ESL Introduction
English Language Proficiency
Students learn English through interactive multimedia activities and assignments, at their own pace.
International Christian Online School
Provides five online ESL courses. These cutting-edge courses offer:
- Flexibility - Any Pace; Any Place; Any Time
- 100 hours of instruction per course
- No Travel Needed (work from home via the internet)
- Christian Values and Discipleship
- Cambridge Standards
- Skype time with our Native English Language tutors
- Affordable
Students can sign-up online and complete an English Level test in order to place them in an appropriate Course level suited to their needs.
Students can access the online classroom at any time and any place through the internet. In the online classroom, students can utilize the multi-media learning tools at their own pace to improve their command of English while having fun.
- 5 hours of lesson/ week for 20 weeks
- or 20 hours of lessons/week for 5 weeks.
- Language tutors are available for students one-on-one conversation time.
ICOS allows students to converse one-on-one online with native English tutors at the most affordable price. Students can learn to speak English fluently without going abroad.
Free English Level Test!
Measure your abilities in grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing with our quick free online test.
Students can access the online classroom at any time and any place through the internet.
ESL Course Features
ESL Youth
Have your child get to know our "ESL Youth” as they speak about everyday life topics in each lesson and are featured as illustrated characters.
Self-Study & Teacher-Assisted Version Course Syllabus Brochure
Our courses combine both a custom-developed Moodle system and a Pronunciation Practice module to improve students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities using a variety of materials and tools.
-
Accurate Pronunciation
with our Advanced Voice Recognition and Speech Analysis Tools. -
Beginner ESL Online Course
(100 hours) helps students prepare for the Cambridge KET exam (Key English Test). -
Lower Intermediate ESL Online Course
(100 hours) helps students prepare for the Cambridge PET exam(Preliminary English Test). - Upper Intermediate ESL Online Course (100 hours) further helps students complete the Cambridge PET exam (Preliminary English Test).
- Advanced ESL Online Course (100 hours) prepares students to enter Grade 10 English and also to write the Cambridge FCE (First Certificate English) exam.
- Expert ESL Online Course (100 hours) helps students prepare for the Cambridge IELTS exam. There are 2 versions available:
- Expert Academic & Expert General
The Expert Academic course is for students who are preparing to enter university while the Expert General course is for those students seeking to gain employment.
- Expert Academic & Expert General
- One-On-One Conversation Time with a Native English Language Tutor.
Introducing our different versions of ESL courses:
The self-study version consists of the course lessons only (no assignments are included) and is available in:
- ESL 1
Korean, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, International Standard (Christian), Canadian Public - ESL2
Korean, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, International Standard (Christian), Canadian Public - ESL3
Korean, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, International Standard (Christian), Canadian Public - ESL4
International Standard (Christian), Canadian Public - ESL5
Expert ESL (International Standard)
Students work through the lessons and the supervising teacher that your school provides monitors their progress. The teacher does not have to mark anything as our program provides this. The teacher does need to create timelines for the students in order to receive grades for reporting periods.
The teacher-assisted version is available in the International Standard and Canadian Public cultural versions only. This version includes additional assignments and a final exam in the course:
writing
discussion forums
Writing workshops
Speaking - oral assessments between the student & teacher
The teacher-assisted version is only available to schools who have assigned a supervising teacher from their school to monitor and guide the students through their ESL courses.
Students are able to do the assignments and submit them to the teacher. The teacher then receives an e-mail notification that an assignment has been submitted and can view and mark the assignment. The teacher has access to put in the grades for their student assignments into our Moodle program.
Click on any image to see the full syllabus.  |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Beginner |
Lower Intermediate |
Upper Intermediate |
Advanced |
Expert |
ESL Level |
Level 5 |
||||
English Proficiency |
Limited exposure to English. Usage and recognition of common words. |
Simple usage of everyday phrases.
Basic understanding of sentence structure.
Understanding of simple instructions and messages. |
Understanding of everyday conversations.
Ability to communicate on familiar topics.
Ability to read and write with a limited range of vocabulary. |
Clear expression of ideas in English. Comprehension of English text.
Mastering grammar thoroughly.
