Yellowknife (Jun 28/06) - Shibi George often finds herself at the doctor's office translating for her friends.

The nurse, who works at Stanton Territorial Hospital, is on a work visa from India. She is awaiting approval on her landed immigrant status.

She speaks English, but she says some of her fellow countrymen and women on work visas don't, and aren't given the opportunity to learn the language in Yellowknife.

"There are those who are trying to get into the courses and can't," says George who has been here for two years.

She says they can't go to the classes because they are not landed immigrants.

And in order to become a landed immigrant, they have to show some proficiency in English.

"We are all here on work visas, which we must do in order to apply for landed immigrant status," George says.

"If people get more opportunity to learn English - just like landed immigrants - it will be very good because it (not knowing English) is affecting their personal life."

In Yellowknife, there are English as a Second Language courses offered by Aurora College and Norquest College has a long distance program in Edmonton.

The programs are free, though only Aurora College offers the programs to anyone - including people with work visas.

"Anybody who is a resident in Yellowknife is welcome in our ESL classes," says Steve Bonhomme, Dean of Education at Aurora College.

"There is no charge for tuition, although students are expected to make minimum purchases of textbooks."

For Norquest College's rural delivery program language instruction for newcomers to Canada (LINC), there are very specific criteria for who can join.

"Only those who are landed immigrants or have permanent status," says Val Braden, instructor for the LINC program.

"It is free to them due to federal government funding."

Because students work different types of hours and then take care of their children, Braden says LINC will go to their homes for schooling.

"There is a big need for ESL services in Yellowknife," Braden says. "We are not reaching all of them.

Charles Dent, minister of education for the territorial government, says it is the federal government's responsibility to fund ESL services for immigrants.

"When I meet with the federal immigration minister, I will bring up the need for more ESL funding for immigrants."