International Languages

Registration for the 2024/2025 school year is now Open.

The International and Indigenous Languages Elementary (IILE) program is available to students registered in Junior Kindergarten up to Grade 8 from all school boards. This program offers students the opportunity to learn to listen, speak, read and write in a new language or to maintain the language of their home or heritage. No prior knowledge of the language is necessary to enroll in these classes.

This program is offered by the Durham District School Board free of charge and children may enroll in only one language class.

In person classes are offered each Wednesday evening from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at R. S. McLaughlin Collegiate and Vocational Institute - 570 Stevenson Rd N, Oshawa, ON L1J 5P1.

A child must be four years old by December to be eligible for classes.

Registration Information

To register for the IILE Non-Credit Program, please click here.

Languages offered for the 2024/2025 School Year

Dari

Farsi

Hindi

Malayalam

Mandarin

Marathi

Spanish

Tamil

Other

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child get school credits for this program?

No. This course is interest based and does not have any credits attached to it.

Is there a cost for this program?

No – this program is free for all qualified registrants – THERE ARE NO FEES.

My child is currently in grade 9 and wants to learn a new language but has no experience. Can they attend this program?

Unfortunately they cannot join this program as it is for elementary aged students enrolled in JK to Grade 8 only.

We don’t live in Durham Region – is this program still open to us?

The International Language non-credit program is open to any Ontario resident with Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.

Upcoming Program Dates

Class starts - October 2, 2024
Final class - May 14, 2025

Registration Deadline

Registration deadline: September 13th, 2024 - Registrations after this date are subject to a waitlist
Courses with insufficient enrollment at this time will be cancelled.

Registration Information

Note: Parents/Guardians of students who do not go to a Durham District School Board elementary school will be required to provide Proof of Citizenship. Durham Continuing Education staff will be in contact with instructions on how to provide that information.

Additionally, registering your child does not guarantee a seat in a class. Sufficient student registrations and a qualified instructor are required to be able to offer a language class. The class may also be over-subscribed, in which case we will allocate seats in order of registration. An email will confirm receipt of your registration request after registration has closed. A further email will confirm your child’s seat in class.