September 30, 2009

Major Korean English Language Academy to Sign Partnership Agreement with School District No. 23

KELOWNA, BC: Public schools in the Central Okanagan will soon become an even more popular ‘English as a Second Language’ education destination. On September 30 at 1:00pm, senior District staff and trustees will meet with representatives from TOPIA Ivy Club Canada Ltd. to sign a historic agreement at Glenrosa Middle School. TOPIA is one of Korea’s largest English Language Academies.

“This mutually beneficial partnership will see groups of Korean students coming to our District for six to 12-week English immersion experiences,” says Rick Oliver, District Principal of International Education. “TOPIA carefully screens potential education partners and our District was considered very attractive in terms of the calibre of education we provide and our area’s natural beauty.”

The first group of TOPIA-placed students will arrive on November 23 and will stay until early January. Throughout this school year, Oliver expects four groups of approximately 30 to 50 students each. For now, TOPIA students will attend during the regular school year although a summer program may be developed for them in the future.

“The program focus for Korea is increasingly on short-term study periods since they have good English instruction in their own country,” says Marsha Boyle, Supervisor of International Education. “Korean children typically begin learning English in Kindergarten. Families like to send their children to Canada as a way to refine their English. When students study in a non-English speaking country, they are learning English as a foreign language, but here they are learning English a second language with the important cultural context.”

TOPIA delivers on their philosophy of “total care” notes Boyle. Since the students will range in age from 11 to 15 years, the agency will have teachers here for an after school program in which students will keep up with their Korean studies as well. Their own counsellors will assist with Homestay, weekend excursions and communication with parents in Korea.

“A great benefit we’ve seen for our own local students is the exposure to other cultures. Although our community is changing, it offers less cultural diversity than Vancouver or Victoria. The interaction with people from other countries has helped to widen students’ perspectives and prepares them to thrive in a globally-connected economy. Homestay is also an excellent opportunity to gain such understanding and we are actively looking for interested families on the west side,” says Boyle.

On average, School District No. 23 hosts approximately 60 international students from 20 different countries annually and this number has risen steadily each year since the International Education Department was established in 2005. In addition to year-long programs, they can choose from short-term winter and summer programs in SD23. Some students are drawn by specialized programs such as golf and soccer academies, career programs in culinary arts, aircraft mechanics, etc.

Approved by the Superintendent, Rick Oliver and Marsha Boyle September 30, 2009

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For comments, please contact:

Rick Oliver, District Principal of International Education (250) 860-9729 ext. 6255

Marsha Boyle, Supervisor of International Education (250) 860-9729 ext.4517

Hugh Gloster, Superintendent of Schools, (250) 860-8888

For background information, please contact Lisa Harrison lharriso@sd23.bc.ca or 470-3284.