English as an Additional Language for Work-Life Success

English as an Additional Language (EAL) for Work-Life Success is a series of three twelve-week English courses (36 hours total per course) designed to build language skills and confidence communicating in the workplace and other areas of life. Learners will gain new English skills, learning strategies, and a greater understanding of how communication works in Canadian workplaces. In addition, learners will practice new language while working in pairs and teams to explore work-related topics and problems.

Take one or take all three!

English for Work-Life Success 1: New Job

September (36 hours)

Enhance your workplace English in this practical course. Develop language skills for job search and interviews. Navigate your first six months in a new job with confidence using language for meeting co-workers, requesting assistance or advice, and building positive work relationships.

English for Work-Life Success 2: Full Participation

January (36 hours)  

Develop intercultural communication and new language skills to confidently join in workplace conversations, presentations, and teamwork. Learn and practice English while studying language learning in the workplace and topics related to Canadian industries.

English for Work-Life Success 3: New Roles

May (36 hours)  

Elevate your English with language skills needed to mentor, supervise, and lead others. Explore new trends in work-related communication, feedback, and positive support of coworkers. Gain language and workplace culture skills to help yourself and others thrive in any work environment.

Admission requirements

To succeed in these courses, participants should be able to take part in everyday conversations through starting a conversation, taking turns speaking, making short phone calls, discussing plans, and expressing opinions with a little help from a stronger speaker. Participants should also be able to write short (one to two paragraph) informal and formal messages like invitations, congratulations, thanks, and offers to help.

The content is designed for adult learners: participants must be 18 years or older. This non-credit learning opportunity has no prerequisites.

There is no conditional language assessment required for admission, but learners should be able to communicate at approximately a CLB level 6 or higher. If you are unsure of your language skill level, you can view examples of CLB level 6 language skills at language.ca. There is also a free online language skills test available at clb-osa.ca.

Upcoming course & Registration

Dates & Time

Registration for Winter Term 2 (September 2025) is full.

Please email Karin.Wiebe@ubc.ca to add your name to the wait list. We will contact you on September 15 if a seat is open.

Registration will open in mid-December for the 2026 Winter 2 semester (January to April).

Location

Classes are held in the EAL Learning Lab, room number EME 3124, located on the third floor of the Engineering, Management and Education (EME) Building, 1137 Alumni Ave. on UBC’s Okanagan campus.

View Campus Map

View third floor map

Program Cost

The cost for each 36 hour course is $650.00.

Bursaries for the full $650.00 tuition may be offered to students based on their citizenship status.

UBC’s Okanagan School of Education determines the bursary for English for Work-Life Success based on the student’s citizenship status. Students are responsible for accurately declaring their citizenship status upon application to the university, which includes ensuring that their status in Canada is accurate until the course is completed.

Students who fall within one of the following categories are considered domestic students and will be offered a bursary for tuition:

• Canadian citizens
• Permanent residents of Canada
• Any person with refugee or protected persons status in Canada
• Diplomat assigned to Canada
• A visitor with an employer-specific full-time long-term work permit (employer-specific work permits must be at least one year or longer and exclude work authorization obtained on foreign student status.)

Contact Us

For more information, please contact us at Karin.Wiebe@ubc.ca