ESL and LINC

French as a Second Language

Essential Skills Training

ESL for Hospital Volunteers

To attend fully online classes, please check the Technical Requirements before registering.

Our ESL courses range from Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 1 to 8, and address the needs of learners who want to improve or perfect their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

Naturalized Canadian citizens, permanent residents, refugee claimants and convention refugees whose first language is not English, 18 years or older, or those admitted as domestic workers under the Live-in Caregiver program are eligible.

English as a Second Language (ESL) is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD).

All Ukrainian temporary residents and their dependents in Canada are deemed eligible persons for our programs until March 31, 2025.

LINC courses help learners achieve English proficiency (CLB levels 1-8) and offer practical information about life and culture in Canada.

Permanent residents and convention refugees, 18 years or older, are eligible. (LINC courses are not open to Naturalized Canadian citizens and refugee claimants).

All Ukrainian temporary residents and their dependents in Canada are deemed eligible persons for our programs until March 31, 2025.

We do not offer classes for visitors.

To register for our classes, you must have a valid assessment from the YMCA.

Visit the YMCA website to book an assessment today.

To register for in-person classes, please visit the site of your choice during class hours.

Remember to bring picture ID. Space is available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Waitlisted students will be contacted by staff as soon as space is available. All general classes have continuous intake throughout the semester.

To register for our online classes, please email the contact person for the site you wish to attend.

For our locations, classes and contact information, please refer to our List of Locations.

Our staff will be able to assist you with the registration process, or present you with other available class options.

Please check the Technical Requirements before registering for online classes.

Students referred to online classes will receive an invitation email within one week of referral. If you do not receive a class invitation, please email your site’s administrator. Waitlisted students will be contacted by staff as soon as space is available. All general online classes have continuous intake throughout the semester.

Our program offers LINC transportation assistance for eligible clients.

Some locations offer free LINC Care for Newcomer Children (CNC) for children (19 months to 72 months old) of parents or legal guardians attending daytime classes in the same building.

All of our childcare staff are qualified Early Childhood Educators. Please visit each Adult Education Program CNC Sites profile​ for further information such as age groups, address and telephone number.

Language Instructions to Newcomers to Canada (LINC) is funded by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada.