Charlottetown's Holland College has started three new classes to meet the demands of immigrants, some of whom have been waiting months to learn English. 

'They've been pretty much staying at home for three months.'- Joy MacDonald, Holland College

The additional classes, which serve 40 students, clearing the college's backlog, were opened last week with an extra $84,000 in funding provided by the federal and provincial governments. ESL co-ordinator Joy MacDonald told CBC News that, for many immigrants, English classes mean getting a real start on life in Canada.

"The most common statement we get from students when they [come] in is that they sat at home because they didn't feel comfortable to go out and try to speak," said MacDonald.

Joy MacDonald says there is no shortage of ESL teachers available.
(CBC)

"So they've been pretty much staying at home for three months, and now they're here with a group of people socializing and it's been a huge factor for them."

Long hua Tang and his wife, Emma, who immigrated to Canada from China last summer, went to Holland College every day for four months asking when they could start English classes.

Tang said not being able to speak English meant he couldn't talk to Islanders, not even his child's schoolteacher, so he's very pleased to be in classes now.

Long hua Tang and his wife, Emma, are looking forward to getting out and talking to people.
(CBC)

"Very good, teacher good. People teaching good," Tang said.

The 40 new students almost double the ESL enrolment at the college, and MacDonald expects it will continue to be high. Immigration to the Island is up this year. Earlier this fall the province had to invest in more teachers for immigrant students looking for help with English.

Fortunately, says MacDonald, there is no shortage of people qualified to teach.

"I hadn't realized there was such a bank of people out there who had ESL training, so we had quite a bank to call from, which is very good," she said.

MacDonald believes demand for English instruction will continue to grow as the province increases its efforts to attract immigrants to the province.