Programs at L.E.A.P.

Because we recognize the value of time to busy professionals, we offer a variety of programs to fit our clients’ schedules.

Our full-time, 3 month (12 week) semester program consists of two nights of study a week. Students may attend either Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each night is comprised of three one-hour-long classes, for a total of six lesson-hours a week, and seventy-two lesson-hours a semester.

We also offer a six-week long Intensive Program, which students attend for six hours on either Saturdays or Sundays. This module is a condensed version of our full-time program, and covers the same topics in a more concentrated fashion.

Our In-House Program allows us to fulfill the unique requirements of individual accounting firms. By having our highly trained instructors custom-design curriculum, individual companies can benefit from the convenience and flexibility of classes that are uniquely created for them, and delivered on-site in their offices.

Finally, through our Individual Tutoring Program, students can benefit from one-on-one interaction with instructors in classes tailored to their individual learning needs.

Classes at L.E.A.P.

English Conversation for Office Professionals

Participants in this class will practice and improve their speaking skills. They will expand their vocabulary—particularly as it relates to business—and their understanding of the formal and informal patterns of speech used in the Canadian marketplace. Guided topical discussions, dialogue, and role-play will help students to increase their comfort, confidence and proficiency in speaking English.

Business Writing

Over the course of the class participants will learn how to communicate effectively for business using a variety of written formats. Students will practice writing and responding to emails; creating memos and reports; and requesting and responding to complaints and billing issues. Students will also learn the difference between formal and informal styles of writing, and when to use each appropriately. Focus will be placed on improving existing skills, and learning strategies for writing clear, concise and powerful business communiqués; business examples will be used in each lesson.

Pronunciation I and II

These classes are designed to be to be taken independently of each other; it does not matter the order in which a student completes the classes.

Over the course of both Pronunciation I and Pronunciation II students will improve their understanding of the sounds of English, learn to identify and correct pronunciation errors in their own speech, and develop strategies for applying this knowledge in their everyday lives. Since many participants in this class are already working in a Canadian business context, focus will be placed on understanding and developing a “neutral” Canadian accent.

Pronunciation I will achieve these goals by taking a traditional approach—focus will be placed on learning and practicing ‘segmentals’ (I.e. vowel sounds, consonant clusters, etc).

Pronunciation II will help increase participants’ intelligibility by focusing their attention on ‘suprasegmentals’ such as rhythm, stress and intonation.

Office Culture for Businesspeople in Canada

Over the course of the class participants will gain the cultural knowledge to communicate comfortably and effectively in a variety of common business and social situations. With a focus on the Canadian context, this class will help participants understand the role of culture in determining business and social interaction styles, and will introduce them to the form and etiquette required to succeed in the Canadian business world. This class will incorporate a mix of theory, discussion and role-play to enable them to fully understand the cultural factors at work in the Canadian office, and to effectively apply that knowledge in their everyday interactions. Students will leave the course knowing how to walk and talk like Canadian businesspeople.

Grammar for Speakers of English

Most ESL students are well versed in the mechanics and theories of English grammar, and can easily identify grammatical terms and errors on paper. Applying these rules to their daily verbalizations, however, is a much more difficult task.

This class will address the problems many learners of English experience when they try to incorporate their theoretical knowledge of grammar into their spoken utterances. While reviewing the rules and mechanics of English grammar, attention will be focused on correct spoken grammar. Participants will also learn how native speakers of English commonly break rules; they will study when it is and isn’t appropriate to use casual, informal modes of grammar in their conversations, and how to break the rules intelligibly. By the end of the class, students will be able to apply this practice to a variety of business situations, and achieve more accurate English communication in both their work and personal lives.