Life at CILFO - Firstday

Arrival at CILFO

9:00am

Language Assessment: Written Test This is the time you need to arrive on your first day at CILFO. The reason for this is that we need all new students to complete a two-part language assessment test. The first part is a written test that lasts about 45 minutes.

Orientation with a Counsellor When you have finished the written part of your language assessment, you will meet with your Counsellor for Orientation. This is a fairly long meeting. You will learn how things work at CILFO, where classrooms are, how to change classes, where the computer lab is, etc. and what the school rules are. In other words - lots of practical student information.

Language Assessment: the Interview The second part of the language assessment test is a one-on-one interview with a CILFO assessor. You will be asked to answer very simple questions at first. As the interview goes on, the questions and vocabulary used will get more difficult. The person assessing you will make notes as they find your strengths and weaknesses.

The interview usually only takes about five to ten minutes. At the end, your assessor will tell you what level you are at (we have six levels) and suggest classes that you might want to consider based on your strengths and weaknesses. It is up to you which class you end up taking but it must be one that is at your language level.

Walking Tours of the City (only an idea!) Once you have had your Orientation and the language assessment is finished there will be optional walking tours of Ottawa. If you are not familiar with the city it is highly recommended that you take one of these tours. It will help you to learn the location of important places and services that you will need while you are at CILFO.

Getting your Timetable

Depending on how many students have to be assessed and how many class timetables need to be processed you will either be able to get your class schedule after lunch on Monday or the following morning. Most likely it will be the next day (Tuesday morning.)

English Only

We have an English Only Policy in the school. This means that whenever you are in the school you must speak English only.

If CILFO students are not speaking English (their language of study) in the school the following rules apply:

FIRST OFFENCE: The student will be given a warning.

SECOND OFFENCE: The student will be suspended from school for 3 days. (You do not get your money back for this time)

THIRD OFFENCE: The student will be suspended from school for one week.

FOURTH OFFENCE: The student will be suspended from school for one session or equivalent.