English & ESL Classes
Learn English with us!
Take your next step in English with First Step Language Academy. Get online help with business English, English homework and essays, ESL classes in Kitchener, IELTS and more. In-person lessons are also available in Kitchener, Ontario.
NOW REGISTERING: Spring 2026 Semester
In-Person A1 Newbie Beginner Level 1
Group Class for Adults
$225
per term
Who: adults (ages 16+) with little experience learning English. This class will help students build fundamentals in English.
Time: Sat, 3:30 to 5:00pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
ONLINE A1 Newbie Level 1
Group Class for Adults
$225
per term
Who: adults (ages 16+) with little experience learning English. This class will help students build fundamentals in English.
Time: Sat, 3:30 to 5:00pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: Online
A2 Upper Beginner Level 2
Group Class for Adults Section 1
$225
per term
Who: adults (ages 16+) with some experience in English who already know basic vocabulary, phrases, grammar and pronunciation but struggle with conversing in English.
Time: Sat, 3:30 to 5:00pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
A2 Upper Beginner Level 2
Group Class for Adults Section 2
$225
per term
Who: adults (ages 16+) with some experience in English who already know basic vocabulary, phrases, grammar and pronunciation but struggle with conversing in English.
Time: Sat, 3:30 to 5:00pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: Online
B1 & B2 Canadian Small Talk Toolkit English for Adults
$285
per term
Who: adults (ages 16+) who are at leastintermediate learners (B1 or higher) and wanting to improve their speaking abilities to be more successful in Canada.
Time: Sun, 7:00 - 8:30pm
Start Date: Apr 19, 2026
End Date: June 21, 2026
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
CELPIP Preparation Advanced
ONLINE Class for Adults
$285
per term
Who: adults (ages 18+) who are intermediate English speakers wanting to prepare for the CELPIP exam.
Time: Sat, 5:00 - 6:30pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: ONLINE
IELTS Preparation Advanced
ONLINE Class for Adults
$285
per term
Who: adults (ages 18+) who are intermediate English speakers wanting to prepare for the IELTS exam.
Time: Sun, 7:00 - 8:30pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: ONLINE
C1 Advanced Level 5 Section 1
ONLINE Class for Adults
$225
per term
Who: adults (ages 18+) who are advanced English speakers hoping to learn the intricacies of advanced grammar, vocabulary and business English
Time: Sat, 8:30 - 10:00pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: ONLINE
C1 Advanced Level 5
Group Class for Adults
$225
per term
Who: adults (ages 18+) who are advanced English speakers hoping to learn the intricacies of advanced grammar, vocabulary and business English
Time: Sat, 5:00 - 6:30pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
C2 Advanced Level 6
ONLINE Group Class for Adults
$225
per term
Who: adults (ages 16+) who speak English at a near-native level hoping to improve upon challenging grammar, public speaking, business and academic English
Time: Sat, 5:00 - 6:30pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: ONLINE
C2 Advanced Level 6
Group Class for Adults
$225
per term
Who: adults (ages 16+) who speak English at a near-native level hoping to improve upon challenging grammar, public speaking, business and academic English
Time: Sat, 5:00 - 6:30pm
Start Date: Apr 4, 2026
End Date: June 6, 2026
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
Young Learners Children's Intermediate ESL Classes
$225
per term
Who: children aged 6 to 12 adults who are at an intermediate B1 or B2 level hoping to improve their English to assist with school and adjusting to life in Canada.
Time: Thurs, 4:00 - 5:30pm
Start Date: Apr 2, 2026
Start Date: June 4, 2026
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
Online Classes also available
High school Intermediate ESL Classes
$225
per term
Who: students in grades 9 through 12 who are at an intermediate B1 or B2 level hoping to improve their English to assist with school, adjust to life in Canada and prepare for college or university.
