IGK will set an attendance record later this month with over 130 students from 11 countries (Japan, Korea, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Taiwan and Brazil!)

IGK is pleased to be hosting students age 7-18 from Japan, Switzerland, Brazil, Taiwan, Colombia and Mexico for our very popular youth vacation program. This program runs until the end of September. Morning ESL classes are combined with afternoon and weekend activities.

A group of Japanese seniors is taking full time ESL and activities at IGK for 6-8 weeks. The Okanagan Valley is Canada's #1 retirement destination so senior students feel comfortable and at home here! The popularity of the region for retirees is due to the semi-arid climate, plenty of sunshine, safety and bountiful recreational opportunties like golf, hiking, wine tasting, swimming and curling.

Here’s some ‘sizzling’ summer news from Belize!

Low season rates at International Gateway Belize / Jungle Jeanie’s by the Sea run until November 14th. Students and guests can save 15-20% on accommodation, travel and airfares during this period.

Now is the perfect time to experience Belize, study English, relax on the beach and feel like ‘Indiana Jones’ without the crowds!

Last Minute Airfare Sale to Belize! Fares can be found as low as $204!
In order to take advantage of the low fares, tickets must be purchased on AA.com. Fares are each way, and based on a round-trip economy class purchase.

Hopkins, the city where our learning centre and resort are located, was recently voted 2010 Belizean destination of the year by the Belize Tourism Board!

Why? The city maintains its traditional roots and culture while at the same time offering a variety of accommodation and activities. Hopkins is a ‘one stop shop’ for everything Belizean.

According to the Belize Tourism Board, Hopkins has become a lively visitor destination where one can experience the activity of village life and learn to beat the Garifuna drums, or choose from a variety of eclectic boutique resorts and condominiums spread out on the beach in both directions. This coastal location offers an array of activities and experiences from the leisurely beach stay, to forays into rainforest, Maya sites and day trips offshore for snorkeling, scuba diving or deep sea fishing.

Moreover, Jungle Jeanie’s by the Sea was a finalist for “green’ resort of the year at the Belizean Tourism Board’s annual awards! Congratulations Jean and John!

Check out our latest student interview on You Tube. A Japanese student is interviewing a Polish student about Kelowna and IGK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHcbmbFGyrg

Students recently toured a Tree Brewery in Kelowna. IGK teachers believe that learning takes place both inside and outide of the classroom and they regularly encorporate 'real life' learning experinces into the curriculum.
PS The beer was great too!!

Study oenology in Canada’s #1 wine destination!

IGK is pleased to announce our new Wine Certification program. This entry level program is offered year round for groups of 10 or more and is facilitated by a professional sommelier. The wine certification program can easily be combined with full or part time Practical ESL or with our action camps programs for seniors, office workers and executives. Regional wine festivals are held in May and October and this would be the optimal time to send a group to coincide with these festivals. www.thewinefestivals.com. Students could practice what they learned at the festivals!

Foundation Program - 14 hours / offered year round

Topics include: winemaking techniques, viticulture, major grape varieties, sparkling wine production, fortified wine production, ice wine production, the British Columbia wine industry and major winemaking regions of the world. There are 12 tastings over the course of the two days.

$350CAD per person based on a group of 10+

Includes: tuition, wine, study materials and certificate.

Students who plan to work in the wine; hotel or hospitality industries are encouraged to take this program as it is an excellent addition to any resume!

IGK guarantees a paid job placement to all working holiday visa students who complete our Cambridge BEC Vantage certificate. Nine to twelve week BEC certificate programs begin in January, March and September and focus on Business English, resume writing and interview techniques which are essential for employment.

