OUR PROGRAMS
We pride ourselves for having the highest standards, the most qualified teachers and top-notch facilities. We have students from more than 40 different countries attending our school, and that number just keeps growing. Many students arrive with limited English skills, but after a short time with us they have all the necessary English skills needed for their post-secondary education and beyond. At McDonald International Academy, we offer a variety of programs that help you achieve your educational goals.
Our IELTS Prep program focuses on all four modules of the IELTS test (reading, writing, listening and speaking) to help students to advance their English proficiency and learn specific strategies to improve their performance on the actual IELTS test.
Our ESL program utilizes our educational expertise and know-how in helping you achieve the goals you have in your English learning experience. MIA will ensure your time with us will be filled with skills and memories to last a lifetime.
Our special Summer Program blends in class learning with fun daily activities in Toronto and its surrounding areas. It aims to bring students into an authentic Canadian cultural setting, while teaching them English skills in oral communication, reading and writing.
ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA
The Secondary School Program/Grade 9-12 University Preparation Program offered at McDonald International Academy (MIA) is developed according to the requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training. The goal of the program is to provide students’ high-quality learning in a friendly learning environment and allow individual students to choose programs that suit their skills and interests. The program is designed with a flexible schedule to enable students to maximize their opportunities for career planning and post-secondary school education.
McDonald International Academy follows the globally recognized curriculum set by the Ontario Ministry of Education. This 4 year program is designed to properly prepare students for post-secondary studies at University or College in Canada, the United States and around the world.
Our credits are recognized by all American and Canadian universities and Colleges. Since our inception, over 15,000 students from 40 countries have graduated from MIA and successfully entered many well-known universities and colleges both in Canada and the USA. In addition, over 20 % of our graduates are offered University Entrance Scholarships each year.
During a student’s final year of high school they may apply to any university of their choice. In Canada, they require six grade 12 pre-university level credits in order to be considered. Each university and specific program will have their own minimum grade requirements for admission. In addition, they may apply for college programs which require completion of their O.S.S.D. and certain prerequisite courses depending on the area of study.
Course Codes
The course code identifies the course, the year of study and the level of destination.
The first character denotes the area of study to which the course belongs:
A – The Arts The second and third characters identify the specific subject, e.g. in SCH3U ‘CH’ identifies the subject as Chemistry. |
The fourth character identifies the grade of the course:
1 – Grade 9 The fifth character identifies the course type: D – Academic |
Assessment & Evaluation Policy
At the beginning of each course the teacher will provide for the students a clear statement of the course content and course requirements, an explanation of evaluation methods and marks breakdown, along with a description of the policy for tests and assignments. Students are expected to be active participation in their own learning by assuming responsibility for keeping work up to date and by regular communication with teachers.
The final examination or the culminating activity is an important part of every course. A student must provide a medical certificate for an absence from the final evaluation useless prior arrangements have been made and approved by the school administration.
Reporting procedure
A Midterm Report is sent midway through the semester and the Final report is sent following the conclusion of the term.
The Ontario Student Transcript (OST) provides a comprehensive record of a student’s overall achievement in high school. The credits, which a student has earned towards fulfillment of the requirements for the graduation diploma, are recorded on the OST.
The Ontario School Record (OSR) is the official record for a student. These records are protected by the Education Act and freedom of information legislation.
McDonald International Academy – Academic Policies
Assignments
- Assignments must be completed and handed in on time.
- If an assignment is handed in late, late marks will be deducted.
- All assignments must be handed in within one week of the original due date. After one week, it will not be accepted and will receive a mark of 0 (zero). For example, if an assignment was due on a Monday, the last day it can be accepted (less late marks) will be the following Monday.
Tests & Exams
- There is mandatory attendance for all test and exam days.
- If a student misses any test or exam for the scheduled date and time, they are not permitted to rewrite the test and will be given a mark of 0 (zero).
- Extenuating circumstances only will be looked at on a case by case basis.
Plagiarism & Cheating
If students are caught plagiarizing any assignment, they will be given an automatic 0 (zero). The following are all considered forms of plagiarism (but is not limited to):
- Turning in someone else’s work as your own
- Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
- Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not
If students are caught cheating on any exam or test, they will receive a mark of 0 (zero) on the said exam or test. Cheating includes (but is not limited to):
- Copying off another student
- Using “cheat sheets”
- Using cell phones
Cell Phones
- Cell phones are not permitted in class, unless allowed by the teacher for academic purposes only.
- If students are caught using their phones without teacher permission, the teacher will confiscate the phone.
- If any student is unwillingly to give their phone to their teacher, they will be sent immediately to the Principal’s office to face disciplinary action.
Attendance/Late Policy
- All students are required to attend class every day to maintain good academic standing.
- It is the student’s responsibility to know all their test and exam dates, and assignment due dates.
