To come or to live

The question "how fluent my English or French should be" must not be asked irrelatively of context. Anyone who is intending to immigrate to Canada should clearly understand, that immigration visa in his passport is not the end of the process, but the beginning of it.

In fact, two questions should be asked: "how good my language must be to enter Canada as an immigrant" and "how good it should be to establish my life in this country".

Language requirements as an immigration prerequisite

As it usually happens, the most suitable immigration program often involves either approved test or another form of language assessment. It is not just a coincidence, but a strategy: for most of the applicants sufficient skills in one of the official languages will be essential to live and work successfully in Canada. Only limited categories of newcomers can establish themselves with just a basic language skills, such as successfull businessmen possessing huge savings to invest in Canada, world class sportsmen and so on.

Usually language requirements are reasonable enough for everybody: even those who have never studied the language can reach the minimum level through hardworking and continuous training. A very motivated person can gain high score on a test after 1,5 to 2 years of intensive studies - the term comparable to the one during which applications for permanent residence are usually processed.

For a person with some background in English or French it will be even easier to reach the necessary level, but certain amount of training may be required anyway.

Language as a key to successfull living

It is a mistake to think that once your language is good enough to earn necessary points on a test or otherwise convince an immigration officer to issue a visa, it is also good enough to feel yourself comfortably in Canada. To the contrary, lot of newcomers become depressed when they for the first time try to participate in a conversation after landing in Canada. Language test and real life are two very different things. Though Canada is a multi-cultural country and various flavours of all languages are spoken here, it does not make communicating much easier.

In fact, almost nobody's language is good enough. There are lot of people living in Canada for years but still attending language courses to improve their language - this is because language is another critical requirement next to professionalism for establishing one's life in this country.

Of course there is another type people, who live in Canada also for years but do not speak English or French at all (just "yes", "no", and "excuse me" constitute their everyday dictionary). One does not need to explain that such people are severely limited in everything - from going to movies to building successfull careers, and this is an example of how vitally important language is.

Quick language self-assessment

Usual question addressed to the newcomers on immigration-related forums is "how good is your language there ?", asked in many languages, mostly different  from English or French. This question gives no rest to almost all soon-to-be newcomers, and one can find lot of different answers.

While trying to estimate own language skills, one should take into account his or her personal qualities, such as sociality and gift for languages. There is no use in  just believing authors who write something like "my English appears to be good enough - I've took a taxi from the airport and found hotel wihout any problem" or "be prepared to the worst - nobody here can understand me !". Every particular case is very personal; don't make a mistake extrapolating other's cases to your situation.

Try to assess your real language profeciency by asking yourself questions like these (let's say it is English):

• How difficult for me is writing a short note in English ? A formal letter ? A reply in the English Internet forum ?
• How good was my previous experience in communicating with native language speakers ? Was it very difficult for me to speak and understand during conversations, or to write and read while exchanging messages ?
• How did native speakers comment on my language ? How often did they ask me to repeat or restate ?
• How do I read books in English ? Am I trying to mentally translate English into my native language or the meaning is quite clear for me in English ?
• How often do I use dictionaries and translators ? How often do I encounter unknown English words ? Can I recall last words I had to look up in the dictionary ?
• Do I always need subtitles when watching movies in English ? How much can I understand without them ?
• Did it take me much efforts to study English ? Do I find this language very difficult to learn ?
• Can I think in English for some time ? Is it very difficult for me ?
• Did I clearly understand everyting in this article ?

One must always keep in mind that others' language experience should be counted only taking into consideration own abilities to communicate and develop language skills. There is no universal advice for everybody - one can upgrade and adapt his or her language on the fly during short conversations, while others find it extremely difficult to develop their language skills rapidly.

Language improvement tips

It is always a good idea to have as much language practice as possible before entering Canada as a new immigrant. There are a variety of improvement methods ranging from expensive and time-consuming to completely free and easy. Here are some general ideas about how to use time effectively to improve language skills: 

• Register for the goode language training course.
• Find an active English or French Internet forum where you can socialize with people on interesting toipcs, and just do it.
• Read more English or French books. A good idea is to find your favorite book (the one you know very well) translated into English or French - it'll be either a pleasure and a benefit to read such book again in another language. With the familiar book you'll also save some time browsing through dictionaries and will learn new words on the fly.
• Get some audiobooks also. Download them to your portable MP3 player, burn them to your car CDs, listen to them wherever and whenever you can. Again, the method with good old book translated into English or French works very effectively.
• Watch more movies on English or French. You may find it convenient at first time to have subtitles enabled. Subscribe to interesting English or French TV channels if possible.
• Find friends who wish to improve their language also. Try to communicate in English or French either personally or via emails, IM etc.
• Use the opportunity to read English or French part of various user's manuals berofe you skip to the one written in your native language.
• Find the lyrics of your favourite English or French music - try to follow the text while listening.
• Switch user interfaces of all software installed on your PC to the language you wish to perfect. Do this with menus of your iPODs, cameras etc.
• Don't miss any opportunity to communicate in English or French.