English courses in Canada

Cost of language courses in Canada

*number of lessons per week

Types of language courses in Canada

More about the types of language courses

The most common courses are General English, Semi-Intensive English, and Intensive English, which can be found at almost every language school. These are standard programs for learning a language, without additional features. They differ from each other only in the cost and number of hours per week.

One-to-One — individual courses that are expensive but effective. The curriculum for these courses is completely flexible, with the topics of the lessons being discussed in advance with the teacher.

Exam preparation — this type of program includes preparation for the IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge international language exams. Such courses are aimed at those students who already know the language at the B1-B2 level, but are not confident enough in their abilities. On average, students with a B2 level (55-74) improve their results by 10 points over the course of 8 weeks, and students with C1 (75-91) — by 5^[3].

Academic English — in this course, students memorize complex academic vocabulary and terms, learning to understand and correctly build sentences in a scholastic format. In addition, many schools conduct similar programs in conjunction with universities. Students not only study the language, but also attend standard classes at universities.

Business courses / English for Work — business English courses for those who want to work abroad. You will master professional vocabulary, learn how to write resumes and pass interviews, and practice participating in meetings and conferences. This type of program can also include English for Specific Purposes — business English for specialties in specific areas: medicine, law, programming, and so on.

Pathway — a course that is similar to Academic English in many ways. Students learn academic vocabulary and grammar, prepare for university studies and exams, and attend university classes in their future field. This program has one advantage that has made it one of the most sought after among students — the opportunity to enroll at a university without language certificates. However, this is only available at partner universities of the language school, so we recommend finding out about them in advance.

Summer / Winter / Spring — short (3-5 weeks) seasonal programs, common among teenagers from 8 to 17 years old. There are joint programs for children and parents, and separate programs for adults. Students of such programs visit attractions, museums, theaters, and go shopping, camping, and rafting.

Courses at Canadian universities

English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP) is available at many Canadian universities. This is similar to the Pathway program, but with a more flexible system than typical preparatory programs.

You can enter these courses even with basic English skills^[4]. Usually, the program is divided into 5-9 levels lasting from 8 weeks. With a more advanced level, you not only study the language, but also go to lectures and seminars in order to adapt to the university environment.

At the end of the EAP program, you can enter a university without international language proficiency certificates, but only where you took the course.

Also, universities have Foundation programs that are designed for applicants who do not pass the language and grade requirements. These are fixed annual programs that prepare students for university studies. Here, they cover not only the language, but also subjects from the curriculum for the future field of study. A B1 level of English is required for admission, but not at all universities. More details can be found in this article.

Universities also have standard language courses, such as General English, Business, and Summer / Spring programs. However, fewer of them exist than at private language schools. Professional English is more common for legal, medical, technical, and other specialties. Universities also offer preparation for IELTS and TOEFL exams.

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Additional expenses

Visa for language courses in Canada

To enter Canada, you will need one of two documents, depending on the duration of the course:

• Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for courses less than 6 months in duration. It is equivalent to a tourist visa. The review period will take about 14-30 days. The registration cost is 72 USD.
• Study Permit for long-term courses (longer than 6 months). If the application is approved, a visitor’s visa will be issued along with this document. The review period is about 4 weeks. The registration cost is 115 USD.

Regardless of the visa type, you must first enroll in a language school and pay the full cost of the course. The school will send you an invitation letter that needs to be brought to the visa center or submitted on the immigration office website along with the rest of the documents. For both application forms, you will need to submit biometric data and undergo a medical examination after processing the application.

If you wish to apply online, you must register for a secure IRCC account. It is used to access immigration websites of the Canadian government. With this account, you can apply for a visa, monitor its status, and update your personal data.

You can register by creating a new account or logging in using a Canadian partner bank.

Required documents

• Consular fee payment receipt
• Original passport
• Two photographs 3.5x4.5 cm in size on a white background
• Proof of financial solvency
• Course payment confirmation
• Invitation letter from a language school

You may be invited for an interview at the consulate. They will ask questions about your purpose for visiting and the presence of property or close relatives in the country. You must prove your firm intention to return to your home country after completing courses in Canada, otherwise you may be denied a visa. A certificate of employment with a description of income and property documents may come in handy, but verbal assurance that you have no intention of immigrating to Canada is usually sufficient.

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