Reviews of ILAC - International Language Academy of Canada, Vancouver, Canada

Total number of reviews: 34

NOTE: All reviews are authentic. Only students who booked their course through us can publish evaluations here, and only after the end of their programme. These evaluations then are not manipulated in any way, neither by us nor by the school, and can be trusted as honest opinions about personal experiences with the school.

Average Rating

Based on 34 reviews of former students of ILAC - International Language Academy of Canada

Accommodation
Overall rating ILAC - International Language Academy of Canada, Vancouver, Canada	4.4
City	4.5
Organisation	4.3
Facilities	4.3
Social activities	4.0
Quality of teaching	4.4
Value for money	4.1
Homestay	3.9
Shared Flat (apartment)	3.3
Other	3.0

Back to profile of ILAC - International Language Academy of Canada, Vancouver

Individual Reviews

ILAC - International Language Academy of Canada

31. Oct. 2023

1. Adélia (46 years) Brazil
101.Course: General English - Power Program [Inglês] - 19 weeks

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11. Oct. 2023

2. Antje (53 years)

102.Course: Business English - Intensive Program - 4 weeks

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Additional information

Positive aspects of school

Super teaching staff. Learned a lot without sacrificing fun. Great class community. Very international.

Negative aspects

The rooms were sometimes very cramped for too many students.

City/place

Anytime again. I don't know any city that combines so many different things: internationality, nature, big city, hiking, skiing, water sports, sightseeing, culture, art ....

Quality of teaching / language progress

super

Accommodation

The single flat was very basic and not in a good, well-maintained condition. Many things were broken or not fully equipped (dishes, door, shower). The fridge made loud noises. The bed was a folding bed.

5. Oct. 2023

3. Yar (30 years) Switzerland
103.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 8 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

Good location, and in general it was a good teaching.

Negative aspects

It was a little bit too big for me and the school was split in too many buildings in downtown.

City/place

Vancouver is a nice city to visit, but it's more about the nature in the surrounding that make it a special place. You can be at first surprised by the amount of homeless in downtown. And living there is a bit expensive.

Accommodation

It's a nice hotel in downtown just next to the BC palace stadium, but too expensive for what it is and you don't have a private bathroom in your room. For a short stay it can work but not really convenient for a long stay.

26. Sep. 2023

4. Wei (31 years) China
104.Course: Online General English - Full-Time [English] - 2 weeks

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25. Sep. 2023

5. Sebastian Germany
105.Course: General English - Power Program - 4 weeks

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2. Aug. 2023

6. Daniel (44 years) Czech Republic
106.Course: General English - Power Program - 4 weeks

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18. Jul. 2023

7. Tom (15 years)

107.Course: Young Adult Summer Camp - 2 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

Nice and competent teacher

Negative aspects

For 2 activities there were no other children and the guardian was 40 minutes late.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Visit the local supermarket

City/place

International and clearly laid out

Quality of teaching / language progress

Would be better not to book a camp but all activities separately

6. Jun. 2023

8. Regula

108.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 3 weeks

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5. Dec. 2022

9. Mark-julius (19 years)

109.Course: Cambridge Exam Preparation CAE - Intensive Program + Business English - 11 weeks

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Additional information

Positive aspects of school

The different campuses are relatively close to each other, separated by only short walking distances. Every two weeks there is a Writing, Reading and Listening Test, which gives students the opportunity to see their current level and proceed to the next level. The teachers take good care of the students if they have problems and can also give relatively good advice on IELTS or the Cambridge exam. If you want to change course, to a different teacher or from Intensive English to Business English, this is possible without any problems at the front desk. The activities are organised by the "Green Team", with some events being exclusive to ILAC and others taking place together with other schools in Vancouver. Right at the beginning, you are invited to the welcome party, where you can get to know the students who are also new to the school. You also get free chicken wings and a beer. The various parties, such as the Halloween party or the Christmas party, are always a highlight and free for ILAC students.

Negative aspects

Elective classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays after the break, so you may have to spend your lunch break walking around the city. The Cambridge exam can only be taken through the EF school (additional cost: 425 Canadian dollars for the test and 50 Canadian dollars shipping for the certificate).

City/place

Vancouver is a beautiful city, you can experience a lot and get to know many cultures. Food prices are relatively expensive compared to Europe. You shouldn't visit China Town in the evening because the main street is full of homeless people with tents. People are relatively open and sometimes approach you out of the blue and ask you how you are. You can also just take the bus to Whistler without any problems.

Accommodation

The location of the accommodation was good, just a 15 minute walk from Metrotown skytrain station. Our meals consisted of chicken and rice most of the time and sometimes pizza when our hostdad didn't feel like cooking. Especially in winter, the heating was not on most of the time, which made it very cold in the house and unbearable without several jackets. You could not study in the house. Despite repeated requests, we did not get a second blanket, as the normal blanket was very thin. The sandwiches, in contrast to other homestays, were very meagre and mostly consisted of just two slices of toast without toast with some peanut butter or cheese. The kitchen was under video surveillance 24 hours a day, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I heard from others that you were lucky or unlucky. Homestays in New Westminster or around Commercial Broadway were usually the best. I absolutely cannot recommend my homestay, my only reason to stay was the friendship between the other students in my homestay and the location.

12. Sep. 2022

10. Julia Germany
110.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 4 weeks

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12. Apr. 2022

11. Hyungi (53 years) South Korea
111.Course: General English - Power Program - 12 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

There were many students so that I could socialise a lot!

Negative aspects

The quality of teaching is vary depending on Teachers.

