Category: Canada

Present Progressive Tense – 10 Minute English Grammar

admin Leave a comment

The sentence formation follows:

  Singular Number Plural Number
1st Person I am eating = I’m eating We are eating = We’re eating
2nd Person You are eating = You’re eating You are eating = You’re eating
3rd Person He is eating = He’s eating  
  She is eating = She’s eating They are eating = They’re eating
  It is eating = It’s eating  

Uses of The Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense:

  1. For an action happening at the time of speaking: She is weeping.   I am wearing a scarf as it will look good.    Why are you complaining me for the act which I did not do?
  2. For an action happening now, but not necessarily at the time of speaking: I am reading a novel in which the girl marries her bodyguard. (I may not be reading at the moment of speaking, but it means ‘now’ in a more general sense.)      My sister is learning French and teaching English. (She may not be doing either at the time of speaking)
  3. For a definite arrangement taking place in the near future (it refers to the immediate plans): Our company is opening up a new branch in Toronto next month.  My friends are coming tonight, and I am taking them to the theatre.
  4. With always, especially for obstinate habits – something which persists and annoys: My dog, Jericho is very silly; he is always jumping on the kitchen platform for human food.   I know you very well. You are always losing your keys.
  5. Certain involuntary actions are not usually used in the continuous tenses:
    1. Verbs of senses/perception: hear, notice, recognize, see, smell

However, there is certain deliberate use of senses, such as listen, gaze, look (at), observe (= watch), watch and stare and of course, we can use them in the progressive tense:

I am watching this place carefully, but don’t see anything unusual.

Rita is listening to the IELTS tape, but she has put on the headphones so nobody else hears it.

  • Verbs of emotions and feelings: admire (= respect), adore, appreciate (= value), care for, desire, detest, dislike, fear, feel, hate, hope, loathe, love, mind (= care), respect, prefer, refuse, value, want, wish

Some verbs can also be used in the progressive tense depending upon the context (deliberate actions). For example, admire means to look at with admiration, value means to decide the worth, appreciate means to increase in value over a period of time, enjoy and at times love/like means to enjoy, and hate means the opposite. Yet it is safer to use the simple tense with love, like and hate:

Do you like your new job? How are you liking your new job?

I hate touristy places, but I am enjoying this place for some unexplained reasons.

I love eating burgers, but I don’t know why I am not loving it today.

  • Verbs of appearing: seem, look, appear

It seems acceptable, so you are good to go.

She looks beautiful, but today she is looking stunningly a knockout girl.

  • Verbs of thinking: agree, appreciate (= understand), assume, believe, expect (= think), feel (= think), feel sure/certain, forget, know, mean, perceive, realize, recall, recognize, recollect, remember, see (= understand) see through someone (= penetrated his attempt to deceive) suppose, think (= have an opinion), trust (= believe/have confidence in), understand

I do not agree with you on this point. And I assume you have a long way to go yet.

I see through his devious plan and also feel certain that he won’t be successful in it.

  • Verbs of possession: possess, own, owe, belong

How much does she owe you?

Do you own this bungalow?

Did you know?

Some native speakers and singers do not pronounce ‘ing’ entirely, but they pronounce only ‘in’ and omit ‘g’. For example, “Quit playin games with me” instead of “Quit playing games with me.”

There is also a non-standard short form for am not, is not, are not, have not and has not. It is ain’t.  For example, “Quit playin games with me.”  ~ “No, I ain’t.”

Pleonasm

admin Leave a comment

A pleonasm refers to the use of more words than they are necessary to express an idea i.e., redundancy. It is derived from a Greek word that means ‘excess’. Some people complicate the language for no reason. They have a habit of using redundant in sentences or with the combination of unwanted words.

In other words, a pleonasm is a redundant and tautological phrase or clause.

For example,

Judy is the cousin of Joshua.

Not: Judy is the cousin sister of Joshua.

