Adult learning: English as a second language
For immigrants and refugees looking to improve their English.
About the program
School boards located across Ontario provide language training classes. You can take beginner, intermediate and advanced-level classes.
Learning options
- in class
- online
Schedule options
- part-time or full-time
- daytime and evening
- Monday to Friday and weekends
Program length
- The length varies. You can start and end at different times. You can take as many courses as needed to reach your goals.
Eligibility
You must be a resident of Ontario. You must also be one of the following:
- naturalized Canadian citizen
- permanent resident
- protected person (including Convention refugee)
- refugee claimant
- provincial nominee approved through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
- person admitted under a federal caregiver program with a path to permanent residency
You may also be eligible for other federal government programs such as language training for your job.
This program might be good for you if you:
- are an immigrant or a refugee and English is not your first language
- came to Canada as an immigrant or a refugee and English is not your first language
- want to improve your English skills to better communicate in your everyday life
- need to improve your English skills to find a job or go to school
- need to prepare for an English test such as the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Program cost
This program is free.
Note: Service providers may charge a small fee for materials.
How to register
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Contact your nearest language assessment centre to get an assessment of your language skills in English or French. These centres are also known as CLARS Centres, which stands for Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral System Centre.
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Once you receive the results of the assessment, you will be given a list of programs for which you are eligible that you can choose from.
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Register for the course you want to take.
Language assessment centres
| Organization | Address |
|---|---|
| YMCA of Greater Toronto (Etobicoke North) | Etobicoke YMCA Employment and Immigrant Services 83 - 1530 Albion Road, Toronto, ON M9V 5H4 |
| YMCA of Greater Toronto (Scarborough North) | Scarborough Milner YMCA Employment and Immigrant Services 600 - 10 Milner Business Court, Scarborough, ON M1B 3C6 |
| YMCA of Greater Toronto (Toronto Centre) | Central YMCA 20 Grosvenor Street, third floor, Toronto, ON M4Y 2V5 |
| YMCA of Greater Toronto (York Centre) | North York YMCA Employment and Immigrant Services 4580 Dufferin Street, second floor, North York, ON M3H 5Y2 Language.test@ymcagta.org |
| YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford (Hamilton) | YMCA Immigrant & Employment Services 25 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8P 1H6 |
| YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford (Stoney Creek) | YMCA Immigrant & Settlement Services Stoney Creek 211 Centennial Parkway North, Stoney Creek, ON L8E 1H8 |
| YMCA of Niagara (St. Catharines) | YMCA Employment and Immigrant Services 285 Bunting Road, St. Catharines, ON L2M 7T9 |
| YMCA of Niagara (Thorold) | YMCA Employment and Immigrant Services 9 Pine Street North, Thorold, ON L2V 4J6 |
| YMCA of Niagara (Niagara Falls) | YMCA Employment and Immigrant Services 8123 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls, ON L2H 1H3 |
| YMCA of Three Rivers - Waterloo Region (Kitchener) | 800 King Street West, Kitchener, ON N2G 1E8 intake@ytr.ymca.ca |
| YMCA of Three Rivers - Waterloo Region (Cambridge) | 250 Hespler Road, Cambridge, ON N1R 3H3 intake@ytr.ymca.ca |
| YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region - Central | 308 - 240 Catherine Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 2G8 |
| YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region - West | 1642 Merivale Road, Second Floor (Merivale Mall), Ottawa, ON, K2G 4A1 |
Other types of language training
Other types of language training may be available to you based on your areas of interest or need.
Learn more about:
- What to do to prepare for language training before you arrive in Ontario
- Language training for your job
- Language classes to prepare for your education
- Language programs for children and youth
- Government of Canada language classes
Learn more about other services for newcomers