- Absences due to illness must be substantiated with a doctor’s note.
- If students arrive 15 minutes late after the class start time, they will be marked “Late”. If they arrive more than 30 minutes late after the class start time, they will be marked “Absent”.
COURSES WE OFFER
CANADIAN & WORLD STUDIES
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES
MATHEMATICS
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
GUIDANCE AND CAREER EDUCATION
TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION
BUSINESS STUDIES
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM
Our Advanced Placement program offers college-level classes and exams to our grade 12 students. The goal is to connect students to college success by taking college classes while still in high school. The AP program was developed by the College Board, in the United States, to help high school students prepare for college by taking advanced courses, with no set program of courses. Students could take just one or even a dozen AP classes, depending on their school, schedule, and goals. The course work in a given subject is generally equivalent to a first-year college course. As a result, a student who achieves a 4 or 5 is usually permitted to skip the corresponding course as a freshman in college.
IELTS PREPARATION
The 110-hour IELTS preparation course focuses on improving students’ English language skills, as well as testing techniques and strategies for IELTS listening, speaking, reading and writing. The purpose is to help students learn about and prepare for the IELTS test systematically, and to achieve a minimum of band 6.5 for each individual component, with an overall band score of 7 or higher.
The courses are taught by two instructors: Maren Hancock (PhD Candidate, MA, BA(Hon), ARTC, AMRC) will teach the IELTS writing and speaking portions, and Jasmine Wang (MEd, MA,) will teach IELTS reading and listening.
Maren Hancock is a PhD Candidate in Humanities at York University. She currently teaches at Ryerson University in the Department of Creative Industries, and will be defending her dissertation in Spring 2020. Maren also holds two teaching diplomas in Speech Arts and Drama, and has over twenty years’ experience teaching academic writing and public speaking. She is also a renowned professional DJ, musician, and entrepreneur.
Maren actively supports her students by targeting their needs, and then tailoring her teaching accordingly. Combining students’ specific needs and learning styles, she helps students improve their speaking and writing responses with concise academic vocabulary, expressive sentences, and easy to follow logic, always while responding to frequently occurring topics in IELTS. Maren’s class can effectively help students who aim to achieve a qualified 6.5 or 7.5 on both speaking and writing.
Jasmine Wang holds a MEd in Language and Literacies Education from OISE, and an MA in Linguistics and English Language Teaching from Shandong University, China. She also holds a TESOL Certificate from Woodsworth College, University of Toronto. Jasmine has over 17 years’ experience teaching IELTS preparation courses, and many of her students have achieved high band scores – ranging from 6.5 to 9 – in their IELTS testing.
Jasmine has a concise and thorough understanding of students’ needs and she carefully designs her lessons to suit the actual needs of students. Through many her years of experience, she knows the major principles used in the IELTS questions very well. Combining her unique strengths in the understanding of student needs and the IELTS test, she helps her students effectively in achieving their desired scores.
$3000/course (110 hours)
ESL PROGRAM
Our ESL program utilizes our educational expertise and know-how in helping you achieve the goals you have in your English learning experience. MIA will ensure your time with us will be filled with skills and memories to last a lifetime. Make it MIA today!
MIA’s comprehensive ESL program is designed to cover all the prerequisites necessary to master the English language. Our program is open to all age groups. Students may choose from our 2 different programs (Intensive or Semi-Intensive) to find the one that best suits their needs and interests.
When students arrive, they are given an English assessment test and placed in one of the following levels:
Level 1 | Beginner |
Level 2 | Advanced Beginner |
Level 3 | Intermediate |
Level 4 | Advanced Intermediate |
Level 5 | Advanced |
Our Intensive program offers 6 hours daily per week of ESL studies. Mornings consist of 4 hours of our ESL fundamentals class. ESL fundamentals teaches all the skills required to obtain English language proficiency such as vocabulary, reading, writing, grammar, and oral skills. The course content and emphasis on certain skills will vary based on each level.
In the afternoon, students choose an elective course based on their learning preferences.
Elective Classes
Since all students have their own strengths and weaknesses when developing their English language skills, we provide elective classes to address the specific weaknesses hindering a student’s English language development.
Choose one of the following courses as an elective class:
- Grammar and Writing
- Conversation and Listening
- TOEFL Preparation
Intensive Program Schedule
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | ESL Fundamentals |
Break | |
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Elective Studies |
Our Semi-Intensive program offers 4 hours daily per week of ESL studies. Students will be placed in our ESL fundamentals class in the mornings. ESL fundamentals teaches all the skills required to obtain English language proficiency such as vocabulary, reading, writing, grammar, and oral skills. The course content and emphasis on certain skills will vary based on each level.
Semi-Intensive Program Schedule
9:00 am – 1:00 pm | ESL Fundamentals |
Break | |
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Self Study |
Registration fee:
Overseas Students Registration Fee | CAD $ 200 |
Registration Fee is applicable to all programs except the Summer/Winter Program.
