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Study In Canada | Understanding Ontario High School Courses - English, ESL, ELD

Updated: Apr 20, 2023


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Students, who study in Ontario, Canada, will take the English Placement Test once they register for high school, they will be placed into an appropriate English class according to their placement test. For students who are not native in English, they are usually placed into the English as a Second Language (ESL) Course or English Literacy Development (ELD) Course, there are five levels for each course, which are A, B, C, D, E Levels.



English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD)


After entering Ontario schools, English language learners receive support in one of the following two distinct programs designed to meet their language learning needs and/or to help them develop the literacy skills they need in order to continue their education and participate fully in life in Ontario:


English as a Second Language (ESL) programs are intended for students whose first language is a language other than English or is a variety of English significantly different from that used for instruction in Ontario schools. Students in these programs have age-appropriate first-language literacy skills and educational backgrounds.


English Literacy Development (ELD) programs are intended for students whose first language is a language other than English or is a variety of English significantly different from that used for instruction in Ontario schools.



Pathways to English Courses in Ontario, Canada


The chart below shows how most English language learners may progress through their English as a Second Language (ESL)* and/or English Literacy Development (ELD)* courses and into English courses. Not all students will follow this sequence exactly, and individual students may vary in the rate at which they progress through the levels. How students transition from ESL/ELD courses to English courses varies based on age, future aspirations and a variety of other considerations.



Pathways to English Chart



*Please Note: Not all schools are able to offer all of the courses from the ESL/ELD courses. Home schools are responsible for providing accommodation/modifications to support language needs.


ELDAO --> ELDBO --> ELDCO --> ELDDO --> ELDEO --> ENGDCC OR ENG1P/2P OR ENG3E/4E


ELDEO --> ESLDO


ESLAO --> ESLBO --> ESLCO --> ESLDO --> ESLEO


ESLDO --> ENG1P/1D OR ENG2P/2D OR ENG3E/4E

ESLEO --> ENG3U/3C OR ENG4U/4C


Did you know?

  • Students may substitute up to THREE (3) ESL or ELD courses for compulsory English credit requirements.

  • Most ESL/ELD students graduate at the same time as their peers.


Canadian universities will exempt students from the English Proficiency Tests according to the length of time the students study in Canada. The requirements for each university and major are different. However, some universities clearly state that they do not count the length of tome for studying ESL, so students study in Canada need to pay attention to this policy.



English Courses Planning in Ontario, Canada


Different high schools in Ontario, Canada have different lengths of semesters, which are 2, 3, 4 or 5 months per semester. The duration and quality of teaching are strictly in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education, students will take different number of subjects per semester.


For example: Student A entered the school with 5 months per semester. If he wants to finish his ESL courses faster and then enter regular English courses, one of the options is that he can study the ESL courses in other schools after school.

This option has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that the ESL credit course can be completed as soon as possible, but the disadvantage is that it will increase the workload of students and the student's study time will be longer.


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Let's take a look at the length of time to study English for a semester, starting with ESLBO:


ESLBO → ESLCO →ESLDO → ESLEO/ Grade 10 English ENG2D → Grade 11 English ENG3U → Grade 12 English ENG4U


5 months/semester: Sep → Feb → Jul → Sep → Feb → Jul

(With studying summer courses, students need to spend 2 years to completed all English courses)

5 months/semester: Sep → Feb → Sep → Feb → Sep → Feb

(Without studying summer courses, students need to spend 3 years to completed all English courses)

3 months/semester: Sep → Dec → Mar → Jun → Sep → Dec

(With studying summer courses, students need to spend 1 year and 3 months to completed all English courses)

3 months/semester: Sep → Dec → Mar → Sep → Dec → Mar

(Without studying summer courses, students need to spend 1.5 years to completed all English courses)

2 months/semester: Sep → Nov → Jan → Mar → May → Jul

(With studying summer courses, students need to spend 1 year to completed all English courses)

2 months/semester: Sep → Nov → Jan → Mar → May → Sep

(Without studying summer courses, students need to spend 1 year and 2 months to completed all English courses)



Photo: kf4851@GettyImages


An English teacher plays a very important role, if student meets a good English teacher, he will become more confident and grow in English learning environment. The role of our Maple Study Link academic planning consultants are arranging the suitable learning methods for each students effectively and appropriately according to their learning ability and situation.


Learning English is learning a language, which requires students to communicate with the teacher. Some students feel shy to speak in the big group of students in class. At this time, the small class will be more suitable for them, since the teacher will take care of every student and encourage them to speak more in a small-sized class. Some students even better by taking English classes one-on-one, depends on the situation of students. I have seen some students who have improved a lot in English at the end of the English class and have reached IELTS 7 points.


Maple Study Link academic consultants can help students who is studying in Canada to help for course selection, create a personalized study plan, and provide tracking services. To ensure that students can complete the Ontario secondary school courses in Canada on time, obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), and progress to the ideal institutes and career.

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