When I was first acquainted with Kelowna and IGK, I was really excited, not just because I was beginning a new life in a new city, but more so because of the ideal studying environment I would have in the city. Having spent a year in Vancouver as an ESL student, I started being frustrated as my understanding of English language was not showing substantial progress. I felt I was plateauing, unsatisfied with my understanding of the grammar, listening comprehension, pronunciation, and writing ability. However, all of my concerns were gone after I moved to Kelowna. Kelowna and IGK provided me with the right learning environment; I could devote a major part of my time and energy into learning, and I became friends with so many local Canadian people with whom I talked and practiced authentic conversations in English. But, what I learned in Kelowna and IGK was not just English. Through communicating with people and studying with my classmates and friends, I was able to enrich my understanding of peoples from different racial, cultural and ethno-lingual backgrounds and learned the importance of understanding and celebrating the differences, in order to coexist as happily as possible in this globalized world. That learning experience inspired me to pursue a major in International Relations at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Now as a university graduate, I am looking forward to the vast sea of infinite opportunities, not only in Japan or in Canada but wherever in the world, wherever my heart takes me.

Shoho Arita

バンクーバーでの留学も一年が経過し、自分の英語力の成長に大きな疑問とあせりを感じていた僕にとって、ケローナそしてＩＧＫとの出会いは衝撃的でした。それはただ単に新しい町へ移り住み、新たな人生を始めるからというだけではなく、ケローナの持っている「英語学習に適した環境」があったからです。そんなケローナでの生活をすすめるうちに、僕が以前抱いていた自分の英語力に対する疑問と不安は、気づいたときには無くなっていました。バンクーバーやトロントといった大きな都市とは違い、ケローナの町の穏やかな雰囲気や時間の流れ、その中で自分の時間とエネルギーをありったけ学習に投じることができました。又、とってもフレンドリーな地元カナディアンと触れあうことで、本からは決して学べない本物の「生きた英語」を肌で感じることができました。
しかし僕がケローナとＩＧＫから学んだことはそれだけではありませんでした。多くの友達、クラスメート、ホストファミリー、そういった人たちとの交流を通して、僕は人種、文化、言語の違う人たちと向き合い、理解し合い、そして共存していくことの大切さを理解しました。このような「生きた学び」は僕にとって大きな刺激となりブリティッシュコロンビア大学オカナガンキャンパスにて国際関係学を学びました。そしてこれからの自分の活躍の場をカナダ、日本だけではなく、世界中に広がる無限の可能性を目指して日々を頑張っています。

有田匠穂

IGK is thrilled to be hosting a group of 23 Japanese university students for a customized group program. During the first 2 weeks they are taking Practical ESL classes combined with hot yoga and horseback riding. They are also visiting the Kamloops Wildlife Park for a behind the scenes look at their injured wildlife rehabilitation and Burrowing Owl recovery efforts. During week 3 students are volunteering in local organizations like the food bank, cancer centre, hospice centre and the SPCA.

As part of our school's caring, worldwide environmental philosophy we've adopted a West Indian manatee named 'Georgia'. She resides at Blue Spring State Park in Florida. Please support the Save the Manatee www.savethemanatee.org

Our Homestay Coordinator, Sue Granados is featured in the 20th Anniversary Edition of “Issues”, a natural health magazine. Sue is a Reiki Master and Quantum Touch © Practitioner. She provides both students and staff with healing sessions as well as teaching her technique at IGK as a school activity. One of our former students is now using Quantum Touch in Switzerland in his veterinarian work!

Maya Island Air has announced direct flights from Cancun, Guatemala City and San Pedro Sula (Honduras) to Belize City with freqeunt connections to Dangriga.
http://www.mayaregional.com
This means easy access to our programs and resort in Hopkins!

For 2010, we are pleased to announce the addition Practical English as a Second Language and Family ESL programs. Have you ever dreamed of learning English in a non-threatening environment with the warm waves of the Caribbean at your feet? This is your chance!

We've also added PADI Scuba Diving programs (Open water to Dive Master) and yoga classes.

The number of students enrolled in Cambridge certificates at IGK increased 28% during 2009. Why? IGK is an elite exam preparation centre and testing venue with excellent results and small class sizes (4-10). Students from from Germany, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Mexico registered for Cambridge certificate programs during 2009.

Cambridge results last a lifetime so there is never any need to retake the test unlike IELTS, TOEFL and TOEIC which must be retaken every 2 years.

Cambridge certificates are recognized in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, all Commonwealth countries, the Middle East, Europe and Africa for university, college and high school entrance.

