Language schools in Canada
Canada is ideal for learning English and French because of the large variety of language schools and courses that allow international students to communicate with native speakers, improve their language skills and prepare them for North American universities. Language courses in Canada are available for people with any language level from beginner to advanced. Many of our partner schools also offer teacher certification courses and specialized programs for professional and corporate groups.
Courses come in individual as well as group format. Group courses are in great demand, because the group consists of students with the same level of proficiency from different countries. A great advantage of taking language courses in Canada, in addition to learning, is that language students have the opportunity to adapt to a new language environment and make new friends. Programs can last for as little as a week or as long as several months, depending on the initial and desired language level of the student. The length of the course, calculated in weeks, can be determined by the student, and the starting dates are often set by the language schools.
Reasons to study in Canadian language schools:
First, language courses in Canada are a great way to learn two languages at once, because English and French are the official languages in Canada. While Vancouver and Toronto are the most popular programs for those who choose to focus on learning English in Canada, French lovers will find first-rate language schools in Montreal (Quebec province).
Secondly, Canada is an amazingly beautiful and diverse country. Although the distances are long, Canada can be a real eye opener for those who choose to combine learning a language with a little traveling. Add to that the amazingly friendly atmosphere in Canadian cities towards foreigners, and you can truly enjoy living with a family while learning English or French.
Thirdly, language schools in Canada offer a wide variety of courses according to your needs and age.
Types of language schools (courses):
General Language Courses.
General language courses are offered to students with a basic (elementary) or intermediate level of language knowledge. They are most popular with tourists or school students who do not yet have a specific academic goal, such as passing a formal language test or applying to a Canadian university. If a student is planning to apply to Canada, but his level is not high enough to enter an academic program, he can study a few weeks of general language courses, and then transfer to an academic language program at the same school. The cost of general language courses in Canada is significantly lower than in many other countries and starts at 5 CAD per lesson.
Pathway program
Pathway is a language course in Canada that focuses on academic language learning (both oral and written), and prepares prospective students for university. During these courses, students learn how to write academic essays, spell and make presentations, and work as part of a team. Learning and successfully graduating from a language school that partners with a university makes it much easier and more likely that you will get in. In Pathway courses you can choose the intensity of the classes and the length of the course you wish to take. Depending on the school, the minimum length of the program can be 8 or 12 weeks, but sometimes students extend the course to reach the desired result.
IELTS, TOEFL, TEF exam preparation
To get into any Canadian university, an international student must pass one of the international exams in English (IELTS or TOEFL) or French (TEF). Also, after graduation, graduates will need to retake IELTS to immigrate to Canada. In some language schools in Canada, applicants can take special courses to prepare for one of these exams, practicing the skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing. The duration of such courses is usually 1 month.
Visa for language courses in Canada
In order to enter a Canadian language school, an international student must obtain a visa. The type of visa depends directly on the purpose of the trip and the duration of the applicant’s stay in Canada. Students in short-term programs need only obtain a Temporary Resident tourist visa, which entitles them to stay in Canada for up to 6 months. It takes about 15 days to process a tourist visa application.
Applicants who have decided to study in a language course in Canada for several semesters, an entire academic year, or more should consider applying for a temporary resident study visa. It is noteworthy that along with the student visa, the applicant must obtain a study permit, without which a Canadian visa is not granted. The note about obtaining study permit in Canada is put in the passport when going through the Canadian customs, and the visa itself is issued before departure. The processing time for a study visa is about 4 weeks.
Prices
Tuition prices depend on the city(language schools in Toronto are the expensive ones) and the program you choose. The average price for a 2 week Canadian language school course varies from 150 to 700 CAD.
Jobs While Studying in Canada
The foreigner can find a job on campus or off-campus. Such an opportunity is available to students in academic programs lasting more than 6 months (generally, students at Canadian universities). Canadian law allows international students to work part-time up to 20 hours per week, and full-time during vacation periods. Canadian university students do not need a work permit, but will need one after graduation to stay in the country to look for work. Trainees of language courses (programs up to 6 months) need to obtain a permit to work in Canada. You can do this online through the embassy’s website or submit a paper application. The processing time for citizens applying directly to Canada is about two weeks.