Five Top Destinations For an English Course in Canada

By Paul Michael Collins

It's not easy choosing the right place in which to take an English course in Canada. Weighing up the pros and cons of its cities can be tough - after all, whether it's marvelous Montreal or top-class Toronto, most cities in Canada have just got so much going for them.

To help narrow the choices down just a little, here (in no particular order) are five top destinations for an English course in Canada:

1. Montreal

Montreal's Old Town is one of the most attractive urban quarters in Canada. But it's far from being merely a scenic city, as it's also packed with things to see and do - whether it's in the many museums and galleries, or outdoors, in stunning parks like the Parc du Mont-Royal, Parc Maisonneuve and the charming Parc Lafontaine.

2. Toronto

What does Toronto have to recommend it as a place to live and study? Better rephrase that into what doesn't Toronto have? From the great shopping in and around Kensington Market and the reasonable restaurants on Bloor Street, to the luscious Toronto Islands, Toronto's just a place that's got so much going for it.

3. Ottawa

Canada's capital, Ottawa, is often (rather mystifyingly) overlooked by travelers and students. But for those who do go, history and cultural enthusiasts are invariably fascinated by Canada's House of Commons on Parliament Hill; there's great shopping (at Westboro Village, amongst other places), while Ottawa nightlife is excellent.

Outdoors enthusiasts, meanwhile, (as is the almost uniformly the case in Canada!) will be delighted at the prospect of exploring the paths of Gatineau Park or, during the winter months, ice-skating on the Rideau Canal. All in all, then, it's hard to disagree that it's a pretty attractive proposition.

4. Vancouver

There's no two ways about it: Vancouver is one of the hippest cities in Canada. It's a hub of cultural goings-on that just has a special buzz about it.

But that's not all that Vancouver's got going for it - what really makes it such a special place is the way it seems to simply blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings, with Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain and the beaches of Pacific Spirit Park all right there on the city's doorstep.

5. Whistler

Whistler's an undeniably agreeable sort of place, and definitely one for the student who doesn't want to live and study in a big city. Vancouver's just a couple of hours' away for a culture or nightlife fix, but for the rest of the time it's a real privilege to be surrounded by the serene natural beauty of the mountains.

But it almost goes without saying that it's the great skiing that makes Whistler such a compelling destination in which to take an English course in Canada. After all, what could be better than a morning in the classroom, and an afternoon on the slopes?

Paul Collins is a travel writer and one-time English teacher. Over the course of his many visits to the country, he has developed a pretty good idea as to which places are best suited for doing an English course in Canada.