In a city as big as Toronto, it is quite possible to live one’s life within a cultural community which speaks a uniform language without any real detriment to daily life. In fact, the multiplicity of cultural enclaves and large populations of non-English speaking people in the Greater Toronto Area may make it seem as though there is no need to endeavor learning another language at all; almost all daily interactions can take place in one’s native tongue. Still, there are several distinct advantages to learning English whether in Canada for the short or long term, and using the English as a Second Language curriculum offered by the University of Toronto is a great way to achieve this goal.

First of all, the ability to speak English will not be advantageous just in the city of Toronto, or even just in Canada or the United States. As the main language of most of the world’s largest companies and producers, not to mention capital generators, English has emerged as an international language of commerce. Those who can speak not only their own tongue but also English have a distinct advantage both at home and abroad as the businesses of the world operate more and more globally.

Being able to speak English as well as your first language will lead to practical benefits within Toronto as well. As mentioned above, Toronto has a multiplicity of cultures. Many individuals may never attempt to set foot outside of their own cultural community, or may have immigrated to the area at a later stage in life and therefore may not have pursued learning the English language. These communities are not isolated from the rest of Toronto, however. Many services such as utilities, medical services, and law enforcement need to be able to communicate with individuals in these communities on a regular basis, and an individual who can speak English will find these interactions much easier.

Finally, the shared knowledge of language is integral to building relationships between neighbours who may be separated by nothing more than a language barrier. Learning to speak English is a great way to reach out to many individuals not only in the practical world but also in order to create lasting bonds, ones which will no doubt be reciprocated.

There are many good reasons to learn the English language, and there really is no better place to do so than at or through the University of Toronto’s ESL program. Qualified instructors will mean expert tutoring, and the immersive environment means that each individual has the best opportunity to practice and retain the language.