REVIEW OF Erindale Academy BY student, Jiajia Cai

(5) Student Experience

My name is Rose Cai, and I'm from Guangzhou, China. I spent a year at The Erindale Academy, and it was truly a transformative experience. After just one year, I received multiple university offers, including my dream program at Western University's Business School. Living on campus was wonderful—the environment was safe, and the food was delicious! One of the highlights for me was the personal support I received, especially in public speaking. I used to be quite nervous about it, but after just a few months of training, I placed in the top 16 of the Global Youth Challenge competition. I also loved the focus on educational innovation. I took an interdisciplinary course in AI and business innovation, where we got to create our own startup. This course really changed my approach to learning, turning me into a more active, engaged learner. I even had the chance to present my project to professors and PhD students at the University of Toronto, which was an incredible learning experience. The Erindale Academy is truly unique, and I highly recommend it to any student looking for personalized support and individual attention. I absolutely loved my time here!

(5) School Leadership

Every teacher in the school is approachable. Students enjoy communicating with their teachers very much. After class, teachers and students are like friends and can chat and relax easily. Therefore, many students are willing to actively share their troubles with their teachers and seek help. The teachers are all very enthusiastic and proactive in tutoring students with their academic problems during class. The small-class teaching system makes it convenient for teachers to follow up on each student’s learning situation and provide personalized learning suggestions.

(5) Teaching

I think the teachers’ expectations for me are just right. First of all, they are very considerate of students’ psychological well-being and motivate us to study in ways that we can accept, rather than forcing us and provoking rebellious feelings. Secondly, I’ve noticed that many students here are somewhat introverted and hesitant to ask questions proactively. However, the teachers are dedicated, responsible, and approachable. They actively help students to ensure everyone can keep up with the class progress. The positive teacher-student relationship also gives students more courage to express their confusion and thoughts. Finally, the teachers believe that success is not just about grades on paper. They pay more attention to the progress students make during the learning process. Students who work hard receive bonuses to encourage them to keep improving.

(5) Academics

The learning process here is just right in terms of difficulty. Thanks to the small class size, the patience and responsibility of the teachers ensure that each student can keep up with the class progress. What impressed me the most was Mr. Volker. While studying his course, I had difficulty understanding the material because English is not my native language. When I struggled to recall and grasp the concepts, Mr. Volker would speak translated Chinese in a charming accent, which greatly inspired me to study harder and appreciate his dedicated and patient teaching. What I have learned will be helpful for the future. Firstly, frequent presentations have greatly improved my confidence in expressing opinions on stage. Secondly, I have gradually become proficient in using Canva to create polished posters, PowerPoint presentations, and more.

(5) Extracurriculars

There are many extracurricular activities here. I used to be a member of the student council. We organized events such as Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, and the Friday Festival. These events featured not only delicious food to enjoy but also many fun games to participate in. They not only strengthened the friendship among classmates and developed our teamwork skills but also enriched our campus life.

(5) Students

The student body here is very diverse. Some students are introverted, while others are extroverted. Some excel in the arts, such as playing the piano, and others are strong in academics, achieving great results in math competitions. I believe all students can integrate well into campus life, largely thanks to the patient and responsible teachers. Each student is assigned a counselor, so we can confidently share any troubles related to studies or life. Our counselors actively guide us to solve problems. Additionally, teachers pay attention to students who may feel lonely and encourage kind-hearted students to help include them in both study and social activities. Although international students may feel lonely in a foreign land, here they not only gain knowledge but also experience genuine care and support.

(5) School Life

If I were to lead a group of visitors on a tour, I would first take them to the White House, a building rich in history that now serves as the student cafeteria. At the White House, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of delicious foods. Even far from home, one can still taste familiar flavors, thanks to the careful and skillful cooking of our chefs. For example, during the Dragon Boat Festival, we had zongzi, a traditional treat. Despite being a 15-hour flight away from China, we were able to celebrate both the sweet and savory varieties, representing the culinary differences between northern and southern China. It was truly heartwarming. Our chef often prepares diverse dishes for us, including local Chinese specialties as well as international favorites like sushi, hamburgers, lamb kebabs, and crispy fried chicken.

(5) Community

School feels like home to me. First of all, every student has their own counselor who closely monitors their learning progress and helps create a personalized study plan. During class, teachers make an effort to rotate group members instead of letting fixed groups form, so students can make new friends, understand each other better, and build team spirit. As a boarder, the warmth I feel here is especially strong. Besides my counselor, I have two caring life teachers who look after my daily needs, take us to the supermarket occasionally, and offer practical advice whenever I face difficulties.

(5) School Location

Students really enjoy their time on campus. There is a strong and positive learning atmosphere here. When they encounter problems they don’t understand, they can ask questions during the subject teachers’ office hours. Additionally, the school organizes various activities to take students off campus. For example, recently our school arranged a group visit to Wonderland. The school also frequently takes us to visit the Mississauga campus of the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, and other institutions to help us clarify our academic and career goals.

(5) Admissions

I remember that after submitting the application, there was an interview session that included a written test and an oral interview. This process was designed to assess students’ English proficiency in order to better tailor a study plan for them. I would suggest that prospective students practice their spoken English and expand their vocabulary to adapt more quickly to the environment. I found my application process very interesting. The oral interview was conducted by the principal, who was very kind and spoke English fluently and authentically. The most memorable part was that when I arrived at the school, she remembered my name and warmly welcomed me.