Time: Thurs, 4:00 - 5:30pm
Start Date: Apr 2, 2026
Start Date: June 4, 2026
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
Online Classes also available
Children's English
Homework Help Study Sessions
$225
per term
Who: students grades 1 to 12 wanting help with English assignments and mastering concepts taught in class. Class is for native and non-native English speakers.
Time: Thurs, 4:00 - 5:30pm
Start Date: Apr 2, 2026
Start Date: June 4, 2026
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
Online Classes also available
rEGISTER NOW!
Classes have are capped at 7 students per class. Join us next semester!
What Our Students Say
Our Team
Joseph Yo Wang
Founder and Certified English Teacher
Yo grew up in Canada, speaking English his whole life. When he was in university, he began learning Mandarin as a second language. After a few years, he became fluent! Yo graduated as the top student from his department at the University of Waterloo. He also has over 5 years of professional experience working in marketing. In 2019, Yo founded the Chinese language school, First Step Mandarin, which has grown into First Step Language Academy, a school that currently teaches Mandarin in addition to Korean, English (including ESL) and Cantonese. The school’s mission is to help students across the world learn new languages. After starting First Step Mandarin, Yo completed a language teaching certificate and taught in Taiwan. Yo received excellent feedback from his students, who loved attending his classes, and was asked to continue teaching them online once he returned to Canada. When he is not teaching at or managing First Step Language Academy, Yo likes to play soccer, hockey, tennis and also collect everything Pokemon!
Henry Chang
Supporting Your Growth Toward Confident and Authentic Communication
Henry is a Taiwanese-Canadian educator dedicated to helping students find their authentic voice. With a career spanning over 30 years across various sectors—including banking, non-profit, and entrepreneurship—his students gain practical, real-world language skills that go beyond the textbook. Having taught 50+ academy students from over 15 countries, Henry celebrates the diverse cultural perspectives each student brings. Sharing global experiences, he creates a rich environment for teenagers and adults alike. By tailoring sessions to each student’s unique “what, where, and why,” he ensures learning is deeply relevant. His coaching spans casual conversation to business meetings, ensuring students communicate with clarity and cultural nuance within the Canadian environment. Henry creates a supportive space where students have the maximum opportunity to practice, make mistakes, and grow through trial and error. He believes that lasting confidence is built through the steady, rewarding process of active engagement and real-world application. Henry looks forward to supporting you as you begin this journey.
Nichole Moser
Writing Specialist
Nichole was born in Ontario, Canada and has always had a love of the English language. For her, the best thing about learning a language is the opportunity to also learn the history of the language and the culture that speaks it. This love of her native language led her to becoming an author. During COVID, she obtained her CELTA certification and has taught students from all over the world. Her teaching style includes discussions about topics important to the student in order to boost confidence while learning.
Josh Beedham
Elementary School and ESL for Spanish Speakers Specialist
Born in a small town in southern Ontario. Inspired by the many international exchange students hosted by his family while growing up, Josh has dedicated his life to ESL. After completing two college programs at Mohwak and Fanshawe, Josh moved to Ecuador in 2011 where he opened a local in-person ESL school which has since grown to servicing over 300 students daily. During the COVID pandemic Josh explored the world of online teaching quickly amassing more than 10,000 hours of class time with top ESL schools online. Some of Josh’s interest include football, Pokemon and geography.
Teaching Focuses
ESL classes in Kitchener
First Step's classes are the fastest way to improve your English. Teachers use their extensive teaching and learning experiences to help you deeply connect and engage with English!
Business english
Teachers specializing in business have developed the craft of professional communication with many years of working in marketing. Business English classes teach students how to write emails, conduct presentations, improve copywriting & more.
Homework & essay help
English homework & essay writing can be challenging. Identify errors & improve your marks with one of our teachers.
IELTS
Improve your IELTS Band score with a certified IELTS instructor. Classes are focused on improving your listening, reading, writing, and speaking scores. In addition, lessons also help you become familiar with the exam format and practicing exam taking strategies.
