About Us

ISS Language and Career College of BC (LCC) delivers high quality English and Career programs for domestic and international students at affordable prices. LCC is a division of Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC), a non-profit organization that helps immigrants and refugees build their futures in Canada.

For almost 30 years, LCC has helped students meet their English and career goals.

Our focus is simple. We offer high-quality programs at reasonable prices.

Our Mission and Core Values

Delivering educational services; developing partnerships with local communities; promoting an integrated and equitable community.

Best Value

We are known as the best value school in Vancouver. It’s no surprise that almost 90% of our students learn about us through friends and by word of mouth.

Fun Environment

Nearly 2000 students study with us every year. Our school is a friendly and comfortable learning environment and a great place to make friends with people from around the world.

Flexible Schedules

We have full-time, part-time, evening classes.

Awesome Teachers

Our teachers are highly qualified and genuinely care about our students. We try our best to make sure our students get the best experience at LCC and in Vancouver. Each of our teachers has at least one university degree, a TESL certificate and years of teaching experience.

Accreditations

Quality and professionalism are very important to us. We are proud to be accredited by provincial and national governments as well as professional organizations.

LCC is designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education (View the Designation Certificate).

We also have an Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation from the Government of BC, and are a federally Designated Learning Institution (DLI), so we can host students needing a study permit (DLI # O19279658882).

Our ESL and TESOL programs are accredited by Languages Canada, and our TESOL program is also recognized by TESL Canada.

Meet the LCC Team

All LCC teachers have at least one university degree, teaching qualifications and years of experience. Many of our teachers have worked in other countries around the world in addition to their Canadian experience.

Bonnie So

Associate Director

 

Bonnie So is the first to admit that her pride in the ISS Language and Career College (LCC) – ISSofBC’s very successful social enterprise – goes deeper than merely professional.

“It has been so fulfilling to witness LCC grow from one class of 12 students to our current operation with over 2,000 students attending ESL, vocational and co-op programs each year,” says Bonnie, who was involved in the creation of the program in 1995.

“Having come to Canada from Hong Kong as an international student myself, I value and enjoy our multicultural clients and our diverse staff and volunteers,” says Bonnie, who has a Bachelor of Business Administration from York University and a Multicultural Settlement Certificate.

Under Bonnie’s management, LCC became a recognized college, earned accreditations from Languages Canada and the BC government (Private Training Institutions Branch), and was listed on the federal government’s Designated List of Institutions. LCC’s TESOL program is recognized by TESL Canada, the leading accreditation organization in Canada and one of the most highly-recognized in the world.

Arina Tanase

Senior Manager
She/Her
Arina is a dedicated educator with over 27 years of experience in teaching not only ESL but also vocational courses like Professional Communication and Marketing, International Business Management Skills, Leadership Preparation Diploma and TESOL.  She has a BA, an MA, and a TESL Canada Level 3 certificate. She loves working at LCC in a multicultural environment that emphasizes belonging, diversity and inclusion.  She believes that when we care about those around us and share a bit of our hearts and time with those who need us, we offer an example of what the world can become: a place for everyone to grow and thrive.

Paivi Kehler

Instructional Coordinator

Since moving to Canada in 1994, Paivi has taught all levels of ESL, TOEFL, IELTS, TESOL, Workplace English, International Business Management Skills and even keyboarding. She has a B.A. in English Philology with a minor in Swedish, International Trade certificates, management experience and TESL Canada certification. In her free time she likes to read, do crossword puzzles, and spend time on the Sunshine Coast with her family.

Zarina Khumlo

Co-op Coordinator

Zarina has over 20 years of corporate and teaching experience through working as a Soft Skills trainer, a Production Coordinator, and ESL Instructor. She worked in India and France before moving to Canada in 2018. Zarina speaks 6 languages including French and Hindi and she is currently trying to add Spanish to the list. Besides exploring different cuisines, she also loves playing music and board games with her family and friends.

