Language Training and Assessment

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)

The ANC offers English as a Second Language (ESL) training based on the federal Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) curriculum guidelines and the national standard Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).* Qualified instructors provide all instruction. On-site classes are offered at the ANC’s Adult ESL Training Centre in St. John’s and the ANC’s regional office in Corner Brook. Part-time instruction is also provided in the St. John’s area through the Itinerant Teacher Program, Online CLB (see below), and throughout the province via the Outreach ESL Tutor Program.

For more information, please contact:

St. John’s

Day classes:

Both full and part-time classes are offered at the Association’s Adult ESL Training Centre in St. John’s. Classes are open to permanent residents, Provincial Nominee (PNP), St. Pierre students and any specially designated status by Government.

Evening ESL classes:

English as a Second Language (Conversation) (ESL) classes are held every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night from 6-8 pm at the ESL Training Centre in St. John’s (148 Elizabeth Avenue). These classes are open to all newcomers.

For more information, please contact:

Corner Brook

Part-time classes are available with both day and evening schedules. Classes are open to all. Please contact the Corner Brook Regional Office for more information.

Contact us for more information

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) standard is a descriptive scale of language ability in English as a Second Language (ESL) written as 12 benchmarks or reference points along a continuum from basic to advanced.
Learn more on the CLB website.

Outreach Tutor Program

The Centre’s Outreach Tutor Program offers part-time ESL instruction throughout the province for eligible clients outside the St. John’s and Corner Brook areas. Qualified tutors provide instruction in repeatable 50-hour blocks delivered according to a schedule agreed upon by the client and instructor. This program is open to all newcomers.

For more information, please contact:

LINC Home Study Program

The LINC Home Study Program is a distance English as a Second Language (ESL) program offered to eligible immigrants who wish to improve their English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

In addition to individual online work, participants have access to an instructor certified by TESL (Teachers of English as a Second Language) for one half-hour per week.

Online CLB Program

This is for eligible clients throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who cannot attend on-site ESL training. The Online CLB Program provides part-time ESL instruction for 25 hours per month. The program is designed for clients who have achieved Level 3 and higher. Instruction takes place online according to the schedule of the client and instructor.

For more information, please contact:

CELPIP and CAEL

The ESL Training Centre is a designated site for the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General and LS (Listening and Speaking) and the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) assessments.

Click here to register on the CAEL website to complete the CAEL assessment.

Click here to register on the CELPIP website to complete the CELPIP assessment.

For more information, please contact the ESL Training Centre.

Assessment

Placement in all language levels is based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT). The Adult Training Centre is the only certified CLB assessment centre in the province. It provides English language assessment for eligible clients on-site in St. John’s (for permanent residents only) and through remote assessment at its Corner Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor regional offices (for permanent residents, international students, temporary foreign workers, and their spouses).

The Centre is also a designated site for the CELPIP and CAEL assessments. Both are offered regularly.

For information on all ESL programs and assessments in St. John’s, contact the ANC Adult ESL Training Centre, 148 Elizabeth Avenue.

For information on programs outside the St. John’s metropolitan area, contact the nearest satellite office.

Childcare Services

The ANC offers on-site provincially-licensed childcare services to eligible immigrants enrolled in classes at the ESL Training Centre in St. John’s (148 Elizabeth Avenue).

Transportation

The Association for New Canadians (ANC) introduced a new transportation policy, effective June 3, 2024, to better align services with current resources and ensure support for those most in need. Newfoundland and Labrador is unique in providing transportation for newcomer students to attend language instruction classes. However, due to the growing demand for ridership, the new policy has been streamlined to prioritize eligibility and efficiency.

Under the new policy, transportation is available to full-time LINC students (attending classes five days per week) who are in their first year of language classes, live 2 km or more from the school, and do not have access to a personal or family vehicle. The new transportation plan involves a centralized pick-up model, with designated stops located along public transit routes for greater efficiency.

Special exceptions will be made for students with mobility challenges, seniors, and other case-by-case needs. ANC is committed to supporting affected clients by providing clear information, individualized assistance, and resources such as a Google site with detailed pick-up locations and schedules. This policy change reflects ANC’s mission to empower newcomers while maintaining transportation access for as many eligible students as possible.