Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) schools are safe and welcoming places for your multilingual child to learn and grow. There are many programs available to support your child at school. 

MLL refers to “Multilingual Language Learner”. This term reminds us to value all of the languages our students speak. Your child’s home languages are welcome in our schools.

We look forward to meeting you and your family at your new school.  

Keep Your Home Language

Arabic Keep Your Home Language عربي
English Keep Your Home Language
Gujarati Keep Your Home Language ગુજરાતી
Hindi Keep Your Home Language हिन्दी
Punjabi Keep Your Home Language ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Russian Keep Your Home Language Русский
Spanish Keep Your Home Language Español
Urdu Keep Your Home Language اردو

Tips for Developing Your Home Language

Registration:

All students in Junior Kindergarten (JK) through Grade 12 need to register for school.

International Student Registrations

Please see the International Admissions page to register for WRDSB schools as an international student. This includes: 

  • Work or study permit
  • Refugee claimants
  • International exchange students

Elementary: Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 

If you need help to register your child online, or require an interpreter, please contact your school. 

If you are not sure which school your child will attend:

Visit Supports for Elementary MLL (ESL/ELD) Students for more information on programs for multilingual language learners in elementary school.

Secondary: Grades 9 to 12  

These secondary students will register at the WRDSB Welcome Centre:

  • All secondary students who are new to Canada and for whom English is not their first (home) language
  • Students for whom English is not their first language and who have been in Canada for less than five years
  • Secondary students who have attended a French Language School in Canada
  • International fee-paying students (referred through the WRDSB International Admissions Department)

Please contact the Welcome Centre to arrange a specific time for registration. The staff at the Welcome Centre will tell you which secondary school your child will attend. 

We encourage all multilingual students to join our International and Indigenous Languages Program.

Please visit Support for Secondary MLL Students for more information on programs for multilingual language learners in secondary school. 

The Vision of the Multilingual Language Learner

Multilingual Language Learners (MLLs) come with many assets and skills. 

They will: 

  • Learn English at the same time as the Ontario curriculum
  • See themselves reflected in the learning environment
  • Feel like their culture and language are valued
  • Have confidence to express their opinion and have a voice
  • Meet high expectations when they are involved with setting goals (with appropriate supports)
  • Have opportunities to choose pathways that honour their strengths and interests