Every year many people choose Canada for their English study. Canada has some advantages like cheaper tuition fees or safer cities from other countries offering the same programs. However, after choosing Canada for your study, you have to choose a city in Canada. I would like to compare two cities I know in Canada, Vancouver and Calgary.

Vancouver is a well known city in Canada for this purpose. There are many language schools offering ESL programs in Vancouver. Calgary is smaller than Vancouver but still have nice language schools and colleges for people who speaks English as a second language.

In Vancouver, sometimes it is hard to find someone who speaks native English. Generally, you hear many different languages while you are on bus or sky train. Calgary has more native English speaking environment than Vancouver. Therefore, you may be find Calgary more efficient for improving your English.

Vancouver has a nice climate, not too hot, not too cold. Generally it rains a lot in winters. Calgary has a completely different climate. It is very cold in winters, sometimes it could be minus 45 C. So, this is why a lot of people don't choose Calgary instead of Vancouver.

Because of being a smaller city, I think Calgary is more convenient than Vancouver; life expenses are cheaper, and transportation is easier. There is no PST (Provincial Sales Tax) in Calgary. If you like night life, you may be find Vancouver better than Calgary. There are many pubs, clubs and discos in the downtown of Vancouver.

Calgary has a really nice environment. There is a river crossing the city, and many parks on the each side on this river. In Vancouver, you can visit Stanley Park and you can see the natural environment of Canada.

Finally, I can say that, if cold is not important for you, I can advice Calgary for your further studies.

November 13, 2000