English as a Second Language (ESL) Credit

• Improve your English Language Skills
• We offer English as a Second Language classes at the ESLCO and ESLDO levels.
• Must be CLB Level 3 or higher.

Sessions (12 weeks/2 credits)

8:30 am–12:30 pm

December 3, 2025 - March 26, 2026 (No appointments available for this term)

March 25, 2026 - June 26, 2026

Does not run in the summer.

Please click here to schedule an appointment with a guidance counsellor. We are currently booking into December.

If you are not a current student or have not been a student of the HWCDSB, you will be required to provide us with a copy of your most recent high school transcript.

We also require a CLBPT assessment that is current within 6 months.

Preparation for Your Appointment

On the day and time of your appointment, please come in person to 150 East 5th Street, Hamilton, Ontario (Credit Office) to speak with a counsellor.

Please have the documentation below to present to the office upon arrival for your appointment. Failure to do so will require the student to rebook appointment.

Please bring 1 document from each category:

Category 1: Proof Of Age

- Birth Certificate

- Passport

- Citizenship card/Certificate

‍Category 2: Proof Of Residency

Acceptable Documentation:

- Purchase Agreement

- Mortgage/ Rental/Lease Agreement

- Residential Phone Bill

- Cable/Internet Bill

- Property Tax Bill

- Income Tax Assessment

- Insurance Policy - Home, Auto, Tenant, Life

- Correspondence with a government agency (CRA, IRCC, CPP)

NOT Acceptable Documentation:

- Driver's License

- Cellphone Bill

- Credit Card Statement

- Bank Statement

For families that are living with relatives/friends, we will require 3 items in total for proof of address:

1. A signed letter from the homeowner. including the names of the children and parent(s) that will all be living there;

2. A utility bill (from Alectra or Enbridge) in the homeowner's name: and

3. One document in the registering family's name.

Here are some options the registering family can choose from for item #3:

- Rental Agreement

- Copy of insurance policy- car and/or tenant

- Mail from a government agency (Immigration, Canada Revenue, social assistance)

- Cable/Internet Bill

- Employer Pay Stub

- Bank Statement (**this is the most common one we receive)

Category 3: Date of Entry into Canada (if born outside of Canada)

- Permanent Resident Card

- Confirmation of Permanent Resident

- Date of Entry stamp in Passport

- Claimant/ Convention Refugee

- Visitor Record

- Study Permit

** Proof of date of entry into Canada must be presented. Date of entry is the date the student enters Canada to reside**

Other Documentation Required

-Transcript (Secondary only)

- If English is not your first language, please bring your Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) to the appointment. If you don't have them, please call the YMCA at 905-526-8452

- IEP Accommodations/modifications if applicable

- Medical Documentation related to medical peril if applicable

Please email info@stcharles.ca if you have any questions or wish to cancel your appointment.