Learning English

You can choose from a variety of adult language training classes to help you develop the English language skills you will need to work and live in Halton.

To be eligible, you must be:

Someone whose first language is neither English or French
A Canadian citizen or
A permanent resident or
A convention refugee or
A refugee claimant or
An approved Provincial Nominee or
A foreign domestic worker admitted under the Live-In Caregiver Program

FREE language training instruction includes:

English as a Second Language (ESL) -Programs are designed for specific skill levels, groups of learners, and specific purposes.
Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) - Provides basic language skills. If you need specific language skills, you may want to consider a program that better fits your educational or career goals.
Enhanced Language Training (ELT) - Programs that provide job-specific, advanced level English training to adults. ELT is particularly useful for internationally-trained professionals.
Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) - Programs that help newcomers learn the job-specific vocabulary they need to work in their field. OSLT is particularly useful for internationally-trained professionals.

Language Assessment Centres

1. The first step: to begine your language training is a Language Assessment. A Language Assessment determins your level of English as a Second Language (ESL).

Language Assessment Centres – The First Step to Language Training

Funded by the Government of Canada, The Centre for Education and Training (TCET) Language Assessment Centres provide language assessments at no cost to newcomers who are interested in learning or improving their English.

2. The second step: following a Language Assessment, newcomers are provided with a range of training options and referrals to classes that meet their language learning needs.

Below is a list of organizations that provide English classes in the Halton community.

	HMC Connections offers valuable multiple level programs to newcomers. to newnewoNewcomers.
	Sheridan offers a variety of FREE programs and resources specific to immigrant education and job placement through Sheridan Centre for Internationally Trained Individuals (SCITI).
	The Centre for Skills Development & Training provides services at no cost for eligible newcomers in Halton.
	Thomas Merton’s Adult Language Programs offers Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), English as a Second Language (ESL) and and French as a Second Language (FSL).
	LINC Home Study is an English language training program for LINC eligible newcomers to Canada who cannot attend regular classes. The program is free and funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Online Tools 

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the national standards used throughout Canada for describing, measuring and recognizing second language proficiency of adult immigrants and prospective immigrants for living and working in Canada.

Online self-assessment

Other Resources for Language Assessment:

Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks

www.language.ca is the main website
www.celban.org is the main website for the CELBAN (Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses) and the online CELBAN Readiness Self-Assessment
www.itsessential.ca is the website for information and resources about the Canadian Language Benchmarks and the Essential Skills for the Workplace
elearning.language.ca is the website for CCLB's Online Professional Development resources and the Work Ready: CLB Resource Kit for Counselling and Hiring

Language Tests:

​​​Learning English

Learning English