  • Tuna fish burger: We ordered a fish burger last night.
  • My own eyes: I saw him with my eyes and confirm that he was behind this crime.
  • Free gift: Every child loves to have a gift.
  • Foreign imports: Most reading glasses are imports from Germany.
  • ATM machines: you will have many ATMs in the vicinity, but a couple of them are out of operation today.
  • Actual facts: It is always unwise to judge anyone until all facts are in.
  • Busy in: James was busy gathering the required papers the other day.
  • Circle around: When you circle the building, you will see a puppy near the bench.
  • Could possibly: You could either accept or reject the validity of this paper.
  • Current incumbent: The higher voting percentage suggests that the incumbent government will be defeated in this election.
  • Crisis situation: during the financial crisis in the USA, there was a ripple effect on the banks worldwide.
  • Confused state: I am confused about whether to accept this proposal or not.
  • Cope up with something: he was not able to cope with the stress and the strains of the job, and hence he quit.
  • Discuss on/about: We discussed this matter at length.
  • Drop down: the topline revenues dropped to $13 million last year.
  • Down south/ up north: As you move towards the north, the temperature will get cooler.
  • Empty out: ‘Empty his pocket’ was a scream from the back.
  • False pretense: Politicians are masters in engineering falsehoods and pretenses.
  • Frozen tundra: North Asia is an arctic tundra in the winter time and therefore it is not a recommended neighborhood to live in.
  • Hear with my own ears: I heard him clearly owning up to his few mistakes.
  • Gather together: We gathered to discuss this matter last evening.
  • It’s déjà vu all over again: A shiver crept down my spine as I experienced a sense of déjà vu.  
  • Join together: Why don’t you join us tonight?
  • Lift up: The US fed lifted the interest rate this month and cleared the uncertainties in the stock market.
  • Meet together: Let’s all meet this weekend and have fun.
  • New innovation: This innovation will disrupt the Information Technology world.
  • Open up: Open the door. (open up means begin shooting).
  • PIN number: Don’t ever share your PIN with anyone.
  • Pursue after: I pursued this plan wholeheartedly so I don’t think that I can disown it.
  • Raise up: It is time that the company has to raise the salary package of seniors.
  • Revert back: Once you receive the email, please revert immediately.
  • Safe haven: Some countries are a tax haven for tax evaders.
  • Total destruction: The earthquake wreaked havoc and the city witnessed destruction at every corner of it.
  • True fact: The fact remains unchallenged forever.
  • Ultimate goal: my goal is to train students for a good score in the IELTS exam.
  • Visible to the eyes: It is visible; one does not need to put efforts for the same.

Saskatchewan revises the in-demand occupation list

admin 2 Comments

The Government of Saskatchewan keeps revising the in-demand occupation list periodically considering the labour market needs. The updated occupation list is far more encouraging than the previous list as nine occupations do not require licensure or professional status.

The updated 24 occupations are listed below:

NOC Occupation Title Licensure Required
0423 Managers in Social and Community Services Yes
1226 Conference and Event Planners No
1311 Accounting Technicians No
2154 Land Surveyors Yes
2174 Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers Yes
2251 Architectural Technologists and Technicians No
2255 Technical Occupations in Geomatics and Meteorology No
3211 Medical Laboratory Technologists Yes
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists Yes
3216 Medical Sonographers Yes
3234 Paramedics Yes
4151 Psychologists Yes
4212 Social and Community Service Workers Yes
4214 Early Childhood Educators Yes
4215 Instructors of Persons with Disabilities No
5254 Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness No
6331 Meat Cutters Yes
6332 Bakers No
6342 Tailors, Dressmakers, Furriers and Milliners No
7292 Glaziers Yes
7312 Heavy-duty Equipment Mechanics/Technicians Yes
7321 Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics and Mechanical Repairers Yes
7322 Motor Vehicle Body Repairers Yes
7332 Appliance Servicers and Repairers No

CELPIP Success – Your Writing Struggle Ends

admin Leave a comment

CELPIP Success is the one and only book for the CELPIP test written by an Indian author – Vinod Gambtoo. The CELPIP test is a designated English Proficiency Test accepted by IRCC for Canada PR status. Intended immigrants who are tired of taking IELTS over and over again could think of switching to this test for their English language eligibility criterion.

With CELPIP Success, test takers will be able to:

  • write both tasks with confidence
  • play with language
  • create captivating content
  • craft ideas
  • connect with the test requirements emphatically
  • leverage the hidden writing skills inherent in great communication

Have a happy reading!

