Overview: ESL Classes
If you're a permanent resident or a protected person, start with the free classes. The Government of Canada pays for language classes for newcomers. A local group that helps newcomers tests your level against the Canadian Language Benchmarks first. Quebec runs its own free French courses through Francisation Québec.
Private schools fill the gaps. They run fast-paced courses, exam prep, business English, and classes for people who can't get a funded place. The federal EduCanada site suggests picking a school accredited by Languages Canada, which checks teaching staff, courses and student services.
If a test is part of your immigration plan, pick the right one. Express Entry accepts CELPIP General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core, and IELTS Academic won't count. A general class won't drill you on test format. An exam class won't do much for your nerves at the bank counter either.
Our listings show what each language school states on its own website. The province and city lists below lead to English schools in your area.
Cost of English classes in Canada
Compare live teaching hours and the full amount you must pay, including enrolment fees. First check whether you qualify for funded newcomer classes; paid general English and IELTS preparation serve different goals.
| Class or program | Estimated price and payment unit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| General English and private lessonsWeekly rates require enrolment; package rows show the full package tuition. | ||
| Part-time group English | C$250–C$330per study week, about 14–15 taught hoursWeekly tuition within enrolment; minimum study periods vary. Confirm the required weeks and the full amount due. | Check the exact teaching minutes and timetable. Ask which registration, book and insurance charges sit outside the weekly tuition. |
| Intensive group English | C$285–C$480per study week, about 21–25 taught hoursSome schools require at least two weeks. Confirm minimum enrolment, the full tuition total and required extras. | Check taught hours, class size and placement level. Ask whether scheduled self-study has been included in the advertised hours. |
| Private English lesson rate | C$45–C$70per student, per 60-minute lesson, in person or live onlinePublished hourly lesson rate; minimum booking varies. Ten-hour packages are priced separately below. | Check that the rate buys a full teaching hour, what feedback and materials are included, and whether your goal needs a specialist. |
| 10-hour private English package | C$400–C$550per student, total for 10 × 60-minute lessonsPurchase all ten hours. Payment schedules and refund terms vary. | Check the expiry date, cancellation rules and flexibility to change teachers. Ask whether registration, books or assessments are additional. |
| IELTS preparationThese prices are for IELTS. Choose the exact test and version you need before comparing preparation courses. Full course tuition for 16–24 taught hours. Registration and books may be extra; the official IELTS test is a separate purchase. | ||
| Group IELTS preparation course | C$250–C$400per student, total for 4 weeks: 8 × 2–3-hour classes | Check the IELTS version, entry level and total teaching hours. Ask how much marked writing and speaking feedback is included. |
What affects the total?
- School lessons may last 45, 50 or 60 minutes; compare actual taught hours.
- Minimum enrolment, registration, books and required insurance can increase the first payment.
- Private feedback, class size and timetable intensity affect the amount of teaching you receive.
Before you book
- How many taught hours and students are in each week, and is the course in person or live online?
- What is the minimum enrolment and complete amount due, including registration, books and any required insurance?
- Can I change level or timetable, and what refund or credit applies if I leave early?
Budget tip
Confirm funded-class eligibility, assessment and available places before paying privately. For paid study, compare the total for the required enrolment period.
Other options
For live online groups, compare scheduled teaching hours, time zones and the whole required term. Recorded apps and self-study access are separate products.
These are tuition budgets for paid study. Funded newcomer classes depend on eligibility, assessment and local availability; IELTS course fees are separate from official test fees.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out my level?
If you're heading for a funded class, a newcomer organization arranges an assessment against the Canadian Language Benchmarks, and you're placed from that. Private schools run their own placement tests, usually a written part and a short conversation. Don't argue your way into a higher class. Sitting in a room where you understand nothing is the quickest way to stop going.
Do I need an exam course?
Only if someone is asking you for a score. For Express Entry, IRCC accepts CELPIP General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core in English. IELTS Academic isn't on that list, and people do book the wrong one. If no application depends on a test, a general class will build your English faster than drilling question types.
Can I get English classes for free?
If you're a permanent resident or a protected person, you may qualify. Government of Canada funded classes cost you nothing. A local newcomer organization confirms your eligibility, arranges the assessment and points you to a class with a place. Classes follow the Canadian Language Benchmarks, and you get a certificate when you finish a level. In Quebec, the free provincial courses teach French through Francisation Québec. Ask before you pay a private school.
What should teachers be qualified in?
A recognized certificate in teaching English to adults, not just fluency and a degree. In Ontario, funded newcomer programs typically ask for TESL Ontario's OCELT certification, though each employer and its funder set the actual hiring rules. Private schools vary more, so ask what the teachers hold and how long they've taught. Explaining a tense to someone whose language doesn't have one is the real job.
Will my class certificate help with citizenship?
It can. Most adult citizenship applicants have to prove they can speak and listen in English or French at a basic level. IRCC accepts a few kinds of proof. A certificate from certain funded language training counts. So does a result from an approved test, or a diploma from school or college taught in English or French. Use IRCC's online questionnaire first, because an application without accepted proof can be sent back.
Are there classes for children and teenagers?
School boards usually give English help to school-age children, and private schools run junior classes apart from adults. If a teenager joins an adult evening class, ask how it's supervised. The school decides whether staff need a vulnerable sector check, which adds a search for pardoned sexual offences to a police check. Ask whether its teachers have one.