Ability to write complete text. |
Good command of English vocabulary.
Ability to read complicated articles.
Ability to write well with few grammatical errors.
Ability to communicate in English fluently. |
BC High School Course Credits |
- |
Intro to ESL 10 |
ESL 10 |
ESL 11 |
ESL 12 |
IELTS Exam |
- |
- |
3-4 |
5-6 |
6.5-7 |
TOEFL Exam |
|
<375 |
375-526 |
527-639 |
>640 |
Accredited Courses
Experienced Educators
Improves the students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities in a focused way with a variety of materials and tools.
Experienced Educators
The ICOS courses have been developed by a team of experienced educators according to the Cambridge standards.
Widely Recognized
Our program prepares students to take Cambridge KET, PET, FCE and IELTS exams which are recognized by universities, businesses and government agencies worldwide.
Canadian High School Credits
BC Online School has partnered with ICOS to offer provincial certified high school graduation credits for Lower intermediate to Expert ESL courses.
These credits are available to international students residing in British Columbia. Final course grades will appear on the students’ official BC Ministry transcript, suitable to meet high school graduation requirements.
Free English Level Test!
Measure your abilities in grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing with our quick free online test.
Future Courses
Expanding Courses
Preparing for English High School and IELTS Exam.
NEW - ICOS Expert Course
helps students prepare for the Cambridge IELTS Exam. IELTS is widely recognized by universities in the USA, England, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. In Hong Kong, IELTS results are equivalent to HKAL English results for university applications.
Take charge of your English learning !
View the Course 5 Syllabus
We are excited to announce our Advanced ESL Online Course which helps students prepare for English High School (approximately Grade 10 level).
Course 4 is a welcome addition to our current online ESL courses.
Our Advanced ESL course not only prepares students to enter Grade 10 English but also to write the Cambridge FCE (First Certificate English) exam.
Receive up to 100 hours of immersive learning. The use of interactive questions, audio, vocabulary games and more create a higher retention level and a deeper understanding of English.
Take charge of your English learning !
View the Course 4 Syllabus
Sign up today!
Pricing
Affordable
Choose the best package to meet your needs.
ICOS Price Packages for Individual Students
Students can individually enrol in a course and/or tutor time that best suits their needs.
| Package Content | Price | |
Choice 1 |
ICOS Course |
CAD$129.95 |
Choice 2 |
One-on-One Tutoring |
CAD$215.00 |
Choice 3 |
ICOS Course & One-on-One Tutoring |
CAD$325.46
|
ICOS Price Packages for Schools
Contact us for school or group pricing at
We accept the following payment methods:
- PayPal
- Visa Card
- Master Card
Send a cheque to or drop off cash to:
If you are paying by cheque please include your name, address, phone number and reference number.
International Online School
905 Badke Road
Kelowna, BC
V1X 5Z5
Canada
Phone: 250-862-2376
Fax: 250-762-9277
Free English Level Test!
Measure your abilities in grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing with our quick free online test.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
If you do not see the answer to your question please feel free to contact us.
Click on the questions below to see their corresponding answers.
What are the computer system requirements for ESL course online?
- Modern web browser
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox 4+
Internet Explorer 8 +
Apple Safari - Adobe Flash Player (version 10.1+)
Download - Java (version 1.6)
Download - Audio equipment - headset with microphone for pronunciation practise
Can I see an ESL lesson?
Of course! Go to www.icos.ca/trial and fill in the information to receive our free guest license. Use the code ALPHA. This guest license gives you access to the first lesson of each of our ESL courses.
What are the steps for enrollment?
- Send an inquiry to info@icos.ca for school and group pricing.
- Fill in the contact sheet that will be sent to you by our ICOS agents.
- Send the completed form to
- You will receive an order sheet with the number of usernames and passwords so that your students can access the English Level test.
- Once your students have completed the English Level test please fill out the sheet with the ESL course levels and send the completed form to
- You will receive a confirmation that your student licenses have been activated and your students can then begin their courses.
What is the difference between a teacher-assisted course and a self-study course?