28. Feb. 2022

12. Jonah (19 years)

112.Course: General English - Intensive Program [Englisch] - 12 weeks

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City/place

Beautiful city

Accommodation

My host family was great. The host mother was very friendly. Anytime again. Thank you very much!

15. Nov. 2021

13. Claudio (27 years) Switzerland
113.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 4 weeks

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YWCA Hotel

4. Oct. 2021

14. Carolin (28 years)

114.Course: Online Full-Time General English [Englisch] - 4 weeks

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24. Aug. 2020

15. Ernesto (45 years) France
115.Course: Online CPE Exam Preparation - 10 weeks

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I have been attending ILAC's online Proficiency classes and I can't recommend them highly enough. My teacher was very knowledgeable and the classes were interesting and of a very high standard. My English's improved a lot at Proficiency level alongside my communications skills as speaking was heavily focused on. You can sign in for their online courses blindfolded - you won't regret it!

7. Oct. 2019

16. Mariana (27 years) Brazil
116.Course: IELTS Exam preparation - 16 weeks

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The first teacher was wonderful (Mohammad). The second one (AJ) not that much, he jokingly said that he would recognize the student's ratings by their writing, sometimes he assumed intimidating postures in the classroom. His lessons were very much focused on speaking and just a little bit - if anything - on writing and reading. I tried to change to a different group around 3 or 4 times, but it was not possible due to the lack of availability. Besides that, all was right, the substitute teachers (Mary and Gracie) were sensational, as was the writing teacher (Vlada).

8. Sep. 2019

17. Alessandro (29 years) Austria
117.Course: Cambridge English CAE - Power Program [English] - 17 weeks

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29. Jul. 2019

18. Italo Jorge (30 years) Brazil
118.Course: TOEFL Exam Preparation - 12 weeks

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2. Jul. 2019

19. Stephany (33 years) Canada
119.Course: General English - Intensive Program [English] - 12 weeks

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Homestay

2. Jul. 2019

20. Daiana (27 years) Brazil
120.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 8 weeks

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10. Jun. 2019

21. Alessandro (19 years) Mexico
121.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 22 weeks

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Homestay

4. Dec. 2018

22. Jeferson Leandro (42 years) Brazil
122.Course: General English - Power English Program [Inglês] - 4 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

The quality of Professor Angela Reynolds's classes.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Participate in activities with other classes outside of school.

Other comments

There are two problems that must be corrected: 1) teachers, despite the same content, are totally different, generating a great discomfort in classes key to their learning. In my case, I had 3 teachers in one month in elective classes. What my teacher should have been from the beginning, he taught me only last week. And the latter, who would be the teacher, was the one I liked the most. 2) Teachers training, along with their main teacher, in my case 1 week with Prof. Nathan, Main Class, made the class fall quality, causing much dissatisfaction. Teacher training cases should be reviewed so they do not mess up who really wants to learn.

27. Nov. 2018

23. Maria Del Carmen (32 years)

123.Course: General English - Power English Program - 3 weeks

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Homestay

Additional information

Positive aspects of school

The quality of the classes. The environment, lots of fun. ILAC cares for the students and they provide guidance. They schedule many integration activities. ILAC is an excellent school.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

The new books are very expensive, but you can get them from the students that have already moved up.

27. Nov. 2018

24. Alberto Enrique (33 years)

124.Course: General English - Power English Program - 3 weeks

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Homestay

Additional information

Positive aspects of school

The teacher did a great job. The location is excellent. In general, the whole experience was excellent.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Enjoy your programme and your stay in the city.

Other comments

None.

29. Oct. 2018

25. Oleksii (41 years) Ukraine
125.Course: General English - Intensive Program [англійська] - 14 weeks

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Homestay

13. Mar. 2018

26. Itsumi (30 years) Japan
126.Course: Business English [English] - 4 weeks

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Homestay

Additional information

Positive aspects of school

Their philosophy: English only environment. Every student has a voice in classroom.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

The possibility of buying second-handed text book by personal deals.

Other comments

Bravo. Very satisfied with their organization.

14. Nov. 2017

27. Diana (32 years)

127.Course: Business English [Inglés] - 1 week

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Homestay

Additional information

Positive aspects of school

The teacher Faya

7. Aug. 2017

28. Lola (16 years) Spain
128.Course: Summer English for Teenagers (Intensive) (14-17 years old) - 4 weeks

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GEC Viva

Additional information

Positive aspects of school

The teachers and the classes.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Buy a phone card.

Other comments

The organisation of the books is horrible. If you level up, you have to buy a new book and its very expensive and stupid.

13. Feb. 2017

29. Jine Norka (25 years)

129.Course: IELTS Exam preparation - 22 weeks

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Homestay

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Positive aspects of school

teachers

12. Nov. 2016

30. María José (65 years)

130.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 4 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

The methodology.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Take into account the age of the students.

8. Feb. 2016

31. Julia (27 years)

131.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 4 weeks

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Homestay

Additional information

Positive aspects of school

Quality of teaching, very friendly atmosphere in the school, cultural programme!

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Choose ILAC and you will be right!

14. Aug. 2015

32. Daisy (19 years)

132.Course: General English - Semi-Intensive Program - 3 weeks

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5. Aug. 2015

33. Eileen Pollet (29 years)

133.Course: General English - Intensive Program - 12 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

They give you the option to change your class if you need a teacher with a different style of teaching, classes are playful and very motivating to me, that as a teacher I am is fundamental. They provide an appropiate variety of electives to deepen your skills.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

There are many bad experiences regarding accommodation, books are quite expensive and sometimes when you do the diagnostic evaluation you do not stay at the appropriate level, it is better to wait until the first test to see your real level.

3. Sep. 2014

34. Samuele (19 years)