Name: Krysia Rumun

I completed a TESL course in Toronto, was hired and worked at the school where I did the course. After that, I taught briefly at another school in Toronto, and finally accepted a position at Cornerstone in August 2002, where I have been happily teaching the students for five years. Throughout this time, I have also tutored individual students privately. Learning a new language can be very challenging, so I plan my lessons very seriously, with particular focus on the students I am teaching at the time. I consider their age, ability, culture, interests, and general level of understanding and awareness. I want my students to enjoy learning English and really achieve the goals that they, or maybe their parents, set them in a structured, yet fun way. Every class dynamic is different with no two classes ever being the same; therefore, I believe it’s important to tailor the lessons to the students in the class at the time. I incorporate a lot of student participation in the classroom, so students feel that they are using the structures taught as soon as possible. Socializing with people from different cultures is an amazing way to learn about the world. At Cornerstone, the students are encouraged to work with students from other countries, learn about their cultures and also focus on communicating in English, while overcoming the problems that can occur when dealing with different accents and stress patterns. Many strong friendships have been made and students have visited each other’s countries. In English- speaking countries such as Canada, customs can be different and staying with a good home-stay family can be a good introduction to life and traditions different to the students’ native countries. For some students, coming to Canada is the first time they are away from their family and, of course, home-sickness can be a problem; however, after a little while, most students use this time to become a little more independent and mature while studying at Cornerstone. I would like to advise all students who are considering coming to Cornerstone to come with a good attitude. If you want to maximize the benefit of your stay, work hard, come to school every day, do the homework and participate fully in all of the activities. Remember, your goal is to learn English quickly and well, so use the time wisely and, with the help from the teachers at Cornerstone, you’ll soon be communicating fantastically in English!

Name: Roy McCool

I’m teaching a TOEFL class now. When planning lessons I concentrate on preparing or finding materials which clearly explain to the student what kinds of questions they will face on the test, and which give them a lot of practice with the many different kinds of tasks. Basically, I concentrate on giving them the knowledge and skills they will need to do well on the test. They have a great chance to meet students of many nationalities, and thereby broaden their experience of people and the world. Students in Canada should try to speak English at all times, not only at school, but in their home-stays, and with their friends. They should read English newspapers, watch English tv, listen to the radio…In a word, immerse themselves in the English language. They should take full advantage of the opportunity they have here, and use their time wisely. This is not easy to do.

Name: Claudia Pereira

I’ve got some teaching experience both in Canada and Brazil. Due to the fact that the most difficult English skill to acquire is speaking, I always try to plan my lessons around some speaking practice. Even in my reading / writing classes, my students always get plenty of time for discussion. As far as I’m concerned, language and culture are absolutely connected. In order to learn the English language fluently, you’ve got to learn and understand North American culture as well. I’d suggest classes on North American culture.

Name: Tyson Seburn

My main focus is making the lesson relevant to the students so that they know it’s useful for their lives. They can broaden their perspectives on many things from food to customs to issues by involving themselves with the different people they meet here. If you are serious about learning English, put the effort in to your studies and trust me.

Name: Antonie Michalopoulos (Tony)

I started teaching in Athens Greece in 1991 at the American Union, which also helped me become an ETS TWE (essay) and TSE (speaking) examiner for about two years. In Athens, I worked for two more schools that were famous for having the highest certificate success rates in the Greece. I taught exclusively all of the levels of the Cambridge, Michigan and TOEFL certificates courses. In 1999, I came back to live permanently in Toronto and used my experience to teach high ESL levels, TOEIC and TOEFL. When providing service to students, I believe that the materials have to be up to date and have an intensive format so that the students can save time and learn faster. Every skill needed for the TOEFL and TOEIC certificates are introduced and than students practice these skills in a number of ways to avoid repetition and boredom. Most lessons try to have an interactive style so that students can feel comfortable with each other, give advice and eventually build friendships that end up as study groups. Each lesson has a direct and clear objective that is explained. I provide the best explanations possible but also evidence that what is taught is useful and correct.  Every lesson has the potential for homework to be assigned.  In the programs I teach, students learn to use their skills taught in the TOEFL/TOEIC classes for future programs in college or University. This also includes how to be a more efficient and organized student to deal with higher education institutions or for future job positions. Students should make it a habit to meet their future teachers and ask any questions about the program and method of teaching. They should consider that studying at an ESL school is sometimes different than how they studied in their native country. Finally, they should be open to new ideas and follow advice.

Name: Tiffiny Laidlaw-Heo

I have taught English at kindergartens in Seoul and Namwon in South Korea. I teach children, so I concentrate on activities that are a lot of fun, and still educational. Students have time to interact with each other.They can learn about different cultures and how to respect other people ideas and differences. Don’t come here just to learn English. Use the evenings and weekends to go out and see the many attractive places and fun activities that are available. Learn about the different cultures in Toronto.

Name: Yone Dudas

I have taught English in both Canada and Italy. I try to create my lessons with my students’ interests and goals in mind.  I teach them the necessary basics, but I make sure to include content that is of special interest to them.  I also try to incorporate real life examples, so the students can see how to apply what they are learning to real life situations. They can learn about life in Canada as well as how Toronto is truly a melting pot of different cultures.  I think part of the learning process must include cultural experiences and mixing of other cultures during school activities.  With our wonderful school activities, students have a chance to not only learn more about Toronto, but to mingle and learn about each other.  They make new friends from different countries and therefore have to communicate in English.  I think it completes the learning process.  I have found that the more students speak English after class, the faster they learn.  I fully encourage this kind of interaction. Be ready to fully commit yourself to not only learning a new language, but living it too.  English is best learned if you enjoy it and practice it in real life situations.  Be ready to explore Toronto and what this wonderful city has to offer.  Be ready to make new exciting friends from different cultures.  Be ready to have fun while learning.

Name: Charles W. Wardlaw

I think about class make-up. I try to plan lessons that the students in the class will find fun, interesting, and enjoyable on top of being educational. I also try to add pieces to lessons that help students with specific problems. For example, if I notice that a lot of students are having trouble with one grammar structure, then I will take time out to focus on that structure. Learning any language requires patience, hard work, and diligence. It won’t happen overnight and it won’t happen in a month. If you’re planning on spending all the money it takes to come to another country, why not stay a while? The amount you can improve in six months is exponentially higher than the amount yours skills might go up in one.

Name: Wendy S. Wells

I consider what students can take away from the lesson and use in their everyday lives. I think it’s important for students to be able to relate to lesson material and apply it to their own experiences. Function is an important element in English language teaching. I like to focus more on the function of the language and how it’s used in both writing and conversation. I also strive to make my lessons as communicative as possible. Communicating successfully in English is the goal most students are aiming for. Everyday I learn a lot at Cornerstone from my students. They have a lot to teach other. Students’ view of the world widens as they learn about cultural differences between other countries and their own. Understanding and using a language fluently entails understanding of the culture behind the language. Students learn more than just Grammar or vocabulary. They learn humor, which helps them to better understand T.V. and movies. They also learn about Canadian customs, which allows them to interact smoothly in a variety of situation they may face in Toronto.Students need to open their minds and not be afraid to make mistakes. They need to really try to practice what they’ve learned in class that day instead of folding up their paper and never looking at it again. Students should take every opportunity possible in Toronto to practice their English and avoid use of their first language. Learning a new language takes time and patience. Students should try not to develop unrealistic expectations that set them up for failure. They should create achievable goals for themselves.