English courses (ESOL) in the UK

Further education colleges, adult education centres and councils offer ESOL courses at several levels (Pre-Entry, Entry 1-3 and Level 1-2), and your level is assessed with a placement test (initial assessment).

• In England ESOL is funded partly or fully for eligible residents (refugees, asylum seekers after a period and those receiving UC or JSA or low-income) and documents are requested: ID, proof of address, proof of income or benefits, immigration status.
• You find courses via Find a course on the National Careers Service and on college sites.
• And community organisations (Refugee Action, Migrant Help, Caritas and Action for Refugees) and volunteer groups organise free lessons and conversation groups.
• And libraries offer conversation cafes.
• And the Jobcentre may refer you to free ESOL courses.
• Register early since waiting lists are sometimes long.

Private language schools (International House, EF, Kaplan, Bell and education UK) offer intensive general courses or exam preparation or business English at prices from 200 to 500 pounds a week, and suit visitors and students with suitable visas.

• Choose a school accredited by the British Council Accreditation UK or English UK to guarantee quality.
• And there are online private lessons at prices from 10 to 30 pounds an hour (italki, Preply and Cambly).
• And evening and holiday courses may suit workers.
• And universities offer pre-sessional English courses for foreign students before study.
• And for low-income individuals Adult Learning Grants or college grants may be offered.
• Check hidden prices, materials and cancellation terms before paying, and do not pay the whole amount in advance to an unknown school.

The European framework (CEFR) measures your levels from A1 to C2, and in Britain the ESOL levels correspond: Entry 1 approximates A1, Entry 2 approximates A2, Entry 3 approximates B1, Level 1 approximates B2, and Level 2 approximates C1.

• You need B1 for permanent residence and citizenship, and B2 for many professional visas (skilled worker) and for university admission (6.0 to 7.0 IELTS).
• The main exams: IELTS (Academic for universities and General Training for immigration) and IELTS for UKVI, Cambridge English (B2 First and C1 Advanced), Trinity ISE, Pearson PTE Academic, LanguageCert, and Functional Skills English, a British qualification for work.
• Not all exams are accepted for every visa, so check the Home Office list (SELT) before booking.
• And exams cost about 150 to 250 pounds.
• And IELTS results are valid for two years.
• Register early since dates fill.

Define your goal: work, study, citizenship or daily life.

• Take a free placement test (British Council LearnEnglish Test).
• Choose a course with a schedule that suits your work and family (mornings, evenings or weekends) and transport, and ask about class size.
• Practise the exam samples published on the IELTS and Cambridge sites.
• Set aside an hour a day for study.
• Focus on listening and speaking.
• Learn five new words daily with a flashcard app, and watch BBC news and programmes with subtitles, and listen to podcasts in simple English.
• Write a simple daily diary.
• And speak with neighbours, colleagues and shop staff.
• And record your voice to notice your pronunciation.
• And do not fear mistakes, since Britons are tolerant and value the attempt.

For free self-learning use BBC Learning English, the British Council LearnEnglish and Learn English at Home and the Duolingo platform and YouTube channels such as English with Lucy and BBC Learning English, and vocabulary apps.

• Read simplified news (News in Levels) and graded readers from the library.
• And make friends with speakers via groups (Meetup) and volunteering associations.
• For university study you often need IELTS 6.0-7.0 or its equivalent, and many universities offer pre-sessional courses to complete the level.
• Routes include: a foundation year, and Access to HE courses for adults.
• Apply via UCAS for universities, and you may have the right to student loans (Student Finance) according to your status.
• Look for scholarships for refugees (Sanctuary Scholarships).
• And to continue choose a vocational route such as an apprenticeship combining work and learning with pay.

What is ESOL?