Maple News reports that for French-speaking immigration candidates, learning English isn’t just a valuable skill — it’s a strategic advantage that can significantly increase the chances of successfully immigrating to Canada through programs like Express Entry.
Canada is officially bilingual, but English remains the dominant language in most provinces and professional settings. Reaching Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English — in reading, writing, speaking, and listening — can strengthen your Express Entry profile, expand your job opportunities, and ease your integration into Canadian society.
Language ability is among the top criteria in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which determines who receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Achieving CLB 7 in English can earn you up to 12 CRS points as a second official language under core human capital factors and an additional 50 points when combined with strong French-language skills. Altogether, that’s a potential boost of up to 62 points — enough to help many profiles reach the cut-off required for an ITA.
Beyond points, English proficiency unlocks career and settlement flexibility. It allows you to live and work in most of Canada’s provinces and territories, which predominantly operate in English. It also opens doors to a broader labor market, remote work opportunities, and smoother integration into English-speaking workplaces and communities. From navigating healthcare to building professional connections, English skills are often essential for day-to-day life in Canada.
Improving your English to reach CLB 7 takes deliberate preparation. It’s advisable to study the structure and scoring of recognized English assessments such as CELPIP or IELTS. Practicing under timed conditions and focusing on expressive skills like speaking and writing can make a considerable difference. Free English training resources, online platforms, and even short-term tutoring tailored to CLB standards can further support your readiness.
Listening to Canadian radio, watching English-language news, or following podcasts are also excellent ways to become comfortable with Canadian accents and commonly used expressions. These passive learning strategies, when combined with active practice, contribute to fluency and test success.
Importantly, learning English does not mean abandoning French. Instead, it multiplies your prospects — earning bonus CRS points and multiplying employment and integration opportunities across Canada. In today’s competitive immigration landscape, bilingualism is no longer just a nice-to-have; it’s a measurable asset that offers real, tangible benefits.
For French-speaking applicants seeking a permanent future in Canada, achieving CLB 7 in English can be the key that opens the door to broader success.