The teacher-assisted version includes assignments and a final exam for the course. The teacher-assisted version is only available to schools who have assigned a contact teacher from their school to monitor and guide the students through their ESL courses. Students are able to do the assignments and submit them to their teacher who can then view and mark the assignment by putting a grade into our course program. The teacher-assisted version is available in the Canadian Public, International Standard, Korean, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese cultural modules.
The self-study version consists of the course lessons only (no assignments are included) and is available in the Canadian Public, International Standard, Korean, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese cultural modules.
Students work through the lessons and their teacher can monitor their progress. There is no marking involved however the teacher does need to set timelines for the students in order to give grades for reporting periods.
Is the ESL courses applicable for middle school and high school students?
Yes. Our courses are designed to be fun and interactive for students of all ages. The higher level courses are more academic and require more concentration.
Does a student need to start at the Beginner level or is there a diagnostic test available?
A student can take the English level test which is a 30 minute test. After finishing the test the student will receive a notification recommending an appropriate level to enroll in. An adjustment to the level selected MAY be able to be made without charge within the first 2 lessons of the course. Normally, each new level is a new cost.
How do I get access to my course once I’ve enrolled?
Go to eslcourses.ca and put in your username and password. After logging in you will need to click on the course title to access the home page of your selected Course. Each course consists of 20 lessons that you will be guided through as you progress. Instructions are in each lesson as to how to complete the assignments and learning material. Green arrows are to be pressed to hear or see clips.
How many hours in total is the course?
The course offers between 80-100 hours of instruction. This varies greatly by student according to their strengths and weaknesses. As well, if the student is doing assignments for each lesson then he/she will spend more time on the course.
Is there a course syllabus available?
Yes. You can go to Online ESL Course / Course Features tab and click on the green arrows under each course level to see the syllabus. Every lesson has pronunciation, speaking points, grammar points, vocabulary, listening, and reading sections.
Does the student need to have someone in the class with them while they are working on the ESL course?
Not necessarily although it is very helpful for the student to know that there is a teacher nearby who can help clarify a concept in the lesson. The self-study courses can be done entirely independent of a teacher because the student receives instant feedback on their answers and all the activities can be done on the computer. If the student has opted for a tutor then he/she may ask the tutor during the next skype session together.
How can I check on a student’s progress through the course?
If you are a school organization you will automatically be sent a teacher account. With this account you can see the results/grades your student receives for each lesson as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
If you are a parent then you can log in as your child using their username and password. You will then see their grades for each lesson and can view the results for each lesson.
How much time does a student have to complete an ESL course?
The courses are designed for the student to go at his/her own pace. A Student can spend as much time (up to 12 months) in the course as he/she needs. Individual skills vary so much that a student may finish in less than a semester and move to another level (at a new cost) while another student may need 9 months. Schools, however, can make deadlines to make sure students complete their course in a timely manner.
Is a student supposed to reach a certain point by the end of a semester?
The answer really depends on the school and their teacher on when they want a grade from the student. The student can have the course for a year if he/she wants to stretch it out. Usually, if a student spends an hour a day on the course 5 days a week then the course should take approximately 20 weeks to complete. The supervising teacher can create deadlines so that the student is continually working on the course whether it be at school or at home.
How can a student use the tutor option effectively?
A student who has purchased tutor time can book an online tutor and practice the grammar, vocabulary, and speaking skills they have learned in the lessons. A student should meet with their tutor ideally once a week. Although the tutor is not an ESL teacher he/she will facilitate conversation, encourage the student, and correct small errors.
What grade does a student need to achieve in order to pass an ESL course and how does this grade compare to a regular class of English?
It is recommended that the students pass each course with a minimum of 70% before advancing to the next level of English. According to the grading system a D= 64-69% and C= 70-79%. A 70 % in ESL would likely translate to a passing grade in Regular English ~ 64%. The higher the grade, for example an 85% in ESL ICOS could be, ~ 73% for a regular class. Please keep in mind that the Advanced ESL course (Course 4) prepares ESL students to enter into Grade 10 and has the prerequisites for English 9 in the course.
Free English Level Test!
Measure your abilities in grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing with our quick free online test.