Classes for Children
Fun and engagement are the key when it comes to teaching online ESL classes for children! In addition to conversational English, phonics fundamentals and grammar, children’s lessons include games, stories, and exploring topics that capture students’ imagination. Special classes include Pokemon, global travelling, breaking news, science, history, mythical creatures, Mario, STEM, LEGO, Harry Potter reading classes, ghosts, Christmas, Halloween, and debate class. Online and in-person classes available for all classes.
Register with First Step English
Class Details
Classes Offered: English lessons, Business English, IELTS, essay writing and homework help, ESL classes in Kitchener and online are offered for students of any age (as young as 2 and as old as 64+).
Group Classes: group classes may be available for your level or can be opened. Group classes cost $225 to $285 per student. Please confirm the class cost in our upcoming class schedule. Please email the school at learn@firststeplanguages.com for group class availability.
In-Person and Online Classes: in person classes are offered in Kitchener, Ontario and online classes are available to students around the world!
Class Times: classes are available between 06:00 and 23:00 Eastern Standard time, Monday to Friday. For class availability, fill the form below.
Private Classes: classes are $40.00 CAD per hour (taxes included). The cost of a 10 class 10 hour package is $375.00 CAD.
Payment Methods: class payment can be made via e-transfer to learn@firststeplangauges.com, credit card/Paypal (completed on this page), or direct bank transfer (available for Taiwan, Mainland China, South Korea and the USA).
Join our English Immersion Summer Camp!
來參加我們的英語夏令營!
We welcome students aged 6 to 13 from around the world to join our 20-day language immersion camp in Ontario for elementary school students. We invite, students, parents, teachers, and schools to join in this unforgettable experience. Creating the right language environment is essential for effective learning. In our Ontario summer camp, students will not only immerse themselves in English but also experience the beauty of Canada while forming friendships with children their age from Canada. Weekdays will be filled with exciting activities, as students engage with local Canadian kids at YMCA and another nearby camp. Evenings will feature curated experiences, including farm visits, ice hockey games, tours of Canada’s Google headquarters, and more. Weekends are reserved for exploring iconic locations like Niagara Falls, Toronto, and other scenic spots! Join us for an unforgettable summer of language and cultural immersion!
We welcome any schools who want to partner with our program to email us!
contact us
Got any questions about our English private or group classes or camps? Fill the below form, give us a call or email us!
Contact Us
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Summer 2025 Term
A2 Upper Beginner Level 2
Group Class for Adults Section 2
Who: adults (ages 16+) with some experience in English who already know basic vocabulary, phrases, grammar and pronunciation but struggle with conversing in English.
Time: Fri, 10:15 - 11:15am
Start Date: July 4th, 2025
End Date: Sept 5th, 2025
Location: Online
B1 Intermediate Level 3
Group Class for Adults Section 1
Who: adults (ages 16+) who intermediate learners and wanting to improve their fluency in daily life situations.
Time: Fri, 10:15 - 11:15am
Start Date: July 4th, 2025
End Date: Sept 5th, 2025
Location: Online
B1 Intermediate Level 3
Group Class for Adults Section 3
Who: adults (ages 16+) who intermediate learners and wanting to improve their fluency in daily life situations.
Time: Fri, 8:15 - 9:45pm (May 30th and June 6th), Wed 5:30 to 7:00pm (June 18th to Aug 6th)
Start Date: May 30th, 2025
End Date: Aug 1st, 2025
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
B2 Upper Intermediate Level 4
In-Person Class for Adults
Who: adults (ages 16+) who intermediate learners and wanting to improve their fluency in daily life situations.
Time: Fri, 8:15 - 9:45pm (May 30th and June 6th), Wed 5:30 to 7:00pm (June 18th to Aug 6th)
Start Date: May 30th, 2025
End Date: Aug 1st, 2025
Location: 50 Ottawa St South, Kitchener