New to Canada

The ESL summer brochure of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) just came out and here is the good news for English language learners in Toronto this summer! You can attend summer  ESL (English as a second language) classes between July 2-26, 2013.

The choice of classes during the summer is more limited that the rest of the year, but there are still 23 locations spread across the city that you can attend ESL classes, while enjoying summer. Download the pdf version of the Adult ESL Summer Program 2013 brochure. (At the end of summer - check your local library for the next ESL brochure with the busy Fall class schedule by TDSB.)

To register:

• Simply go to the ESL location of your choice on the first day of class.
• Remember to bring a proof of residency in Canada.

Please note that those classes are FREE for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, convention refugees, refugee claimants, Live-in Caregiver program participants, Canadian experience class participants, provincial nominees. All adults, 18 years and older, are welcome. "Visitors" to Canada can attend classes for $7 per hour.

For any questions about these ESL classes - contact the TDSB ESL program: www.ESLtoronto.ca or 416-338-4300. The Toronto Catholic School Board (TCDSB)  - another public school board in the city may be offering free  ESL classes in the summer - for more information: 416-397-6600 or www.tcdsb.org/adulted.

If you prefer to study from the comfort of your home or on your mobile devide, especially during one of those hottest and most humid summer days in Toronto - why not try the online ESL courses offered by MANGO? With your free Toronto Public Library card - you can login to Mango at any time. Then choose between a "basic" and "complete" ESL course.

Mango offers customized ESL courses for fifteen languages! These are: ESL Spanish, ESL Brazilian Portuguese, ESL French, ESL Russian, ESL Mandarin, ESL Cantonese, ESL Italian, ESL Arabic, ESL Japanese, ESL Vietnamese, ESL Polish, ESL Korean, ESL Greek, ESL German, and ESL Turkish.

How to find the "Mango" database at the library? Visit the Toronto Public library's website and simply type "MANGO" in the search box, then click on the Mango icon and enter your library card number.

  Watch this "Getting a library card" video,  TPL's youtube channel.

Have you just arrived in Canada? Visit a library near you to obtain your free library card so you can start borrowing free ESL books, CDs and so much more, right away. Just remember to bring an ID and proof of address in Toronto (such as a bill or rental lease). If you don't have a document yet with your new Toronto address - library staff can mail to you a library postcard that you can bring back, confirming your address.

Toronto's libraries are open all summer long and are air-conditioned (so helpful in the hot humid days  of July)! They have welcoming spaces and staff, and are usually located nearby (98 busy branches to choose from, and a bookmobile!).  

Each library branch has some ESL materials on the shelf,  and many more can ne requested from the website catalogue. The largest ESL centre is at the Toronto Reference Library. For more on that, read our previous post: Learning English at Toronto Reference Library: The largest ESL collection in Toronto.

How to find more summer ESL classes in the community:

•  Call 211 or search the 211Toronto website for ongoing ESL classes (and other community resources) offered by newcomer agencies.

• Use the ESL class search on Ontario Immigration's website.

• Talk to a summer LSP settlement worker at 20 branches of Toronto Public Library. They provide information for newcomers, including ESL.

• Just arrived in Canada? Visit a YMCA Language Assessment and Referral Centre to get your English language tested and be referred to the appropriate class level (book your appointment with the YMCA assessment hotline at 416-925-546).