GENERAL INFORMATION

LOCATION

 STUDENTS

VMEI understands that medical professionals need to make the best possible use of their limited time and therefore it has designed courses that produce results as quickly as possible. All Medical English courses are limited to a maximum of four students per class. This allows students effective interaction and provides ample opportunity for individual attention.

METHODOLOGY

The Institute is operated according to the methods and philosophy of Pikku Vichert. Pikku is a highly respected professional trained in medicine with over 20 years of ESL experience. She has researched all the standard methods of instruction and adapted them to her own philosophy of learning. She believes that students learn best if they are thoroughly engaged and actively enjoying the process.

Pikku feels that participation is of prime importance in order to facilitate the interaction between students and teacher, and therefore she does not have classes larger than four students. This is an Institute for students who really want to learn. Pikku believes that learning is best achieved with a mixture of intense learning and more relaxed practice. Therefore her curriculum has half a day of concentrated teaching and the other half of the student’s day is occupied with less intense learning activities that complement and consolidate what was learned during the half-day of dynamic instruction.

 

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FACILITIES

The school has a modern language laboratory and a library with subscriptions to medical periodicals and daily newspapers. The lounge is a comfortable centre for social contact between students and teachers. It has a microwave, fridge, espresso maker and other facilities to help students enjoy their lunch and conversation (only in English please). 

Hours of instruction are 9:00 AM to 12:00PM and 1:00PM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday. The School is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM so that students can use the facilities including internet and library. The modular course structure allows students to enter the program at any time. There is a four-month diploma program and one, two and three month certificate programs. We can also accommodate students with special scheduling requirements such as the one and two day presentation preparation programs.

PROGRAMS

Core Medical English and Practicing Combined Program (Four Month Diploma Program)*:

This is the fundamental course offered by the Institute and is the basis from which other courses were developed. It concentrates on the acquisition of English in a medical context.

Intended for: Minimum - intermediate level English (TOEFL score writing format 500 or higher, computer format 180 or higher).

Full program:  30 hours a week (intensive). It includes: 15 hours of intensive classroom learning (Core Medical English Immersion) and another 15 hours of Medical English reinforcement (Practicing Medical English). These courses can be taken separately.

Some features: use of the language laboratory, shadowing (observing) of medical professionals, conversation and pronunciation classes.

Contents: Medical Terminology, Role Playing, Emergency vocabulary, Interview techniques and dialogues in an English-speaking culture, Talking to patients in terms they can understand, Medical procedures, Inferring meaning of unfamiliar words from context, Medical communication with other professionals.

*The course is ongoing on a four month rotating basis, but a student can enter the course at any time, and can choose a one, two, three or four month intensive course.

IELTS Preparation Course

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), administered by Cambridge University, the British Council and IDP Education Australia, has become the standard requirement for entry to many professions and post secondary educational institutions. It is required for most foreign medical professionals wishing to practice in Canada.

Intended for: Only students already at an advanced or high-intermediate level will benefit from this course.

Course Content: The IELTS preparation course focuses on reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students are given regular practice tests in the IELTS test format.

Maximum class size:  8 students

Preparation for Medical Presentations

Course Content: English Pronunciation - Medical Terminology pronunciation check - Correction of serious grammatical errors - Cross cultural check of presentation -Presentation practice for flow and delivery

Courses can also be designed to suit an individual with particular scheduling needs

See below for fees information.

SERVICES

ACCOMMODATION

Homestay Accommodation: You can choose the homestay family according to your preferences regarding cost, smoking, type of food, pets, the amount of privacy you want etc.
All homestays include a private room, laundry and local telephone calls. Most offer meals. Homestay costs are generally around $700  per month, but vary depending on what is included. If you want VMEI to arrange the homestay for you we will go to the homestay and personally inspect it before you get here.

Bed & Breakfast (B&B): These are small hotels or pensions which are a good option for the first few days if you will be looking for a place to stay after you get here.

Apartments: Vancouver has a wide variety of furnished and unfurnished apartments available. VMEI can find a furnished apartment for you in the downtown area, close to the school. These apartments are comfortable and secure, and some have swimming pools and exercise rooms. If you want, VMEI will arrange it for you and personally inspect it before you arrive.

Shared Accommodation: It is common for two or more students in Vancouver to rent a house or apartment and share the expenses. You may want to consider this after you meet other students at the Institute, or you can look at the shared accommodation that is advertised in the newspaper here. You will, however, have to make your own arrangements for this type of accommodation.

See below for fees information.

TRANSPORT ON ARRIVAL

VMEI will pick up and drop off registered students at the airport free of charge.

ACTIVITIES

Because VMEI is a small specialized school whose students all have medical professions in common, it is usually easy for the students and staff to become friends. VMEI arranges at least one social occasion  each week where everyone is invited to participate in a meal or a recreational outing together. The Institute also sets up medical networking events so students can meet and talk to local medical professionals.

In addition to what the Institute arranges students find many occasions to enjoy Vancouver while practicing their English. Vancouver is a city with unparalleled opportunities for leisure activities.   Outdoor activities include hiking in the local mountains, picnics, skiing and snowboarding, camping, horseback riding, sailing, water sports,  and  weekend trips to visit other parts of British Columbia.

There is also a vibrant night life in the city with coffee shops, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs to suit every taste and budget. Vancouver hosts many concerts and theatrical performances as well as festivals and celebrations reflecting the diverse cultural mix that makes Vancouver its home.