Written by Gabriela Estrada

Finding a bilingual floor cleaner is unusual in our Spanish-speaking countries. This important job often does not even require knowledge of grammar or writing, and although this is not necessarily the case, there are those who relate it to a low academic level, since it is a job that anyone can do. However, in countries like Canada things change, it turns out that here you can find foreign floor cleaners who speak native Spanish, English and even French very well. Being a floor cleaner in Canada can lead to permanent residency, but you must qualify for it, and speaking the official language of the country is one of the key points in this.

In this article, you will learn the minimum level of English or French required by a foreigner in Canada to do this job or any other similar job, for example, as a shelf-stacker, janitor, waiter, field worker, etc., i.e. entry-level occupations, which are highly valued by the government and the country in general.

How much should I speak English or French while cleaning floors?

I'm sure you are asking yourself this question, and the reality is that not much, this task is done mostly in silence, but to get the job you had to have gone through an interview process, which in turn must have included the development of your resume in English or French, in addition to having qualified for an immigration program in Canada, so here's the answer, to work as a floor cleaner you must speak English or French, although, of course, not at an advanced level because your duties do not warrant it.

According to the government language scales, the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) (for English) and the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) (for French), the minimum language level required for this position in Canada is CLB 4, which indicates a basic but fluent, friendly and easily attainable command of the language.

In these entry-level occupations, the foreign employee must be able to express in English or French, depending on the province, basic information about his duties, as well as any needs that arise, for example, requesting his employer to buy more supplies or notifying him that he has completed his assignment and is ready for a new one, etc., all spoken in short but continuous sentences. If you were to write any requirements, you would probably experience difficulties with grammar, vocabulary, verb tenses, and grammatical structures, but these trades are more about practice than intellectual process, so there is not much you need to write.

What language tests does Canada accept to prove your level of English and/or French as a floor cleaner?

At Planeta Immiland, our language school with a migration focus, we constantly receive this concern, since this being an officially bilingual country and, in addition, very demanding in terms of academic and work preparation of its immigrants, many think that demonstrating a CLB 4 language score in international language recognition tests, such as IELTS or TCF, will not favor them, which is false, since, precisely, these are the tests that must be presented, even for these entry-level positions. The following are mentioned below:

• IELTS General: for entry-level occupations, you still you must demonstrate your minimum level of English. This test is used for immigration procedures and is accepted for Express Entry applications, provincial nomination programs, to show to employers, and you must prepare to achieve a required score. If you achieve a level higher than the minimum CLB, so much the better.
• Celpip General: this test evaluates the test taker's listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills in English and is officially and is officially designated for permanent residence applications by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and is accepted for professional designations.
• The TEF: The Test d'évaluation de français (TEF) is an international benchmark test that measures your level of French. It is recognized by the Federal Government of Canada and the Quebec Ministry of Diversity and Inclusion, it is ideal for those who wish to immigrate to Canada.

• The TCF: the Test de connaissance du français (TCF) is a language level test for non-native speakers of French. It is administered by the Centre International d'Études Pédagogiques (CIEP) of the French Ministry of Education. It can be used to demonstrate linguistic ability in job applications or for personal use, it is also used by Canada or Quebec for immigration procedures. Read more here.

So far we share this valuable information that will surely lead you to clarify your immigration plan for this prosperous, cordial and possible country, because from the minimum level CLB 4 to the highest, every foreigner with desire to improve himself manages to guarantee his maintenance by temporarily occupying basic positions that perhaps he did not imagine, but the reward is more than encouraging, since achieving legal stability in one of the best countries in the world to live is a goal full of privileges. Study Canadian English and French every day and aim for permanent residency.

If you wish to achieve this goal with our language school, Planeta Immiland, write us in this form and we will be happy to help you with whatever you need. You can explore the courses for immigration purposes IELTS Preparation, Celpip Preparation, Mobilité francophone, English 4 Express Entry.

With love,

Planet Immiland