Saskatchewan prunes the occupation list for OID & Express Entry Stream

admin 3 Comments

Effective from 22nd August 2018, the government of Saskatchewan has removed ten occupations from the demand list. The following occupations are no longer eligible for both SINP categories – Occupations In Demand and Express Entry Streams:

 

Occupation NOC
Engineering Managers 0211
Civil Engineers 2131
Computer Engineers 2147
Software Engineers 2173
Web Designers and Developers 2175
Economists and Economic Policy Researchers and Analysts 4162
Electronic Service Technicians 2242
Landscape and Horticulture Technicians and Specialists 2225
Manufacturing Managers 0911
Utilities Managers 0912

 

Your Canadian College could make you ineligible for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

admin 1 Comment

Oftentimes several international students find themselves stranded after graduating from certain colleges in Canada each year. Not all study programs are designated by the provincial or territorial government for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

There is a popular misconception among international students that colleges or universities which have designated learning institution (DLI) codes come under all sorts of legal agreements with the government which makes international students eligible for PGWP.  It is not the fact though. Some programs that you choose to study may not be eligible for  PGWP.

DLI looks like O 110111011101, and it is mentioned on an acceptance letter. The student also mentions this code on his Study Permit application to IRCC.

Before you choose any school, you need to pay attention and check whether or not your course is listed as eligible program for PGWP. Or else your college will make you ineligible for PGWP.

How do we check the PGWP offering status of a college/university? Here are the steps:

  1. Log on the IRCC (government) website: www.canada.gc.ca
  2. Plug in the key words ‘designated learning institution list’ on search toolbar on the top right side
  3. You will see the search results and the first link is your click
  4. At the bottom, you will see the caption, ‘View list by province or territory’ and a search box underneath
  5. Insert your province e.g. Ontario
  6. You will have the list of all colleges and universities located in the province of Ontario
  7. The last heading of the table reads ‘Offers PGWP – eligible program’
  8. If it reads ‘YES’, you are good to go ahead and if it reads ‘NO’, take your own decision

A wise student always researches all his study and other options rather than relying only on his representative. Make use of all the information available on the government website and take the informed decision before it gets too late.

Study in beautiful Vancouver, Canada

admin 1 Comment

Vancouver is a home to world-renowned University of British Columbia and well-acclaimed prestigious school such as Simon Fraser University. This marvellous city prides itself of having top-notch professional colleges, such as Columbia College and Langara. We have rounded up top 9 schools that are located in the city of Vancouver.

  1. University of British Columbia (UBC): UBC is one of the top universities in Canada and known for its excellence in teaching and researching facilities across the globe. It offers scholarship awards to both domestic and international students for a wide range of courses. It is located near the southwestern coast of Vancouver, about 20 minutes from Downtown Vancouver by car.
  2. Simon Fraser University (SFU): SFU is home to more than 25,000 students and operates from three campuses: Burnaby, Surrey and Downtown Vancouver. It has been ranked as one of Canada’s top comprehensive universities consistently from the last 20 years.
  3. Capilano University: Capilano University is one of the smallest universities with an established pedigree in offering popular undergraduate programs to students. The student-faculty ratio is tremendously favourable to students. It is located in North Vancouver, about 20 minutes north of Downtown Vancouver.
  4. Columbia College: Columbia College was Founded in 1851, Columbia College has been helping students advance their lives through higher education for more than 160 years. It is located in the heart of Downtown Vancouver.
  5. Langara College: Langara College started in 1965 as part of Vancouver Community College and in 1970, it opened its West 49th Avenue campus. It is located approximately 20 minutes south of Downtown Vancouver by SkyTrain.
  6. Vancouver Community College (VCC): Located in the heart of the city, VCC offers academic, cultural, and social environments that inspire relevant real-world training. VCC has two campuses: Downtown Vancouver and E Broadway (just south of Downtown core)
  7. British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT): BCIT is one of British Columbia’s largest post-secondary institutions with more than 48,000 students enrolled annually (16,600 full-time, 31,600 part-time). It has five campuses: Burnaby, Downtown, Marine, Aerospace, and Annacis Island.
  8. Stenberg College: Over 25 years of delivering exceptional education, Stenberg College is incredibly popular among students for courses, such as Health Care Administration, Nursing and Health Care Technology. It is located just next to Simon Fraser University’s Surrey Campus.
  9. Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU): Established by the government of British Columbia in 1981, Kwantlen, now Kwantlen Polytechnic University, has four campuses located in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia. KPU offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations in more than 120 programs. Almost 20,000 students annually attend courses at KPU campuses in Surrey, Richmond, Langley and Cloverdale.

