Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
Free English language training offered funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The federal government works closely with provincial governments, school boards, community colleges and immigrant-serving organizations to provide this service. Childminding is offered.
Eligibility:To be eligible for LINC classes a person must be:
- 18 years or older
- A permanent resident OR
- A convention refugee OR
- A protected person as defined in Section 95 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- First assessed at a language assessment centre (through the YMCA assessment centres in Toronto or at a Welcome Centre in York Region).
Focus: English language training focused on speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Levels: LINC Literacy to LINC 7 LevelsDelivering Agencies:
- School boards (TDSB, TCDSB, YRDSB)
- Community-based agencies (immigrant-serving organizations)
- Community colleges – Centennial College and Seneca College offer LINC classes
- Welcome Centres
- The Centre for Education and Training in Mississauga delivers the Home Study Program (detailed in the next section).
Supports: Childminding
The LINC Home Study program is open to adults who meet the following criteria:
- Of legal school leaving age within their province or territory
- Permanent residents who have not acquired Canadian citizenship OR persons approved in principle for permanent resident status OR Convention Refugees OR protected persons as defined in Section 95 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
- Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) score of at least 3 for listening and speaking and 2 for reading and writing
- Cannot attend regular English language classes for reasons such as:
- Work scheduling conflicts
- Illness
- Disability
- Lack of child care
- Maternity
- Lack of transportation
- Lack of regular LINC classes in the area
Note – A person cannot attend government funded, classroom-based English language training at the same time as LINC Home Study.
Home Study students may take the course online or through correspondence. Both options feature a weekly phone conversation between teacher and student. The program is delivered by Centre for Education and Training.
LINC Home Study Eligibility: The LINC Home Study program is open to adults who meet the following criteria:- Meet the general LINC eligibility criteria noted above
- Must have been assessed at a language assessment centre
- Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) score of at least 3 for listening and speaking and 2 for reading and writing
- Cannot attend regular English language classes for reasons such as:
- Work scheduling conflicts
- Illness; disability
- Lack of child care
- Maternity
- Lack of transportation
- Lack of regular LINC classes in the area
Note – A person cannot attend government funded, classroom-based English language training at the same time as LINC Home Study. Suitability for Home Study:
The LINC Home Study program is best suited for adults who can:- Be self-motivated and willing to take charge of their own learning
- Study independently for 5 to 7 hours each week
- Attend a 30 minute lesson with a teacher by phone/Skype each week
- Commit to completing homework assignments