1 best language schools in Toronto, Ontario 2025 - 3 yo

Toronto's English schools, including GEOS Languages Plus, Embassy English, and the European Centre, uphold high educational standards, affirmed by their Languages Canada accreditation. ILAC International English Language Academy, also accredited by Languages Canada, boasts additional recognitions like ALTO, British Columbia EQA, and several prestigious awards. This academy is an accredited center for IELTS and TOEFL exams, highlighting its commitment to excellence.

Laura Galindo

Marketing Director

What are the most important factors parents should consider when choosing a school?

That the school views their students as individuals instead of cash flow. Unfortunately, there are institutions whose main priority is to sell their programs and lose sight that this is a big step for the students and their families. Embarking on a new journey in a new country can be frightening, so having the support of the staff members and students will be vital to a successful studying-abroad experience. 

Toronto’s schools offer a range of English educational programs:

• General Courses: Available in standard and intensive formats, suited for all proficiency levels from A1 to C2, each session lasting 45-50 minutes.

• Mini Course: A shorter option with 10 sessions of 45 minutes each.

• Individual Sessions: Tailored to individual needs, offering 5 to 10 daily lessons, each 45 minutes long.

• Spoken English: Split into standard and intensive options, suitable for B1 learners.

• Long-Term Options: Ideal for those planning university enrollment or cultural immersion, varying from 11 weeks to a year, starting at 20 sessions weekly.

• Business English: Aims to enhance business communication, with varied intensity and levels, also offered as long-term courses.

• Exam Preparation: For IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge exams like ESOL, FCE, and CAE, with durations ranging from 2 to 12 weeks.

• Pre-University Prep: A comprehensive course over 8 weeks, starting from the Pre-Advanced level, sans TOEFL/IELTS.

These schools offer an array of extracurricular activities: visits to theaters, museums, galleries, participation in music events, engaging in winter sports, and excursions to Lake Ontario, CN Tower, City Zoo, Royal Museum, Ontario Science Centre, St. Lawrence Market, along with trips to Niagara Falls. These activities enhance language skills and cultural immersion.

• Host Family Stays: Immersive cultural experiences in single or double rooms, generally with full-board meals and essential amenities.

• Student Apartments: Single or double rooms with self-catering facilities, including kitchen, TV, refrigerator, and optional free internet.

• Residences: Well-equipped facilities with laundry, phone access, common relaxation areas, and internet connectivity.

Tuition varies based on program length, type, and accommodation, starting from 275 CAD (education only). Additional costs include registration (150 CAD), transfers, and medical insurance.

Wide Variety of Programs
There are over 225 certified language schools in the country, 29 of which are part of large international networks.

Value for Money  
All accredited language courses meet strict global quality standards. The average cost of a weekly course ranges from CAD 200 to 350.

Multiculturalism  
Canadians consider themselves immigrants or descendants of immigrants—they welcome all foreigners and refer to newcomers as "newly minted Canadians." By 2020, more than half a million international students were studying in Canada, with around 60% planning to become permanent residents.

Visas  
You can apply for a Canadian visa online: simply open an account with IRCC and submit all the necessary documents.

Work Opportunities
Students enrolled in both long-term and short-term courses can work up to 20 hours per week.

Small Groups  
The number of students per course is limited to 15.

Directly through the school.
Overall, the enrollment process is not difficult, especially compared to enrolling in a university abroad. In this case, you pay the school directly without any intermediary fees. However, it's important to understand that when searching on your own, there's a risk of choosing a non-accredited school and having your visa denied. Due to language barriers, you may also face challenges communicating with school representatives, understanding cancellation and refund policies, and adding all necessary options.

Through an agency.  
By contacting a study abroad specialist, students receive a selection of guaranteed accredited language schools with good reputations and student recommendations. The agency will handle all questions without requiring any effort from the student and will take care of all document processing. Agencies often receive discounts from schools for their clients.

Private language schools in Toronto can differ significantly in the content of their programs, so it’s important to choose carefully.

The first step in searching for a language school is selecting a school based on the student’s preferences: studying English or French.
The location of the school is also a key factor: language schools can be found in both major city areas and small, picturesque suburbs. When choosing a study location, it’s important to consider the safety of the area, transportation accessibility, proximity to the city center, and the availability of housing and attractions of interest to the student.

• Learning materials and methods

Some institutions focus primarily on conversational clubs, which may not be ideal for those looking to improve their basic grammar. In this case, textbooks become important. Good schools use the latest editions of books from well-known publishers—they are not cheap but reflect all the nuances of a fast-evolving language.