Artificial Intelligence arrives earlier than anticipation

admin 1 Comment

Two decades back when the idea of self-driving car was taking place, perhaps most people doubted saying it was just a Science fiction. Hollywood movies off and on showed and glorified this incredible idea in movies, such as the Bond series and MIB, but we refused to accept it – or some might have accepted it for the later stage. Did they realize that this technology would become a reality – earlier than anticipation?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has arrived and gradually making some space in our day-to-day life. In fact, AI-dominated landscape is approaching fast, even accelerating. I would say it is already here: we use Google’s assistant, Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana. Amazon’s low-latency Alexa plays music of my choice and helps me go back to my world.

AI seems to be a big industry which could propel the growth engine for many countries. As usual, the US and European countries are the first in the race to embrace this life-changing technology we could certainly expect the updated academic curriculum from them for students – potential innovators of the world. A career in AI would be challenging and fun for students, but it would keep them on their toes.

Considering the ever-growing significance of AI and robotics, we have rounded up a few American Schools for this course:

Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA) Stanford University (Stand
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Cambridge, MA) University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) Yale University (New Haven, CT)
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
Columbia University (New York City, NY) University of Texas (Austin, TX)
University of California, Los Angeles

(Los Angeles, CA)

 University of Michigan (Ann Harbor, MI)
Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA)
University of Illinois (Urbana/Champaign, IL) University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI) University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
University of Washington (Seattle, WA) Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO)
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (Rapid City, SD)
Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI)  

 

60-point Assessment Grid of Saskatchewan

admin Leave a comment

 

Education Points
Master’s or Doctorate Degree, Canadian equivalency 23
Bachelor’s Degree OR a three or more-year degree program at a university or college 20
Trade Certification equivalent to journey person status in Saskatchewan 20
Canadian equivalency Diploma that requires two but less than three years at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other formal post-secondary institution 15
Canadian equivalency Certificate or at least two semesters but less than a two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other formal post-secondary institution 12

 

Skilled Work Experience Points
a)      In the 5-year period prior to application submission date
5 years 10
4 years 08
3 years 06
2 years 04
1 year 02
b)      In the 6-10-year period prior to application submission date
5 years 05
4 years 04
3 years 03
2 years 02
Less than 1 year 00

Language Ability Points
CLB 8 and higher 20
CLB 7 18
CLB 6 16
CLB 5 14
CLB 4 12

 

Age Points
<18 years 0
18-21 years 8
22-34 years 12
35-45 years 10
45-50 years 8
> 50 years 0

 

Employment offer category Points
High skilled employment offer from a Saskatchewan employer 30

 

Close family relatives in Saskatchewan 20

 

Past work experience in Saskatchewan 5

 

Past student experience in Saskatchewan 5

 

Saskatchewan introduces the updated In-Demand Occupation List

admin Leave a comment

The Government of Saskatchewan keeps reviewing the occupation list periodically. It assesses the forecast of certain occupations based on labour market conditions and the future requirements.

SINP has a phenomenal run over the last three years and accepted the huge number of applications. Intended immigrants who struggle to cross over 400 CRS await the SINP opening eagerly. When the updated list of In-Demand Occupations is brought, it brings luck for some and frustration for others. Compared with other provinces, SINP has had a high volume of applications because the economy has shown a few upticks and the government’s robust funding in various sectors.

Here is the list of occupations:

Occupations that require no licensing:

NOC OCCUPATION
0821 Managers in agriculture
0911 Manufacturing managers
0912 Utilities managers
2123 Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists
2242 Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
4162 Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

 

Occupations that require licensing:

NOC OCCUPATION
0211 Engineering managers
2131 Civil engineers
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
2154 Land surveyors
2173 Software engineers
2173 Software designers
2175 Web designers and developers
3111 Psychiatrists
3215 Medical radiation technologists
3234 Paramedics
4151 Psychologists
4212 Social and community service workers
4214 Early childhood educators and assistants
3211 Medical laboratory technicians
3216 Medical sonographers
6331 Meat cutters
7201 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
7204 Contractors and supervisors, and carpentry trades
7311 Industrial mechanics
7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
7321 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics
7322 Motor vehicle body repairers
7237 Welders
7384 Recreating vehicle service
0822 Managers in horticulture
2225 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists