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TIES Offers Advanced English Language Classes Helping Advance Opportunities

News

TIES (The Immigrant Education Society) is offering new, higher-level English language classes to better help clients find suitable employment.

“We need to contribute, we need to do something for the community, for those folks,” TIES Chief Programs Officer Suman Khanal said.

“So, we decided to offer higher-level language classes. These aim to enhance student’s language comprehension, their writing, reading, and speaking skills so that they can better fit in jobs or in the community.”

The LEAP (Language Excellence for Advancement and Progress) classes come with a minimal fee of $400 per semester for permanent residents. Khanal said TIES is covering most of the costs associated with the new program.

“We are charging a minimal fee to cover at least the expenses. We need to understand that there are administrative costs, utilities, etc. That's all been subsidized by TIES.”

Federal Funding Cuts to Language Classes

IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) announced in 2025 that it would be phasing out its Stage 2 LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) classes starting September 2026.

LINC classes up to CLB 4 (Canadian Language Benchmarks) are still free for newcomers, but anything above — is not.

Settlement agencies worry not having advanced classes could affect newcomers getting professional jobs.

“There are so many professionals who have technical skills, professional careers back home,” Khanal pointed out.

“However, they are trapped because of their language comprehension.”

“CLB 4 can get students by in daily lives,” LEAP instructor Crystal Chan added.

“They can go grocery shopping, maybe talk to the teller at the bank — basic stuff. But if they're trying to have a successful life here in Canada, I think career is a really, really big part of it. And CLB 4 is not going to get them through interviews successfully.”

Investing in the Future

Divina Murrieta arrived in Canada from Mexico three-and-a-half years ago with a master's degree. She would like to continue her post-secondary studies here to become a professional accountant but said her language skills are holding her back.

“I started speaking English in Mexico, and I thought, ‘I have a good English,’” she said. “But I realized that I need a better English for getting into colleges.”

She’s okay paying a small fee to get the skills she needs.

“I'm completely okay with that because I really need it. Also, the quote is very low compared to other colleges or universities.”

Classmate Leticia Martinez is also in the same boat. Also from Mexico, she was studying chemical engineering there. She wants to get her accreditation here but also needs to improve her English skills.

“So now I am pursuing improvement, to improve my English, because I need to have at least a level eight,” she said.

“I’m fine paying a fee because that works for me. It’s a good investment — it’s an investment for my future.”

Leaping Into the Future

LEAP hopes to help students enhance their technical skills, as well as their reading, writing, and speaking comprehension.

“I have a really eager group of adult students,” Crystal Chan said. “We have a pool of very strong students from a diverse background and understanding of Canadian culture.”

“What I do in class is I get them to speak together and share their strengths. So, every minute of the lesson is filled with questions and laughter.”

The students will get a certificate of completion once they’re done the program.

Suman Khanal said it’s not a guarantee that they will find better opportunities – but hopefully it’s a start.

“Our intention is we want them to excel when they interview with employers,” he pointed out. “We want them to excel when they are working there. We want them to get that promotion. We want them to be able to contribute to the community.”