How to Learn Canadian English With Comprehensible Input

Canadian English uses the English you may already know, with a few words of its own. A toque is a wool winter hat, and a washroom is a public toilet. A word list gives you the meaning. You start to catch a word on your own after you've met it in many sentences you already understand. That is comprehensible input: Canadian English you mostly follow, where the words you know explain the new one.

About one new word in each sentence, while you still follow the meaning.

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Read a few sentences. If most have about one new word, keep reading. If you can't tell what's happening, pick something easier. Early on, that could be a short scene in a coffee shop or at a bus stop in winter. Later, a whole radio interview gives enough clues for you to guess a word.

Bubblegum has six levels, and each starts with a sentence in a learner's own words. Pick the one closest to you. Classes and radio shows don't use these levels, so treat each row as a first guess.

1. Level 1

   I'm just starting out or know only a few words

   The easiest way to start is Bubblegum, where Poppy, your AI tutor, writes short lessons at your level about your interests and goals. If you'd rather have a teacher, look for a tutor who teaches from zero. Plan on a few weeks of hard study to learn the basic grammar before you start using apps.

2. Level 2

   I can read simple sentences

   If you use Bubblegum, read its Level 2 lessons with the translation hidden, and look up only the words that stop you. If you live in Canada as a permanent resident or protected person, ask a newcomer service organization about free LINC classes.

   LINC classes →
3. Level 3

   I can read short stories and messages

   At this level you need more words, so read and listen a lot. Bubblegum reuses the words you saved in new Level 3 lessons. If you live in Canada, Mauril is a free app from CBC and Radio-Canada that has eight levels.

   Mauril →
4. Level 4

   I can read longer texts about everyday life

   CBC Listen has live radio and podcasts, and it works outside Canada. Follow the main idea first, then replay what you missed. Read Bubblegum lessons at Level 4 about things you're into.

   CBC Listen →
5. Level 5

   I can follow complex topics, but miss some details

   Choose a CBC podcast on a topic you love, and guess new words from the sentence before you look them up. Poppy can write your Level 5 lessons about anything you're into.

   CBC Listen →
6. Level 6

   I can read almost anything

   Listen to local radio from different Canadian cities, and notice the everyday words people use. Read Bubblegum lessons at Level 6 about the things you care about too.

Try the next row once this one feels easy. If most sentences need the dictionary, go back one row.

Here's a sentence written for this guide: It was minus ten, so I wore my toque. If you know every other word, the cold tells you what the new one is: a toque is something warm you wear.

Bubblegum is a language app where your AI tutor, Poppy, writes Canadian English lessons for your level about topics you choose. Voices chosen for Toronto and Vancouver English read every lesson aloud, and you can look up words and ask her about grammar. Words you save come back in new lessons through Regenerative Review™.