• Teachers

In some schools, students can choose their teacher before starting classes or switch if something isn’t working. However, when selecting a school, it’s important to review teacher profiles—pedagogical and/or linguistic education, work experience, native speaker status, professional achievements (e.g., authorship of learning materials), and certificates of advanced training are all factors that can give you a better idea of what to expect from the course.

• Student’s initial level

The higher the level, the more time is needed to make progress. Therefore, when choosing a school, it’s important to check if it offers courses of sufficient duration and intensity to achieve the required level of proficiency.

• Extracurricular activities

Language courses typically occupy only half of the day unless it’s an intensive course. Schools usually organize leisure activities for students themselves: excursions, theater and cinema visits, nature trips, outings to neighboring cities, games, and competitions—all of which combine relaxation with language practice. If a student is new to the country or still has weak language skills, they will feel much more comfortable in the company of their classmates.

• Accreditation and student reviews help provide insights about the language school from both professionals and students who have already studied there. If relatives or friends have studied abroad, their opinions can also be valuable. Reviews and accreditation serve as an additional guarantee of education quality: countries are reluctant to issue visas to schools without government accreditation. Remember that highly ranked and popular schools may charge higher fees.

First, check the accreditation of the language school: this is an important requirement for obtaining a visa, as well as a quality indicator. There is an official list of 225 accredited language schools in Canada. All schools undergo strict evaluation according to international standards, including:

- Services,  
- Faculty,  
- Curriculum,  
- Marketing,  
- Administration,  
- Student admissions.

The application process begins with submitting the necessary documents: an application form, passport, payment receipts for tuition and fees. Many schools require a deposit. All documents can be attached to the online application or sent by mail. After registration, the school will send you an email invitation to apply for a visa.

For university courses, the registration process is similar to that of private language schools. Only some advanced programs (Pathways, EAP) require an additional certificate confirming your current level of English.

Many Canadian universities offer English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs, which are similar to Pathways programs but more flexible than typical university preparatory programs.

It is not mandatory to have basic knowledge of English for admission. These programs usually last 8 weeks and consist of 5 to 9 levels. As you progress to higher levels, you not only study the language but also attend university, participate in lectures and seminars about future careers, and adapt to the university environment. After completing the EAP, you can be admitted to the university where you finished the course without needing an international language certificate.

Universities also offer traditional foundation programs for applicants who do not meet language or academic requirements. These are fixed one-year programs that prepare you for university admission. In these programs, you study not only languages but also subjects related to your future professional program. To be admitted to the university, you typically need an English proficiency level of B1, though this requirement varies by university.

Universities may also offer general language courses in Toronto: general English, business English, summer and spring programs, though these are not as common as in public schools. More specialized English courses are offered for legal, medical, technical, and other professions. Additionally, there are preparation courses for IELTS and TOEFL exams.

To enter Canada, a student will need to provide one of two required documents, according to the length of your course.

• A Temporary Resident Permit (TRV) for courses that are less than 6 months long. This is the equivalent of a tourist visa. It takes approximately 14-30 days to process. And it costs from $74.
• Work Permit for longer courses (6 months or more). If your application is approved, you can get a work permit with this document. The processing time is about 4 weeks. The fee for this document is about $118.

Regardless of your visa category, you must first enroll in a language school and pay the full tuition fee. The language school will send a letter of invitation. You must submit it along with other documents to the visa center or submit through the website of the immigration service. Once your application has been processed, you will need to provide your biometric and medical details, regardless of the form of application.

To apply online, you will need to register for a secure IRCC account, which is used to access the Canadian government's immigration website. You can use the account to apply for a visa, check your visa status and update your personal information.

There are two ways to open an account: create a new one or log in through a Canadian partner bank. Attach proof of payment for the consular fee, along with the following:

- Passport,  
- Two photographs (3.5x4.5 cm on a white background),  
- Proof of financial solvency,  
- Proof of tuition payment,  
- Invitation letter for studying in Canada from the educational institution.

You may be invited for an interview at the consulate. You will be asked questions about the purpose of your visit, your assets, and any relatives in Canada. You must prove that you intend to return to your home country after completing your studies in Canada; otherwise, your visa application may be denied. Employment certificates confirming income and property ownership are welcome, but usually, a verbal assurance that you do not plan to immigrate to Canada is sufficient.

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