What:

• Improved English to strengthen open more work and professional opportunities, broaden education choices and strengthen community connections
• FREE LINC / ESL classes for eligible students
• English Language Classes for Literacy and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 1-8 taught by TESL certified teachers
• Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking for English Language Learners at all CLB levels
• Portfolio-based language assessment (PBLA) where real-world task-based learning determines CLB level progress
• Licensed Child Care and Care for Newcomer Children available
• In-person classes and limited online classes are offered at the locations stated for students CLB literacy to Level 8

Who:

Adults (18+ years) who’s English has been assessed at any Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level and is a Convention Refugee, Refugee Claimant or Permanent Resident, or Landed Immigrant or Canadian Citizen not born in Canada and English is not your first language.

When:

September to June (school year)

• Monday ‒ Thursday at 8:45am‒11:45am/ Friday at 10:00am‒11:45am (mornings)
• Monday ‒ Thursday at 12:30pm‒3:00pm/ Friday at 12:30pm‒2:00pm (afternoons)
• Tuesday & Wednesday at 6:30pm‒8:30pm (evening).

Summer school for ESL

• July 2‒26, 2024
• Monday ‒ Friday
• Visit website in April for class schedules.

Registration:

Contact the YMCA Language Assessment Centre for a FREE language assessment. They will tell you your CLB benchmark numbers.

• (519) 579-9622
• intake@ytr.ymca.ca
• Once English language assessment is completed, register online at the location that the YMCA directs you to register with. St. Louis will contact students as soon as possible when the online registration form is completed.

Where:

St. Louis—Kitchener Main Campus

• (LINC – ALL CLB levels - Day only / ESL evening)
• 80 Young Street (behind Kitchener City Hall)

St. Louis—Kitchener St. Mary’s Campus

• (ESL – Day only)
• 77 Young Street (across the street from 80 Young Street)

St. Louis—Kitchener St. Francis Campus

• (LINC & ESL – Literacy to CLB 7 - Day only)
• 154 Gatewood Road (corner of Blueridge Road West & Queen’s Boulevard)

Highland Baptist Church—Kitchener

• (LINC – Literacy to CLB 4 ‒ mornings only)
• 135 Highland Road West (near St. Mary’s Hospital)

Online—contact ESL for details

Ask For:

esl.stlouis@wcdsb.ca
(519) 745-1201
ESL—ext. 229
LINC—ext. 400

What:

• Provincially-funded English as a Second Language program
• Offer Classes from Foundational (ESL) Literacy to Canadian Language Benchmark 8
• Classes are offered in-person and online

Who:

Learner must be 18+ years or a graduate of secondary school; must have a first language that is other than English; must be residing in Canada as a naturalized Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, Convention Refugee or Refugee Claimant, or have arrived through the Live-in Caregiver program or Canada-Ukraine Authorization For Emergency Travel. Must first have a language assessment at Immigrant Services Guelph-Wellington.

A tuition fee must be paid by those residing in Ontario as a temporary resident, as a visitor, on a study permit or work permit. Not all programs are open to temporary residents. Some exceptions for work permits may apply.

When:

September ‒ June

• Monday ‒ Friday at 9:25am‒11:40am
• Monday ‒ Friday at 12:30pm‒2:45pm
• Monday ‒ Thursday at 4:00pm‒5:45pm
• Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:45pm‒9:00pm
• Classes are offered in July and August. Please contact us for days and times.

Where:

St. George’s Centre for ESL
21 King Street (all times)

Tytler Centre
131 Ontario Street (mornings)

Wellington Centre for Continuing Education
1428 Gordon Street (mornings)

Ask For:

Sheila Nicholas—Program Administrator, ESL and LINC Programs
sheila.nicholas@ugdsb.on.ca
(519) 766-9551

What:

• Offer Classes from Foundational (ESL) Literacy to Canadian Language Benchmark 8
• Classes are offered in-person and online
• Childminding available for eligible clients enrolled in in-person classes in the morning and afternoon
• Federally funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Who:

Learner must be 18+ years or a graduate of secondary school; must have a first language that is other than English; must be residing in Canada as a Permanent Resident or Convention Refugee.
Must first have a language assessment at Immigrant Services Guelph–Wellington.

When:

September ‒ June

• Monday ‒ Friday at 9:25am‒11:40am
• Monday ‒ Friday at 12:30pm‒2:45pm
• Monday ‒ Thursday at 4:00pm‒5:45pm
• Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:45pm‒9:00pm
• Classes are offered in July and August. Please contact us for days and times.

Where:

St. George’s Centre—21 King Street (all times)

Tytler Centre—131 Ontario Street
(mornings)

Ask For:

Sheila Nicholas—Program Administrator, ESL and LINC Programs
sheila.nicholas@ugdsb.on.ca
(519) 766-9551

What:

Programs offered

• Language Assessment and Referral Services
• Community and School Settlement Services
• Community Connections

Who:

Adult Immigrants to Canada (18+ years)

When:

Cambridge

• Monday ‒ Thursday (in person and remote services) at 8:30am‒4:30pm
• Friday (remote only) at 8:30am‒12:00pm

Kitchener

• Monday ‒ Thursday (in person and remote services) at 8:30am‒4:30pm
• Friday (remote only) at 8:30am‒12:00pm

Stratford–Perth

• Monday ‒ Thursday (in person and remote services) at 8:30am‒4:30pm
• Friday (remote only) at 8:30am‒12:00pm

Where:

Cambridge—250 Hespeler Road

Kitchener—800 King Street West, 3rd floor**

Stratford-Perth —204 Downie Street**

Ask For:

Cambridge and Stratford–Perth
Marian Rozman—Immigrant Services Lead
newcomers@ytr.ymca.ca

Kitchener and Waterloo
Anna Schwarz—Immigrant Services Lead
newcomers@ytr.ymca.ca

To book a language skills assessment:
Call (519) 579-9622
or intake@ytr.ymca.ca