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ESL Open Learning Centre

Are you learning English as a second language? We’re here to support you. The ESL Open Learning Centre offers free one-on-one or small group sessions for Glendon students. You’ll have the opportunity to improve your listening, reading, writing and speaking skills alongside a friendly, experienced language facilitator. Get support to better understand your assignments, expand your vocabulary and practise English grammar. While we don’t provide editing or proofreading services, you will gain life-long learning strategies to help you meet many of the challenges commonly faced by English language learners during their academic studies.

Our Services


As a Glendon student, you can access free one-on-one or small group sessions to practise all aspects of English with a professional teacher. In addition to this, we occasionally offer workshops on helpful topics aimed at helping you hone your academic English skills. Such topics may include and are not limited to engaging with your audience during oral presentations, as well as editing and proofreading academic essays.

To sign up for a session, click here to access Glendon's Writing Centre's booking system and select a time that works for you.

Hours

Glendon ESL Open Learning Centre

Glendon College, York University
York Hall, A118
2275 Bayview Ave.
Toronto, ON M4N 3M6

416 736 2100

416 736 2100

Office Hours

Monday: 12 PM - 2 PM ( in-person )
Tuesday: 4 PM - 6 PM (remote via Zoom)
Thursday: 12 PM - 3 PM (remote via Zoom)
Friday: 3 PM - 6 PM  (remote via Zoom)

Student Recruitment & Applicant Relations

Domestic applicants: liaison@glendon.yorku.ca

International applicants: international@glendon.yorku.ca

416-487-6710

Prof. Marlon Valencia
mvalen@glendon.yorku.ca
416-736-2100 x 88390

Meet Our Staff

Marlon Valencia

Marlon Valencia

ESL Open Learning Centre Director

Marlon was born and raised in Cali, Colombia, where he got his language teaching degree from Universidad del Valle in 2004. Soon after completing his teacher education program, he was awarded a visiting professorship at Spokane Falls Community College in Washington State. This experience stimulated his interest in the varied cultural traditions of Spanish speaking countries and their rich literary contributions. Marlon taught Spanish for two years at Washington State University, where he did his M.A. in Foreign Languages and Cultures. After finishing this degree, Marlon and his wife came to Toronto in 2008. In Toronto, Marlon completed his M.A. in Applied Linguistics at York University and his doctoral studies in Language and Literacies Education at the University of Toronto.

Marlon was a lecturer at Ryerson University where he taught a course titled Language and identity for several years. More recently he was a Professor of ESL at Sheridan College, where he also served as student advisor and acting coordinator

Marlon and his wife are raising two plurilingual children so their family interactions happen in English, French, and Spanish.

Last, but not least, Marlon is passionate about photography. You can see some of his photographs on Instagram.

Blessing Ogunyemi

Tutor

Hello there! My name is Blessing. I also go by the name Ebukun /e-bu-kun/. I hold a bachelor's degree in English Language from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria (2015), and a master's degree in literature-in-English from the same university in 2022.

My work explores and interrogates the complexities of being and belonging through multiple fields of study. Currently, I am a first-year Ph.D. student at the School of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, York University, where I am furthering my research in Queer Studies and Feminism.

Additionally, I have 5+ years of experience teaching ESL, EFL, and Creative Writing and providing academic support.

Blessing's hours for 2023-2024:

Monday: 12 PM - 2 PM (in-person)
Tuesday: 4 PM - 6 PM (remote via Zoom)
Thursday: 12 PM - 3 PM (remote via Zoom)
Friday: 3 PM - 6 PM (remote via Zoom)

Coming soon!


You’ll be able to visit our ESL Café to practice your English language conversational skills in an informal and relaxing atmosphere. You may also take exciting and informative workshops on topics as varied as classroom language, becoming an effective presenter, note-taking, and many more. Visit our page often for updates!

Events

Get involved in activities at the centre to further expand your English and put it into practice. Check out the latest happenings.

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