Canada is an attractive destination for many people looking for job opportunities abroad and eager to live in the country of their dreams, and offers the Express Entry system, which is the immigration pathway most specifically designed to attract skilled professionals from all over the world, including the Latin American population; however, while the application process is fast, effective and efficient, it can also seem challenging for those who do not speak English or French, as both languages are a crucial factor in the success of your application to immigrate to Canada.

In this regard, we have prepared an article aimed at those who want to learn or improve their level of English or French that will guide them through the requirements and steps they must follow to apply, while highlighting the importance of being proficient in one or more languages.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is a system that opens the doors to immigrate to Canada and is based on a scoring method that evaluates candidates based on their age, education, work experience, language skills, among others. This system is used to select those candidates who are eligible for permanent residence in Canada. One element that will make a difference in your application is the knowledge of one or two of the country's official languages, English and French; in short, English or French is required for Express Entry.

What are the basic requirements for Express Entry?

The three basic requirements that an Express Entry applicant must meet are detailed below:

• You must be eligible, Express Entry takes into account the main evaluation factors, such as age (young candidates get more points), education (must be equivalent to a Canadian degree), and work experience (minimum work experience is required).
• You must undergo an evaluation of your credentials, You may be required to have your educational credentials evaluated by an organization designated by the Canadian government to ensure that your education is up to Canadian standards.
• You must take a language test, the evaluation of your skills in English or French is fundamental to obtain a significant amount of points in the Express Entry, so you must demonstrate your skills in a recognized exam, such as the IELTS or the CELPIP (English) or the TEF (French). These tests assess listening, reading, writing and speaking skills.

The importance of languages in applying for Express Entry

Your language test score can be a deciding factor in your application. Canada highly values skills in English or French, as these languages are essential for communication in everyday life and in the workplace. Here are some compelling reasons to become proficient in Canada's official languages:

• Gives you more points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Your score on the language test will directly affect your CRS score. A higher test score will increase your chances of being selected in the lottery.
• Promotes employability. Most employers in Canada require English or French skills, so the better your proficiency in these languages, the more viable it will be to find employment in your field.
• It favors adaptation. Living in Canada without knowing the official languages can make your stay in Canada a real conflict to express yourself and make yourself understood at work, at the university or in any environment. Undoubtedly, learning the local language will facilitate your adaptation to Canadian society.

Steps to learn English or French

If you don't have English or French skills yet and don't know where to start learning, Planeta Immiland recommends taking classes without thinking too much about it, we can all speak a second language, so it's time to:

• Search for language courses in your area or online. Many institutions offer English and French classes for beginners in a short period of time, with convenient and affordable schedules.
• Study on your own. Take advantage of online resources; there are language apps and books to improve your skills.
• Practice regularly aloud or with other people who are also learning; you can encourage basic conversation with native speakers or fellow learners to lose the fear of speaking the language. Constant practice is key to improvement.
• Take the language test. Once you feel ready, schedule a date and take the official language test to obtain a valid score.

 In summary, although the Express Entry process in Canada promotes orderly, legal and rapid migration to the country, it must also be recognized that this system is a challenge for those who do not speak English or French, learning one of these languages is essential to increase your chances of success. Languages are not only important in your application, but also facilitate integration into Canadian society and potentially enhance your employability. 

In our academic experience teaching languages, we have found that in a period of three months students learn the language, but remember that the best method is a combination of your commitment and discipline along with the excellent preparation of instructors, robust teaching material and the utmost commitment to demonstrate a desire to excel and the ability to cross the language border. If you are considering immigrating to Canada, then do not underestimate the importance of mastering English or French!

At Planeta Immiland, we have certified teachers, our classes are live, which promotes the active participation of the students, we manage small groups of 10 people and they are very fun and didactic sessions, oh! and we have a conversation club that has helped thousands of students to lose the fear of conversing in English in front of other people. If you want to know a little bit about our club, click here.

With love,

Planet Immiland