Popular Activities

Welcome Mixer

Welcome to ELI

In the first few days of every Intensive English Program (IEP), the UBC ELI hosts a free welcome party (“mixer”) for students to meet and socialize with staff, teachers, CAs and each other. The type of party changes according to the season – in the summer, it might be a barbecue in the UBC ELI courtyard, in the winter we might take the students to the UBC ice rink for a skating party. Whatever the time of year, the Welcome Mixer provides a warm reception to new and continuing students at the UBC ELI.

The Great Race

The ultimate adventure for ELI students! Participants race around Vancouver for amazing prizes while having fun and making friends. Teams look for clues at designated stations in famous places throughout the city until they reach the finish line. This is a thrilling experience for everyone.

ELI Halloween Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Celebrate with us on this frightening day by disguising yourself. Students and CAs dress up and dance the night away! The goal is to get in the spirit of Halloween by dressing up, having fun and meeting new friends!

Downtown Tour

Get to know Vancouver on foot! In the first week of every program, UBC ELI CAs arrange a walking tour of downtown Vancouver. You will discover some of the best places for sightseeing, dining and recreation. You will also find out where UBC ELI students usually meet for social activities.

Farewell

We have a saying in English: all good things must come to an end. On the last day of each UBC ELI program, we hold a Farewell event, complete with refreshments, a slide show of favourite memories, speeches, skits and or presentations. A time of laughter and tears, this event is an opportunity for those of us who will remain at the UBC ELI to say goodbye to students who are returning home or moving on to new adventures.

Weekly Events

Weekly extra-curricular activities are provided free as part of the program at the UBC ELI. Check the current Activity Calendar to confirm days and times.

Class Rep Meetings

Once a week, class representatives from the Intensive English Program meet with UBC ELI staff to provide feedback about their classes, homestay, accommodation and activities. Student input helps us make every part of the UBC ELI experience even better!

Lunch with CAs

Having Fun with the CAs

There’s always a lot happening during Lunch with CAs – lots to do and lots to see; strolling through the hallways of the Continuing Studies Building, one might catch sight of students napping or watching TV in the Student Lounge, chatting with friends or playing a lively game of volleyball or hacky sack in the courtyard, or working away at last night’s homework. The delicious smell of tasty treats draws students toward the “concession” where friendly CAs tempt the hungry staff with fresh “Fire” pizza, or for the more adventurous, to challenge the spicy kimchi noodle bowls. It’s fun, it’s free, and everyone is welcome – like a trip to the zoo, Lunch with CAs on Tuesdays and Thursdays is definitely worth a visit!

Activity Sign-Ups

Ask the Sign-up CA (SuCA) questions and get detailed information about the UBC ELI’s upcoming activities, then sign up for any extra-curricular events you want to join! Check the Activity Calendar for details about upcoming activities and sign-up times.

Sports Afternoon

Have fun and keep fit! Join the CAs in some physical activity at one of the many sports facilities on the UBC campus. Try soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, skating – something different every week.

Campus Chat

Here’s another chance to practice your English with native speakers. Every week during the fall and winter Intensive English Programs, UBC volunteer students come to the UBC ELI to have informal conversations with our students. Campus Chats give UBC ELI students an extra opportunity for native-English-speaker contact, as well as a chance to find out more about what it is like to be a student at The University of British Columbia. At the same time, it gives UBC students a chance to learn about life in other parts of the world from you!

Clubs

What are you interested in? We have a club for you! We have different clubs every term so you will never get bored! Below are some example clubs.

Food Club

Do you love food? Do you love to eat? join CAs in our weekly trips to Vancouver restaurants! We hope to expand your food and taste experiences during your time in Vancouver and write about it on our blog. Bon appetit!

Volunteer Club

This club organizes activities that enable students to contribute to the local community. Examples of volunteer club activities include working at a soup kitchen, at a community festival and participating in a fundraising campaign for a charitable cause.

Book Club

Book Club first came onto the ELI scene in the Winter of 2009. A few CAs with a penchant for good literature decided it would serve the students well to complement their academic endeavours with a romp into the imaginative world of literary bliss. Thus, Book Club was born!

Catering to all English levels, Book Club strives to unearth in each student the desire to read. Book Club is an opportunity for CAs and students to get together – laughter, snacks, great friends, honest discussion, acting and games all make up a typical evening at Book Club!

Photo Club

Capture the essence of Vancouver through images with Photo Club! Come join us at our weekly excursions throughout the city, and explore your creative side. There will be different themes every week, and photos will be showcased on our photography board and our Flickr.com site. Hope to see you there!

Film Club

Film club

Let the inner director and actor out with Film Club. Learn the basics of making a move, and have fun living out your cinematic dreams. CAs will guide you through script writing, acting and filming with a videocamera.

Soccer Club

Our team will bend it like Beckham with players from all over the world. Strategy, effort and passion are our best secret weapons to win all tournaments at UBC!

Arts Club

Arts Club is a club where students get to express their thoughts and imagination and show off their artistic talents. We meet at the ELI hallway, and explore different mediums of art each week. We simply give students a medium (ie: clay or acrylic paint) to work with and allow them create whatever they want with it.

You don’t have to be an artist to join this club; in fact, some of the students in Arts Club are engineers! If you want to take a break from studying, you are always welcome to drop by our table and join us!

ELI News

Eli News is the weekly newsletter produced by the students and CAs. Want to submit an article? Just talk to the CA editors!

Music Club- Guitar Workshops

Music Club

Do, re, mi fa, so, la, ti….go!
A new addition to the ELI! There are so many opportunities to learn and experience music in Vancouver, and Music Club wants to explore them with you! Together, we’ll learn to play guitar. Students of all skill levels are welcome.