Written by Yvanna Sol

Unlike some states in the neighboring United States, whose Spanish-speaking foreign population has managed to gain spaces such as California, Texas and Florida, generating a very Latin linguistic interculturality that even allows them to insert themselves into the social environment of the country, as happens, for example, in Hialeah, Florida, whose majority language is Spanish, Canada preserves to a great extent the quality and management of its two languages, controlling that the rest of the languages are only spoken in the privacy of family and friends. 

The IRCC has several immigration routes that emphasize the category of French proficiency and awards important points to Express Entry candidates who are fluent in English.

It is for this reason that our language school with a migration focus for Canada, Planeta Immiland, constantly generates information about the importance of learning English and French and leading them to the highest scores in recognized tests, such as the IELTS and the TEF, for example. In this article, we will give some tips to improve your immigration profile thanks to the language and thus increase your chances of success in the coveted visa to study or work in this beautiful and welcoming country.

 What immigration profile is Canada looking for?

Migration profile in Canada is equivalent to say: foreigner of interest, or not, to contribute to the economic and socio-cultural growth of the country.The government needs skilled labor and well-trained professionals that add quality and not quantity; that is why there are several immigration plans. Aspects such as economic funds, roots to their country of origin, work experience and academic professional training are highly valued when the foreigner aims at the top because he meets the profile that Canada is looking for, but all the above is useless if he only speaks Spanish and barely knows a few words of English and none of French. This profile does not count for Canada.

French is important, but English is fundamental

Roughly speaking, more than 80% of the Canadian population, native or not, communicates in English.More than 80% of the Canadian population, native or not, communicates in English, which means that it is necessary to learn it in order to adapt to the environment and to be taken into account by the government when applying for a study or work visa. The other percentage, for the most part, corresponds to French.

To improve your migratory profile, start by accepting that you must dedicate a good part of your day to assimilate this new language or to level it up and take it to the next level. 

Advantages of improving your migration profile through language skills

The main advantages of improving your English and French language skills if you want to travel to Canada lie in the fact that:

• You can get a job that matches your skills and experience.
• You have the opportunity to obtain a post-secondary education.
• It has easy access to the country's services.
• You can help your children with homework, especially if they are just adjusting to the new change.
• You have the opportunity to meet and interact with the people of Canada, instead of being isolated because you don't know how to communicate.
• You have a good chance of passing the language requirement for citizenship; this is the ultimate goal, the language will help you if you put your mind to it.

Tips to improve your language skills for immigration purposes

The language in Canada is key, that is why you must learn it from the beginning of your immigration plan, improve it, level it and prove it with the recognized tests.

• If you are self-taught, you can start from scratch by listening to your environment in English and/or French from day one to incorporate the new language into your life. It will take time, but you will learn it if you are consistent and study it.
• If you prefer to be accompanied by a bilingual teacher, then enroll in a classroom or online course as soon as possible, it will take you a little time, but you will learn it if you comply with the assignments and the methodology of the curriculum.
• Take any free test that allows you to identify your level of English and/or French, so you will know the evaluation and its real criteria to determine that your level is low, intermediate or high and you will be able to make informed decisions to start your language preparation.
• Know the formats and characteristics of the recognized language tests, for example, the IELTS, the CELPIP, the TEF, among others, so you will be familiar when taking the test and that will help you to be confident for a favorable score. 
• Before taking these tests, it is good that you take a course that brings you closer to the type of test you should take according to your needs, i.e. if you are going to emigrate for study, then you should take the Academic IELTS and not the general IELTS. Each internationally recognized language test has its target, you should know in which one to place yourself.

At Planeta Immiland, we offer an English for immigration purposes course that focuses on preparing the student to meet the language requirements of the Express Entry system; it is called English 4 Express Entry and it is designed so that in 18 weeks the student acquires the fundamental English skills with special emphasis on reaching the required proficiency levels for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), this is the internationally recognized test that gives you the score of the level you have in this language, either to emigrate as a worker or as a student. Also, we have French courses, such as the Mobilité Francophone and others. Discover them here.

With love,

Planet Immiland