English courses

ESOL classes are for you if you want to improve your skills, be more confident in your use of English as a second language and get more out of your life.

Our courses can help you to:

  • Gain confidence
  • Communicate better in your daily life
  • Complete everyday tasks in English
  • Develop your digital skills
  • Gain a qualification
  • Study for further qualifications
  • Apply for jobs
  • Progress in your job

Studying with us will help you develop your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. It'll be done in friendly and supportive classes taught by our experienced teachers who specialise in working with adults.

Course content

Our courses are designed to help you improve your ability to talk, listen, read and write in English. In your course you'll also focus on improving your grammar, spelling and punctuation skills as well as growing your vocabulary, study skills and skills for work.

The topics you can study have been chosen to help you gain confidence and improve your English. Where possible, content will be adapted to include topics and skills that are relevant to you.

Topics include:

  • Me and my health
  • British culture
  • Communication at work
  • Travel and transport
  • Hobbies and interests
  • Finding a job
  • sport and keeping fit

Course options

Your teacher will work with you to assess your existing English skills so that you study at a level that's appropriate for you:

  • Pre-entry: for beginners
  • Entry level: for those with some English skills. Entry level courses start at entry level 1, and you can progress onto entry level 2 and entry level 3.
  • Level 1 and level 2: for those who are confident in using English in familiar situations but wish to develop further skills to help them progress.
    If you are studying at Pre-entry: you will improve your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, vocabulary and grammar and you can join these classes termly.
    If you are studying at any other Level, you can study one or more of:
  • ESOL speaking and listening
  • ESOL reading
  • ESOL writing

You can also start learning part way through a term by joining a getting started class. These take place once a week. You will start to develop your skills and your teacher will assess you to make sure that you start at a level of course that is right for you.

Courses currently take place at Wellington House, with some content for higher levels learners delivered online. We are hoping to run more classes in the community soon, at local libraries for instance, so please contact us for the latest information on where you can study.

Who can attend?

Our ESOL courses are for adult learners: this means that you must be aged 19 years or over on August 31st 2022 to be able to study courses taking place between September 2022 and July 2023
Most people with a settled status will be able to attend. Sometimes though your current status might prevent you for the time being. If you want to check if you're eligible, take a look at our information about eligibility.

How much will it cost?

Courses running between January and July 2023 will be free for everyone.  After this date, if you're on a low income, unemployed or on means tested benefits you probably won't have to pay or could at least get a discount.

We'll talk to you about your individual situation and explain everything before you enrol. We'll make it clear about any evidence you need to provide or any fee you would need to pay.

What our learners say

  • Thanks to my new skills, I read English newspapers and books with a much greater understanding and I've better communication with my friends.
    ESOL adult learner
  • I use my new skills to communicate with my co-workers to share my ideas at work
    Adult learner
  • I like learning English, my tutor teaches very well and explains things clearly, no matter how many times we ask.
    ESOL adult learner