By When I moved to Vancouver in 2025 on a work permit and settled in Richmond, one of the first things I figured out was that improving my English wasn't going to cost me anything — if I knew where to look. A friend who'd arrived a year ahead of me dropped a piece of advice I've since passed on to everyone: you don't need to pay a private language school, and you don't need to commute downtown. The free government-funded classes are genuinely good, and they're spread across the suburbs where most newcomers actually live.
This guide is the one I built for friends settling in Burnaby and Surrey — two of the biggest landing spots for new arrivals in Metro Vancouver. Both cities have multiple free LINC and ESL programs with multilingual staff, and several of them offer free childcare so parents can actually attend. Here's where to find them, who qualifies, and how to register.
Quick Answer: Where Do Newcomers Find Free English Classes in Burnaby & Surrey?
Both cities have several free options. In Burnaby, the main providers are MOSAIC, the Burnaby School District's continuing education ESL, Burnaby Neighbourhood House, and the public library. In Surrey, the big settlement agencies are DIVERSEcity, PICS, and Options Community Services, plus Surrey Libraries and Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). Most run government-funded LINC classes; libraries and neighbourhood houses run free conversation groups open to everyone.
The one step that unlocks the formal LINC classes: get a free language assessment first to find out your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level. With that result in hand, you can register at any LINC provider. Conversation circles at libraries don't need an assessment — you can just show up.
Summary: Burnaby and Surrey each have multiple free programs. LINC classes need a language assessment first; library conversation groups don't.
Free English Classes in Burnaby
MOSAIC — Burnaby Language Centre (Metrotown)
MOSAIC runs government-funded LINC classes at their Burnaby Language Centre inside Metropolis at Metrotown (480–4800 Kingsway), with full-time and part-time schedules and onsite childcare for student-parents. Because it's right at Metrotown, it's easy to reach by SkyTrain. MOSAIC works with newcomers across many language backgrounds, but the exact levels and language-support staff on hand change term to term — confirm the current schedule when you register. Find program details at mosaicbc.org or call the Burnaby centre at 604-298-8201.
Burnaby Community & Continuing Education (LINC)
The Burnaby Board of Education runs free LINC classes for adult newcomers, with registration at the Edmonds Resource Centre (7355 Canada Way) and the Windsor Neighbourhood Learning Centre (6907 Gilley Ave). Free childcare is available to enrolled parents at both sites. One thing to be clear about: like all LINC programs, this one is for permanent residents and convention refugees — Canadian citizens and work permit holders are not eligible. For schedules and registration, see burnabycce.ca or call 604-296-6858.
Burnaby Neighbourhood House — 4460 Beresford St
Free English conversation circles in a low-key, community-oriented setting at their South House on Beresford Street. This is a good fit if you're shy about formal classrooms and just want to practise speaking, and these groups are open to everyone regardless of immigration status. Sessions run on a seasonal schedule, so check burnabynh.ca for the current days and times before you go.
Burnaby Public Library
Free English conversation circles run at Burnaby Public Library branches, and the library also offers free one-on-one English help through its literacy program. Branches and schedules change, so check bpl.bc.ca for the current lineup. These are open to everyone — no immigration status or assessment required. (If you haven't yet, getting a library card is one of the easiest free wins after arriving — see my Vancouver library card guide for what else it unlocks.)
Summary: Burnaby's anchor is MOSAIC's Metrotown Language Centre for formal LINC (permanent residents and convention refugees). The library conversation circles and Burnaby Neighbourhood House cover free conversation practice and are open to everyone, including work permit holders.
Free English Classes in Surrey
DIVERSEcity — 13455 76 Ave
One of Surrey's biggest settlement agencies. DIVERSEcity runs government-funded LINC classes, full-time and part-time, with free childcare for eligible students. Their main Surrey campus is at 13455 76 Ave (604-597-0205), and the LINC language classes are delivered from their Newton Town Centre campus — the language-programs team can place you. As a large South Asian-serving agency, they offer multilingual support, but the exact levels and staff languages shift term to term, so confirm when you call. Register at dcrs.ca.
Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) — 205-12725 80th Ave
PICS runs English language training with strong South Asian language support in the Newton area, plus an English-for-the-Workplace program. They also deliver the BC Newcomer Services Program, which serves temporary residents and new citizens — useful if you're not a permanent resident, so ask which of their classes you qualify for. Call 604-596-7722 or see pics.bc.ca.
Options Community Services — 13520 78 Ave
Options runs LINC classes plus employment-focused English — a great fit if you need English specifically for job searching and workplace communication. It's located in Newton. Options also operates the Surrey-area language assessment centre (LARC) — handy, since you can get assessed and enrol with the same agency. Find them at options.bc.ca.
Surrey Libraries
Free English conversation circles run across Surrey Libraries branches, and the system also offers free digital-literacy classes that combine computers and English. Branches and times change, so check surreylibraries.ca for the current schedule. These groups are open to everyone, no assessment needed.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)
KPU offers tuition-free English Language Studies (ESL) courses for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and convention refugees — a good option for newcomers at an intermediate level who want to transition into college or workplace English. You still cover mandatory student fees and textbooks, and you'll need to meet a placement level, so check current requirements at kpu.ca. KPU has a Surrey campus.
Summary: Surrey's anchors are DIVERSEcity and PICS (strong South Asian language support). Options leans employment-focused and runs the area's assessment centre; KPU offers tuition-free ESL for college-bound learners.
