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Trent University has a longstanding reputation for having an excellent international program, and students from all over the world come here to study. Many of those students enroll in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs at the University and hone their language skills in preparation for academic work. The Trent-ESL program, "English for University," attracts students from a number of countries in Latin America, Asia, and Europe and currently has an enrolment of over 60, who are taught by over a dozen ESL instructors in the Academic Skills Centre.

The excellence of Trent’s ESL program has been noticed in international circles - so much so that a brand new Trent program will be launched in June, 2003, in Beijing.

"Last fall we were approached by Mentor International Educational Services, a Canadian company with offices in Mississauga and China, through Leonard (Conolly) and the TIP office, to put together and run an ESL program with them in China," explains Academic Skills Centre Director Martin Boyne. "We immediately said that yes, we were interested, and asked them to tell us more about their plans."

Mr. Boyne and Dr. Conolly travelled to Beijing in February to meet staff from the China Education Service Centre, an educational consulting firm that will house the ESL classes, and representatives from Mentor, who will look after the day-to-day administration of the program. They worked out many details of the program, including Trent’s role in shaping the entire concept.

"We will always provide an instructor, a Trent representative to lead the program and train other instructors. We want the format, standards and curriculum of the Trent ESL program to be reflected at all levels," says Mr. Boyne.

Twelve-week programs will be offered, at all of the ESL levels offered at Trent (intermediate through high advanced). With full enrollment, each session could accommodate 80 - 90 participants, primarily students interested in studying overseas, particularly in Canada.
Mr. Boyne is currently seeking a project leader to represent Trent for the first 17 months of the program’s operation. Trent ESL staff members will also have the opportunity to teach in Beijing for six and 12 month placements.

"This will provide a great professional development opportunity for our staff," says Mr. Boyne. He adds that, overall, the new program will be positive for Trent, providing international exposure in Beijing and increasing the possibility of recruiting very high quality students from China to study at Trent.

"I have seen the facilities we’ll be using and they are excellent. As well, the classes and program structure will all be similar to what we have here," says Mr. Boyne, who is keen to return to Beijing to help launch the new initiative.

Posted April 21, 2003