Take a class at an established, recognized English-as-a-second-language (ESL) school. Toronto is home to some of Canada's biggest ESL centers, including the Pacific Language Institute, which runs yearlong and semester-long programs for business English communications; the English School of Canada, accredited by the Canadian Association of Private Language Schools; and the Hansa Language Centre, Canada's oldest and largest language school. Most of Toronto's ESL schools are conveniently located downtown, near major public-transit stops.
Consult your local ethnic or immigrant community center, which can usually provide English-language assistance and specialized cultural help. For example, they can help with the difficulties of learning a pronunciation style that differs from your native language.
Purchase English-language dictionaries and study guides. Dual-language dictionaries can help you compare English words with definitions in your native language, and study guides often come in pocket-sized versions and are especially useful when you are traveling. These resources are not intended to teach you the intricacies of the English language, but they can help you expand your vocabulary. Toronto's Chapters bookstore chain has a large English-language section in each of its stores.
Practice by reading a daily newspaper or similar English-language publications. The Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun are the city's two biggest newspapers, and the Globe and Mail is Canada's largest national newspaper. Focus on each word and try to read an entire story without stopping. If you encounter an unfamiliar word, underline it and consult your dictionary when you have finished reading. Reading these publications can expand your English vocabulary and can help you understand colloquialisms and common slang that you may not have learned in your English classes.
As an alternative to Toronto's ESL centers, use software such as the popular Rosetta Stone program to learn English at home. You can purchase Rosetta Stone software directly online (see Resources) or at the Eaton Centre mall or Fairview Mall in downtown Toronto.