Adult English as a Second Language – ESL

Generally, newcomers to Canada are eligible for language training at no cost. Eligibility must be verified when registering for a class.

To register in ESL or LINC programs you must:

• Be an adult, 18 years of age or older (if younger, with proof of high school completion from the country of origin).
• Be able to show proof of Ontario address.
• Have your language ability evaluated by a Language Assessment Centre. YMCA’s Language Assessment and Referral Centre (Y-LARC) provides immigrants with English or French language assessments for government-funded programs.

Eligible for FREE English As A Second Language (ESL) Training:

• Canadian Citizens (those born outside Canada who do not speak English as a first language).
• Permanent Residents.
• Convention Refugees/Protected Persons.
• Persons in Canada whose applications for Permanent Resident status are being processed in Canada, and who have been informed by a letter from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada of the initial approval of their application subject to an admissibility assessment.
• Refugee Claimants.
• Temporary residents with CUAET.
• Temporary Workers or Students who have obtained initial approval for a concurrent Application for Permanent Residence.
• Foreign Domestic Worker admitted under the Live-In Caregiver program.
• Provincial Nominee (or Dependant) approved through Opportunities Ontario.
• Temporary Foreign Worker (or Dependant) approved through Canadian Experience Class.

NOT eligible for the FREE ESL training:

• Diplomats.
• Visitors.
• International Students.
• Government Assisted Refugees (GARs).

NOT eligible for LINC training:

• Canadian citizens.
• Refugee claimants.
• Temporary residents (such as foreign students, foreign workers or visitors).