English for Living in Canada

You may be thinking of coming to Canada, or you may have already immigrated. If so, you may be wondering how Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) can help you as you settle into new routines and choose your future pathways.
 

Canadian Language Benchmarks can be a very useful tool as you settle, train, and work in Canada. The Canadian Language Benchmarks are used across Canada and can be used to: 

• help new immigrants. Many adult ESL programs in Canada use the Canadian Language Benchmarks. These help students and teachers understand what students need to do with English for daily life in Canada.
• understand skill levels for training and education.

CLB for Living in Canada

The key to successful living, studying and working in Canada often depends on your level of English or French.

If you would like information about French language benchmarks, visit our French site by clicking on Accueil.

In most of Canada your level of language will be described as a CLB level.      

Let’s take a look at how we can connect a language task to a benchmark…

Look at each benchmark example below. Answers are on the bottom of this page.

1. What Benchmark do you demonstrate when you meet with the teacher of your children?  
    
2. What Benchmark do you need to demonstrate if you want to take Early Childhood Education at a college? 
    
3. What Benchmark do you need to successfully work as a Pharmacist? Click here for the answer.  
   See answers below.

If you wish to apply to Career Bridge, a mentored Internship Program in Ontario (www.careeredge.com), you need to demonstrate 8/9  or higher CLB level.

As you can see, Canadian Language Benchmarks are used in many different situations by different organizations. If you are aware of your CLB level, you will know situations where you can be immediately successful and situations where you will need further language training before success comes. 
 

There are tools that you can use to self-assess your benchmark level. Click Self-Assessment for more information about these tools.

Remember this is a self-assessment. For a complete picture of your English language level, you need a formal assessment. For more information about finding an assessment centre click on Assessment Centres.

If you are coming to Canada to go to school, click on Training and Education in Canada for more information.

If you are planning to move to Canada or to work or you are are here and looking for work, get more information by clicking on Working in Canada.

If you are interested in finding out information about a specific province  on its economy, employment opportunities and learning English go to Provincial Information.  

Answers:
1.(Speaking/Listening 4)
2.(Listening 8, Speaking 8/9, Reading 8/9, Writing 8)

3.(Listening 8/9, Speaking 8/9, Reading 9/10, Writing 7/8)