Intensive Program
4 weeks | CAD $ 2,000 |
2 months | CAD $ 4,000 |
3 months | CAD $ 5,800 |
4 months | CAD $ 7,600 |
5 months | CAD $ 9,400 |
6 months | CAD $ 11,200 |
Each additional month after 6 months will be CAD $1,600 per month.
Semi-Intensive Program
4 weeks | CAD $ 1,500 |
2 months | CAD $ 3,000 |
3 months | CAD $ 4,300 |
4 months | CAD $ 5,600 |
5 months | CAD $ 6,900 |
6 months | CAD $ 8,200 |
Each additional month after 6 months will be CAD $1,200 per month.
SUMMER PROGRAM
The MIA Summer ESL Program aims to bring students into an authentic Canadian cultural setting, while teaching them English skills in oral communication, reading and writing.
During the morning and early afternoon, students attend English classes that are taught by MIA English teachers. After classes, students enjoy recreational activities, events around Toronto, and weekend trips to famous Canadian destinations including Niagara Falls. For students who are interested in future studies in North America, this program is an ideal introduction to the academic and extra-curricular life at a premier North American School.
A great deal of cultural diversity abounds at MIA, reflecting the multicultural nature of the city of Toronto. We encourage students to learn as much as possible about Canadian culture during their stay with us, and invite them to join our friendly, supportive and diverse learning environment.
When : July and August
Age group : At least 10 years old
Where : Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Program Schedule (Monday to Friday)
9:00am – 1:00pm | ESL Fundamentals |
LUNCH | |
1:30pm – 5:00pm | Activities |
Application Fee | 5 afternoon activities per week |
ESL classes 4 hours per day, Monday – Friday |
All day activities on Saturdays |
Accommodation Placement Fee | Airport Pickup and Drop Off |
Shared Accommodation | Health Insurance |
Breakfast and Dinner while in Toronto | Public Transportation fees |
Hot lunch served on campus | Textbooks |
English Class
Upon arrival, students will be given an English assessment test and placed in level 1-5
Mornings will consist of 4 hours of our ESL fundamentals class. ESL fundamentals teach all the skills required to obtain English language proficiency, such as vocabulary, reading, writing, grammar, and oral skills. The course content and emphasis on certain skills will vary based on each level. During the activities and outings, students are encouraged to learn English in different Canadian settings. Students are presented with a certificate after successful completion.
Afternoon Activities
The MIA Summer ESL Program provides a full itinerary of exciting events in the afternoons after class and on weekends.
Activities included:
- Niagara Falls
- Canada’s Wonderland
- CN Tower
- Toronto Blue Jay’s Baseball Game
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Guided City Tours & Sports Activities
- And many more!
Optional trips to Ottawa, Quebec City & Montreal and/or New York City
Students can select optional 3 day weekend trips to Ottawa, Quebec City & Montreal (QMO) and/or New York City. This is a fantastic opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful and exciting cities in North America! Both these bus tours include hotel accommodation, guided tour and free time in each city. Please note, it is the responsibility of each student to obtain a Tourist Visa for the United States prior to arrival. Meals are not included during the trips.
Accommodation
All students will stay at a residence facility or with Canadian families around our school area. Program fees cover only shared room accommodations. If students require a private room an extra fee of CAD $400 per week applies. We will try our best to accommodate student’s preferences for their living arrangements but cannot guarantee their selection due to availability. Unless traveling in a group with supervised leader, students 15 years old and younger must stay with a Homestay family. If students arrive more than 2 days before or leave more than 2 days after the start and end of the program period, extra accommodation fees of $100 per night will apply. Meals and transportation fees are also the responsibility of the students during this extra time. Students who wish to arrange their own accommodation may do so by giving prior notice to the school. The accommodation fees will be deducted from the program price.
Meals
Breakfast and Dinner are covered every day in the program (except during Saturday activities and overnight trips to Eastern Canada or New York City). Hot lunches are provided during the weekdays only when on the school campus.
-
- At a reasonable cost, you can learn English, have fun at a variety of activities all over Toronto, and make friends and memories to last a
- Receive a Certificate of Completion from MIA, which is also the equivalent to one semester credit of our Secondary School ESL
- The perfect stepping stone to future secondary or post-secondary education in North America
2 Weeks | Please contact us for pricing |
3 Weeks | Please contact us for pricing |
4 Weeks | Please contact us for pricing |
3 day trip to Eastern Canada | CAD $550 |
3 day trips to New York City | CAD $700 |
The program fees cover the following:
- Shared Accommodation
- Airport Pickup and Drop Off
- Tuition Fee (4 hrs per day, Mon. – Fri.)
- Health Insurance
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Transportation fees for entire program including all trips/activities
- All activities fee
- Textbooks