How to Register: The Three Steps
The formal LINC classes all use the same front door — a free language assessment. Here's the process:
- Get a free language assessment. If you live in Burnaby, book with the Vancouver Language Assessment Centre (208–2525 Commercial Drive, Vancouver; 604-876-5756), which serves Burnaby and nearby cities. If you live in Surrey, book with the Options Language Assessment & Referral Centre (LARC) in Surrey (604-547-3322). They'll test your reading, writing, listening, and speaking to determine your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level, and the result is valid for two years.
- Choose a centre. With your assessment result and referral, you can register at any LINC provider on this list.
- Start classes. Intake schedules vary by provider, so ask about the next available start when you register.
Summary: Get a free assessment first (Vancouver Language Assessment Centre if you're in Burnaby, Options LARC if you're in Surrey), then pick any provider and enrol.
Programs for Work Permit Holders
This is the part that tripped me up, because I was on a work permit myself. LINC is for permanent residents and convention refugees only — work permit holders and even Canadian citizens aren't eligible. If you're not yet a PR, here are the routes that are open to you:
- Library conversation circles — free and open to everyone, in both Burnaby and Surrey. This is the most reliable option for work permit holders.
- Neighbourhood house conversation groups — like Burnaby Neighbourhood House, open regardless of status.
- BC Newcomer Services Program (BC NSP) — a provincial program for temporary residents and new citizens, delivered by agencies like PICS. Some BC NSP supports are available in Metro Vancouver, but the free English-class stream has its own eligibility rules, so ask the agency directly what you qualify for rather than assuming.
If you're still sorting out your own status or thinking ahead to permanent residency, it's worth understanding how the pieces fit — my guides to work permit types and the Express Entry process cover that side. Stronger English also directly raises your immigration points if you ever go the Express Entry route, so the classes pay off twice.
Summary: Not a PR? Use library and neighbourhood-house conversation circles (open to everyone), and ask agencies about BC Newcomer Services Program eligibility. LINC itself is PR/convention-refugee only.
How Much Time Do Classes Take?
This varies by whether you choose full-time or part-time, and it's the main thing to weigh against a work schedule:
- Full-time LINC is a heavier daytime load — roughly 20–25 hours a week, Monday to Friday.
- Part-time LINC is lighter — often around 6–15 hours a week, and many providers offer morning, evening, weekend, or online options.
Exact hours differ by provider, so check the specific schedule when you register. Most working newcomers I know start part-time and shift to full-time if their schedule opens up. There's no penalty for choosing the lighter load — you progress through the CLB levels at whatever pace fits your life.
Summary: Full-time is roughly 20–25 hrs/week; part-time is lighter (around 6–15 hrs) with evening, weekend, and online options. Hours vary by provider — confirm when you register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: MOSAIC in Burnaby or DIVERSEcity in Surrey?
Both are large, well-established settlement agencies and the quality of teaching is comparable. The real deciding factors are location and language support. MOSAIC, at Metrotown in Burnaby, serves a broad mix of newcomer communities; DIVERSEcity, in Surrey, is a major South Asian-serving agency. Multilingual staffing shifts term to term at both, so the most practical approach is to pick whichever is closer to home and ask about support in your language when you call.
How many hours per week are LINC classes?
It depends on the format. Full-time LINC is a daytime load of roughly 20–25 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Part-time is lighter — often around 6–15 hours a week — and many providers offer morning, evening, weekend, or online schedules so working adults can attend. Exact hours vary by provider, so confirm when you register.
Can I get childcare while I attend classes?
Yes, at select locations. Several LINC providers — including MOSAIC and the Burnaby Board of Education's LINC program — offer free childcare for enrolled students. Spots are limited and age rules apply (Burnaby's, for example, covers children roughly 18 months to five years), so mention your childcare needs and confirm the details when you register.
Do I need to be a permanent resident to take these classes?
For LINC, yes — LINC is for permanent residents and convention refugees; work permit holders and Canadian citizens are not eligible. But library and neighbourhood-house conversation circles are open to everyone regardless of status. If you're a temporary resident, ask agencies about the BC Newcomer Services Program and what you qualify for.
Do these classes really cost nothing?
LINC is government-funded and free for eligible newcomers, and library conversation circles and neighbourhood-house programs are free community services. The language assessment you need before LINC is free too. Some options, like tuition-free college ESL, still carry mandatory student fees and textbook costs, so check each provider's details.
References
- IRCC — Free newcomer services (settlement services finder) — language training and how to find a provider near you
- WelcomeBC — BC Newcomer Services Program (temporary residents and new citizens) — provincial newcomer support and who qualifies
- Vancouver Language Assessment Centre — free LINC assessment for Burnaby and surrounding cities; eligibility and CLB referral
- Options Language Assessment & Referral Centre (LARC) — free LINC assessment for the Surrey area; eligibility (permanent residents / convention refugees)
- MOSAIC — Burnaby Language Centre (Metrotown) — LINC classes, address, phone, childcare
- Burnaby Community & Continuing Education — LINC — LINC eligibility, locations, and childcare
- DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society — Contact — Surrey campuses and LINC language programs
- PICS Society — Surrey English language training and BC Newcomer Services Program
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University — Tuition-free ABE/ESL — who qualifies for tuition-free English Language Studies
- IRCC — Express Entry — how English ability factors into immigration points
Just getting settled in Burnaby or Surrey? Pair this with the first-week checklist and the free tax clinic guide — another free service that's well worth knowing about in your first months here.