Learning English by making friends is easy, but remember, making good friends is important.

It is easy to make friends in Canada, but you cannot do it if you stay in your homestay or in your friend's apartment watching television. If you want to make friends, you have to go out.

Where can I go?
Where do you go when you are in your own country?
You can probably go to the same places in Canada that you go to in your own country.

Pick your interest. Sports? Socializing? Music? Dancing? Religion? Politics? Partying?
When you think of something you would like to do, first check the Yellow Pages (telephone), then check the Internet. If you're interested in sports, as an example, first look in the Yellow Pages. Look for the subject. For example: golfing. First, check for clubs. Clubs are a great place to meet people who enjoy the same things as you. In your country, your friends probably enjoy the same things as you. Also, you can probably even get information from a store; for instance, a golfing equipment store. They may have information about different activities you can join. Look around. You can find information in many places. Ask your teacher. Your teacher may have many interesting ideas. You can find some examples, at http://ELTC.com/fieldtrp.html of different activities.

Take one or two of your school friends with you. Speak English as often as possible, even when you are with your non-native speaking friends. Sometimes, it's necessary to speak your own language. Don't worry! Just don't do it all the time. You don't have to lose your old friends, just because you make more friends.

Speaking English 24 hours a day is too difficult, but it is the fastest way to improve your English. You need to speak English, even if you think your English is not good enough. Having Canadian friends and speaking English is not so difficult. Real Canadians do not care about language level, so you should not worry either. You can relax more and enjoy the company of your new friends more if you don't worry so much about your level. Maybe you did not expect to meet so many friends from your own country in your school. Keep your friends, but remember you are in an English-speaking country, meet as many native English-speaking people as possible. Don't waste your money, don't waste your chance. You came here to learn English. Do it!

The students at the English Language Training College (ELTC) volunteer for a lot of activities, including many charities. Some of these include: the Great Human Race, a charity for heart and stroke research, a Cowboy Benefit, and many others. Other ELTC students have volunteered at different celebrations and festivals, such as the folk music festival, the Santa Claus parade, the Edmonton Klondike Days Parade, the art's festival, the Works festival, Sour Dough Raft Race, and many others! Some ELTC students have also volunteered at hospitals and schools.

The students at ELTC are encouraged to attend as many different activities as possible. The ELTC students get more opportunity to speak English because of these activities! If you're nervous about going out to different activities and meeting people, it's OK! Many people are nervous when they try something new. If you're nervous, don't worry. You will only be nervous the first time. Enjoy! Have fun!
- john