverbs ... from BYU |
| GoEnglish - English Idioms (Index) | Index for English idioms |
| Info Squares |
This is very cool ... you will like this. Watch movies clips and TV clips ... pay attention ... then answer questions. |
| Learn English Feel Good |
One-stop site for ESL resources. Whether you're studying English, or looking to download worksheets/handouts for class, this website will provide you with the resources that you need (e.g., grammar, pronunciation, spoken English, etc ... |
| Legal Glossary |
Multilingual Legal Glossary designed by VCC |
| List of Activities for ESL Students | VCC's ELSA Department Web Page with annotated list describing on-line activities for ESL students |
| Phrases.net |
Searchable collection of idioms ... alphabetized |
| Visual Dictionary Online | Understand words visually with images ... using Merriam Webster's Visual Dictionary. You can also click the speaker symbol next to the word to hear its pronunciation. |
| West Coast Reader |
Read and listen to articles from the West Coast Reader online |
Links (Pronunciation)
| How To Say That Name |
Teaches you how to pronounce the first names of your classmates, your teachers, etc ... |
| Names in The News - How to Pronounce | MP3 files to help you pronounce difficult names in the news |