ESL in Canadian Schools: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Child Learn English

A few months after starting school in Canada, your child is chatting with friends at recess and picking up slang faster than you can keep up. Then the science worksheet comes home half blank, and the report card says they are still working on reading. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone, and nothing has gone wrong. Learning to talk with friends and learning the English of textbooks and tests happen on two very different timelines.

Below: how schools support children learning English, why academic English takes years, how to read the report card, and simple things your family can do every day.

What does ESL mean at school?

ESL stands for English as a Second Language. It is the support schools give students who are learning English while they learn everything else. The name changes from province to province. Ontario uses ESL, plus ELD (English Literacy Development) for students who had limited schooling before they arrived. British Columbia uses ELL, for English Language Learning. Other provinces often say EAL, for English as an Additional Language.

The support itself also varies by school. It might be time with a specialist teacher, a small group, or help inside the regular class, where the teacher adjusts how lessons and tests are given. In Ontario, many schools use a tool called STEP (Steps to English Proficiency) to track where a student is in English and plan the next goals. In BC, a student can receive English Language Learning support funding for up to five years while they meet the criteria (Government of British Columbia, 2026).

TIP FOR PARENTS: English language learners are not only newcomers. A child born in Canada who mostly speaks another language at home can need the same support. Ask your child's classroom teacher whether your child is receiving it, and what it looks like each week.

How does English language support work across Canada?

Every province supports students who are learning English, but the names, the assessments and the rules differ. Here is where to start in each one.

If your family lives in Quebec, the picture is different: in most cases your child goes to French-language school and learns French, not English, in a welcoming class or with support in a regular class (Gouvernement du Québec, 2026). Many of the tips below still apply, just with French as the school language.

Why does school English take so much longer?

Everyday English is full of clues: gestures, faces, the playground, the lunch line. School English has fewer clues and harder words: "compare", "estimate", "explain your reasoning", "the main idea". Researcher Jim Cummins found that children usually reach their classmates' level in conversational English in about two years, while academic English takes much longer (Cummins, 2000). Ontario's Ministry of Education puts it plainly: research shows it takes five to seven years for most English language learners to catch up with their English-speaking classmates in using English for academic purposes (Government of Ontario, 2026).

So a child who sounds fluent can still struggle with a word problem in math, a science lab report or a history paragraph. That is not a sign they aren't trying. It is the normal shape of learning a second language, and it is exactly where extra practice with subject words pays off.

What can the report card tell you?

On an Ontario report card, look for the ESL/ELD box beside each subject. Teachers check it only when they have changed the curriculum expectations for your child in that subject because of their English, not simply because your child gets ESL support (Government of Ontario, Curriculum and Resources). A checked box means the mark is based on adjusted expectations. Other provinces show this differently, so if you are not sure, ask.

Questions worth bringing to your child's classroom teacher:

• Which subjects are hardest for my child because of English, and which are going well?
• Are the expectations changed in any subject, or are there only supports, such as extra time or a word list?
• Which subject words should we practise at home this term?
• Can an interpreter join our meeting? Many boards can arrange one.

Is it a language gap or a learning difference?

This is one of the hardest questions for families and schools. Ontario's special education guide notes that some typical signs of learning a new language can look like learning difficulties, so schools need a careful process to find the real cause (Government of Ontario, 2026). A child who reads well in their first language but struggles in English is most likely still building English. A child who also struggles to read in their first language may need a closer look.

The good news: your child does not have to choose. In Ontario, a student with identified special education needs can receive ESL or ELD support and special education services at the same time (Government of Ontario, 2026). If you are worried, write down what you notice at home, in both languages, and share it with the teacher.

How can you help at home, even while you're learning English too?

Keep your home language strong

Read, talk and tell stories in the language you know best. Skills such as understanding a story, explaining an idea or solving a problem carry over from one language to another (Cummins, 2000). A child who can explain photosynthesis in Tagalog or Punjabi is halfway to explaining it in English.

Ask your child to be the teacher

Have your child explain tonight's homework to you, in either language. Explaining is one of the best ways to learn, and it shows you where they are stuck.

Make English part of everyday life

Library books, audiobooks, English cartoons with subtitles, and short daily reading out loud all add up. Small and every day works better than long and once a week.

Use a translation tool for instructions

If a worksheet's instructions are unclear to you, a translation app can help you understand the task so you can talk about it together. Let your child do the actual work in English.

When does a tutor help?

A tutor makes the most difference when English is getting in the way of other subjects: word problems in math, reading questions, writing assignments, or a report card that shows the ESL/ELD box in several subjects. A certified teacher can practise the exact vocabulary your child is meeting in class, build reading and writing step by step, and help your child feel confident putting their hand up. Look for a tutor who has worked with English language learners, and ask them to start from the teacher's comments on the report card.

Tutoring with Connect Education

Every tutor on Connect Education is a certified teacher, and many have taught English language learners in Canadian classrooms. Tell us about your child, their grade and the subjects where English gets in the way, and we match you with a tutor who fits. Lessons can be online, at your home or at a public library. See how we support English as a Second Language and newcomer students, read our post on support for multilingual students, or sign up for free to get matched.