If you are preparing to move to Canada, learning English may be high on your list of priorities. You may already be looking at language classes and discovering that many programs are available online. Digital skills are also an important part of everyday life in Canada. We use technology to communicate, access services, make appointments, complete forms and connect with our communities.
But what if you are also new to using computers?
For someone who is learning English, tasks like joining a video call, opening an email link, remembering a password or navigating an online classroom can feel like an extra language of their own. The good news is that you do not need to be a technology expert before you can benefit from online English classes.
With the right support, learners can build their English and digital skills at the same time. Just like any new skill, it takes time and practice. You don’t need advanced digital skills to start! Basic tasks like opening an email, clicking a Zoom link, turning on a microphone or logging into an online classroom can be taught gradually. These skills are also frequently included as learning tasks in Canadian English classes.
Online English classes build more than language skills. In class, students have a chance to practise English while developing digital skills they’ll use elsewhere in Canadian life: communicating by text or email, completing online forms, using video calls, finding information online and accessing community services.
And mistakes are part of learning. You might forget a password, click the wrong button or have trouble with your microphone. That’s okay. Each time you solve a small technology problem, you are building skills and confidence that you can use again.
Before choosing an online program, newcomers can ask whether there is an orientation, help with technology, beginner-level instruction, or support when something goes wrong. Technology can feel intimidating at first, but your language teachers understand that you are learning many new skills at once. They are there to support you and want to see you succeed.
In British Columbia, there are many options for learning English. The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) offers LINC Online, a federally funded language program that provides free online beginner English classes for eligible newcomers in BC. Our staff help new learners through registration, orientation, and language and digital learning. Our goal is to help newcomers build the skills and confidence they need to thrive in their new Canadian communities.
Learn more about LINC Online at https://cbal.org/linconline/