Many multinational companies use Cambridge exams as standards for employment including: Toyota, Credit Suisse, Siemens, Nike, Sony, Ford, DHL, IBM, Kodak, HSBC, Coca Cola, Hewlett-Packard, Price-Waterhouse Coopers, KPMG, Audi, Daimler-Chrysler, BP, United Nations, etc.

PET-Academic
(Lower Intermediate-Intermediate level)
January 4-March 19 (11 weeks) Exam date March 20
March 15-June 4 (12 weeks) Exam date June 5
September 13-Dec. 3 (12 weeks) Exam date December 3
Additional late starting dates-1:11, 1:18 3:22, 3:29, 4:6 9:20, 9:27, 10:5

FCE-Academic
(Upper Intermediate level)
January 4-March 12 (10 weeks) Exam date March 13
March 15-June 11 (12 weeks) Exam date June 15
September 13-Dec. 3 (12 weeks) Exam date December 7
Additional late starting dates-1:11, 3:29, 4:6, 4:12, 9:20, 9:27, 10:5

CAE-Academic
(Advanced level)
January 4-March 9 (9 weeks) Exam date March 6
March 22-June 11 (12 weeks) Exam date June 16
September 13-Dec. 3 (12 weeks) Exam date December 8
Additional late starting dates-3:29, 4:6, 4:12, 9:20, 9:27, 10:5

BEC Vantage-Business
(Intermediate-Upper Intermediate)
January 4-March 19 (11 weeks) Exam date March 19
March 15-June 4 (12 weeks) Exam date June 10
September 13-Dec. 3 (12 weeks) Exam date December 4
Additional late starting dates-1:11, 1:18 3:22, 3:29, 4:6 9:20, 9:27, 10:5

Register now for the world's most popular and most recognized English exams!

IGK’s partner guest ranches and farmstays feature a slice of ‘cowboy’ life starting weekly throughout the year. A series of 20 riding lessons at a local dude ranch costs as little as $450. Farmstays can easily be combined with any ESL program or taken on their own. Students usually add a ‘farmstay experience’ at the end of their formal ESL studies for 1 to 6 weeks. Students volunteer on the farm or ranch for 15 hours per week to offset the cost of their stay which leaves plenty of time to go horseback riding, hiking, fishing, bird watching, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing!!! Our farmstays welcomed students from Japan, Germany and Switzerland during 2009.

Kelowna International Airport, the Nation's 9th busiest, has announced that West Jet and Sunwing will add service to Mexico. Starting November 1, 2009, West Jet will fly from Kelowna to Puerto Vallarta with flights beginning November 6 to Cabo San Lucas and December 12 to Cancun. Sunwing will also offer flights to Cancun from Kelowna. Scheduled service not only allows those in the Okanagan to book their winter holiday to sun destinations in Mexico but allows those in Mexico to study and vacation here. Students won’t have to bother with lengthy lineups at Canadian Immigration in Vancouver or Toronto, pay extra fees for connecting flights or experience the hassle of flying through the USA. Students travelling from South and Central America may also want to look into these flights and transit through Mexico. Moreover, the flights to Cancun mean easier access to our programs in Hopkins, Belize www.westjet.com / www.sunwing.ca

Students recently enjoyed a trip to the BC Wildlife Park, a honey farm and one of the oldest markets in the Okanagan. The Wildlife Park houses a wide variety of Canadian animals and is the only facility in the world which provides a breeding and rehabilitation program for Burrowing Owls. The Wildlife Park only keeps permanently injured or 'human imprinted' animals as part of it's permanent collection and believes whenever possible to reintroduce orphaned or sick animals back to the wild. IGK offers monthly trips to Kamloops for western events, agricultural tours, the animal park and horseback riding, at IGK learning is not limited to the classroom....

Family ESL programs continue to grow in popularity at IGK. In the past year we've hosted families from Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Brazil. A popular summer option is morning ESL study for the parents and the full time youth vacation program for the children. We also offer Family ESL programs in Belize.

Check out the video impression of IGK and Kelowna designed by Ellen from Brazil. We love the samba soundtrack! Thanks Ellen.