Stephen Hansen

INSTRUCTOR

Stephen has been teaching ESL for over 20 years and has always loved the experiences that this career has given him. He first did his ESL training in Hamburg Germany, then taught in Vancouver. From 2011-2107 he and his wife lived in South Korea where he taught at one of the top Foreign Language High Schools. Since April 2021, Stephen has been teaching at LCC and has been teaching their vocational courses: Professional Communications and Marketing, International Business Management Skills, the Business Development Program, and the Global Tourism Diploma program. When he is not working at LCC, he loves spending time with his wife and two children and volunteering on the Children’s Organ Transplant Society board of directors.

Ryan Porter

Instructor

Born and raised in rural Ontario, Ryan moved to Vancouver in 2012. He has taught ESL and ESL-related courses since 2017. He likes to read biographies, play guitar, and go hiking around beautiful British Columbia. Ask him anything about The Beatles and he’ll know the answer!

Ljerka Anic

Instructor

Ljerka has worked at LCC for more than 15 years and has taught in many different programs including TOEFL Preparation, TESOL, Writing Skills, What’s on TV, and General English. She is also a mentor and Practicum Sponsor for LCC and VCC’s TESOL students. Ljerka has a BA in English and Literature, a VCC TESOL Diploma, and a TESOL Canada Professional Certificate Level 2. A firm believer that happy and relaxed students learn much better and faster, Ljerka herself finds relaxation in hobbies that include solving Sudoku puzzles; reading about science, history, and literature; and tackling big, fat grammar books!

Jason Florczak

Instructor

Jason received his Bachelor of Arts in the mid ’90s from Simon Fraser University, and continued there to complete a certificate in teaching ESL Linguistics. He worked at Vancouver English Centre in the late 90’s, and has been with LCC since then. Jason has taught literacy, Introductory and Intermediate Writing, Intensive English 4 & 6, and all levels of the General English Program. Jason loves having fun with his family, playing his guitar, and exploring the spectacular natural beauty of British Columbia.

Mary Cheng

Instructor

Mary graduated from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in Education and received a
professional certificate of qualification from the BC College of Teachers. She also obtained a certificate in Teaching
English to Speakers of Other Languages from Vancouver Community College. She has been teaching at LCC since
September 2019. She teaches General English, TALK303, and Writing Skills classes. Before teaching adults, she
worked for the Vancouver Board of Education and taught elementary and high school students. Besides teaching, she
enjoys travelling, playing the piano, and collecting miniatures, coins, and stamps.

Victor Bud

Instructor

Victor has been a teacher since 1997 and has worked with students of all ages and abilities. He has worked in Romania and the USA with preschool and elementary school children and students with special needs but, since moving to Canada in 2010, has been focusing on teaching ESL courses for adults, particularly IELTS and other test prep classes. He prefers his classes noisy and active and believes that if students are having fun, they become more involved in the learning process. On the weekends, Victor is actively involved with different language test centers and outside of work, he spends his time aquascaping, taking pictures or cooking.

Beverly Komukai

Instructor

Beverly graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1994 and has been teaching ESL continuously since then! She has taught in Japan and understands the joys and challenges of living in a new country. Beverly believes that students learn not only from the teacher but also from each other. She likes it when students interact with each other and ask questions. She often says, “No dictionaries!

Daniel Fagan

Instructor

Daniel has been a teacher at LCC since September 2019. He teaches Leadership. Daniel received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia in 2013 and his TESOL diploma in 2019. Before realizing his interest in teaching, Daniel worked in business and marketing where he had developed an aptitude for sales negotiations. Wanting instead to turn this ability toward more positive outcomes, he became interested in the settlement sector and ISSofBC. Daniel has travelled the world and is fluent in three languages. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with his wife.

Isabel Rodriguez

Instructor

Isabel has a master’s degree in English Teaching, holds a TESOL Diploma and has been an ESL teacher since 2015. She started her career as a lawyer before she decided to move to Vancouver to pursue her passion for teaching. In the past years, she’s also taught subjects related to Business Development and International Trade. Currently, she is teaching International Business Management Skills and General English at LCC. In her free time, Isabel enjoys singing, spending time with family and friends, and pairing a good book with a great cup of tea.