Express Entry Draws: In the past few months, Express Entry has started doing tailored category-based draws for federal candidates who meet Canada’s economic and demographic goals. One of these groups of candidates for 2023 is people who can speak French.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already held targeted draws for this group. They invited candidates who spoke French well and held draws with much lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores than other category-based selection draws and all-program Express Entry draws. It is very important to know about the top reasons for rejection in Canadian Express Entry applications
Because of this, many people in Canada and around the world are learning French to improve their chances of getting an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR) in Canada. We’ve put together resources for people inside and outside of Canada, as well as ways that these materials can be used to learn a language.
How does a person learn a language?
Stephen Krashen, an American linguist and educational researcher, says that there are five steps to learning a second language:
Stage 1: Be quiet and listen.
Depending on the user, this stage can last anywhere from a few hours to a few months. During this time, people who are learning a new language usually learn new things and practice how to say them. Even though they may talk to themselves in the language, they usually don’t speak it well or understand it.
Stage 2: Making things happen
During this stage, which can last up to six months, most language learners can understand up to 1,000 words. They might also learn to say a few words and make short sentences, even if the grammar isn’t perfect.
Stage 3: First sounds of speech
By this point, most students have learned up to 3,000 words and can use them to interact by putting them into short phrases, sentences, and questions. Again, they may not be right from a grammatical point of view, but this is an important step for learning to understand and start reading and writing in a second language.
Stage 4: Fluency is getting better
At this stage, which can last up to a year or more after speech starts to come out, pupils usually know up to 6,000 words. Most of the time, they learn to write and speak in longer, more complicated lines. At this important time, learners also start to think in their second language, which helps them get better at speaking it.
Stage 5: Language growth continues and advanced fluency is reached
Most people need at least two years to get to this point, and then another five to ten years to fully understand a second language with all of its subtleties and complexities. To stay fluent in their new language, people who are learning it as a second language need to talk and write in it on a regular basis.
Note that many of the times given here are averages that can vary a lot based on the person and how much they use the language.
Help for people who live outside of Canada
People who don’t live in Canada can learn French with the help of a number of online tools. Here are a few of the most common choices:
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is an online service that helps people learn languages. It has its own app, speech recognition technology, and short lessons. Its interactive method helps people in the first and second stages of learning a language get better at understanding and speaking.
The site is great for learning new words and practicing how to say them. Rosetta Stone does cost money, but it has different price plans that make learning a language cheap.
Babbe
Babbel is an app that helps you learn a language by focusing on useful words and language learning. The app tries to show information in a way that lets you learn a language better by repeating it. The app also has real-life conversations, vocabulary, and useful topics that are needed for stages one, two, and three of learning a language.
Busuu
Busuu is a free online tool and app that is all about practicing with other people. The service does help with simple words and sentences, but what makes Busuu stand out is its network of people who speak the language and live practice sessions.
Because of these features, Busuu is a great app for learners in stages 3, 4, and 5 who want lessons they can take with them and use to strengthen their language skills.
Preply
Preply is an online tool that helps people who want to learn a new language find tutors who can teach that language. In some cases, they even offer trial sessions. The site lets users choose from a number of filters, and it can even help them find teachers who have experience with certain learning needs, like studying for an immigration language test.
Due to the way the learning process is set up, Preply can be used by people at any stage of learning a language.
Italki
Like Preply, Italki is an online platform that helps tutors and language learners meet with each other. Italki also has a lot of filters that users can use to find teachers. These filters include price, time, and the need to learn a language.
Many teachers on the platform also have experience with approved immigration language tests, but the prices vary from tutor to tutor. Italki can be used at any point in learning a language.
Help for people who are already in Canada
All of the above tools will also be open to candidates in Canada, but those who are already there can also use the following:
Support from the government: Provincial and local governments can help temporary residents (people with school and work visas) learn a language for free. This can depend a lot on where a person lives and what the local government is in charge of.
To find out more, you should do a web search for organizations that help newcomers in your area and then get in touch with those organizations to see if you are eligible. Depending on which ways to learn a language are offered, these services may be able to help with all parts of the process.
Mauril—Mauril is a Canadian app that helps you learn a language in a unique way. The app focuses on voice and video from Canada to help users improve their ability to listen and understand. By having material about Canada, the app helps people in stages one, two, and four learn not only basic vocabulary and understanding but also more about Canadian culture and language nuances.
Part-time classes and continuing education—Many universities, colleges, and private companies in Canada also offer part-time courses for people who are already working or going to school full-time. You can find out what classes are offered in your area with a quick web search.
Even though this may be a more expensive option, depending on how many classes are given, these programs could cover all stages of learning a language, giving students a place to practice and improve their French skills with a group.
Summary on Express Entry Draws:
- Priority to French speakers
- Prompting language skill improvement.
- Online tools help
- Rosetta Stone, Babbel, Busuu, Preply, and Italki.
- Government support benefits.
- Diverse resources.
