ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

Understanding your English level can be difficult. Whereas the use of the CEFR framework (The CEFR Levels (coe.int)) is common in many countries, it is only used by some organisations in the UK. Most government-funded programmes use the ESOL or Skills for Life levels (these are pre-entry or New to ESOL, Entry 1, 2 and 3 then Level 1 and Level 2). This table shows how the CEFR and ESOL levels compare and what can be achieved when a person has English at a specified level.

The table below details the criteria for each level under the CEFR framework

In order to facilitate international comparisons and enable you to understand a range of common ESOL exams on offer, please refer to this website The Cambridge English Scale - information for institutions and in particular the table shown there.

This table: British Education System and Equivalency - Study in the UK with UNI Britannica shows that if you have an ESOL Level 2 qualification or equivalent at B2 or C1 (e.g. Cambridge B2 First, IELTS around 6.0 or higher), you can progress to a range of other courses and can access university (Levels 3-7).

If you want to improve your English there are various things you can do. Some people prefer formal classes and may want to take an exam like IELTS. For other people, improving their spoken English and learning about life in the UK is more important. We understand that people have different needs so the Hong Kong Welcome Hub has arranged the following options for you. You are welcome to choose one or more of these options to suit your wishes and needs.

The government funding only allows for a small number of classes. Generally the following options will provide around 3 hours per week face-to-face in a local class with a teacher. These courses are arranged in conjunction with your local authority, so that you can benefit from the government funding of up to £850 per person for ESOL. When signing up please inform the provider that you are on the BN(O) visa route.  They will also wish to check that you live in the local area.

Please choose the provision for your location:

Bedfordshire 

• Bedford College English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – NA048 | Bedford College (bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk) – scroll down to view course options. Also contact Bedford ESOL website for informal and other options

Cambridgeshire

• Cambridge Regional College, Courses - Cambridge Regional College (camre.ac.uk) search for ESOL and EFL

• Cambridgeshire County Council: Cambridgeshire Skills offers a wide range of fully funded ESOL courses in a variety of community locations across Cambridgeshire and online:  Search here: Find a Course | ontrack: Learner Hub (tribal-ebs.com)

• City College Peterborough, email [email protected]
• Peterborough College, Course Search | Peterborough College – search for ESOL
• GLADCA, Peterborough ESOL Courses : Gladca

Essex 

• You can attend classes organised by Adult Education Courses & Apprenticeships in Essex | ACL Essex. Please contact [email protected] to enrol for assessment.

Hertfordshire

• Step2Skills County wide provision: Step2Skills offer ESOL classes across Hertfordshire. Step2Skills adult learning (hertfordshire.gov.uk) – search for ESOL.
• Bishops Stortford – If you are in Bishops Stortford, please register your interest with Justin Leung and we will update you on classes. 
• Hertford / Ware, WGC, Broxbourne: EM Skills: English and maths - EMSkills Ltd English & maths courses for Adult Learning   please email [email protected]
• Stevenage / Hitchin, Royston, Letchworth: Contact Step2Skills: Step2Skills adult learning (hertfordshire.gov.uk) and in particular Looking for an English or Maths qualification and live in Hertfordshire? . Also contact ATN HAFLS (adult-training.org.uk) and ask for the courses funded through Step2Skills
• St Albans / Hatfield / Harpenden: Oaklands College ESOL & EFL | Course Area | Courses | Oaklands College – ask for ESOL courses funded through Step2Skills
• Watford: Watford Women’s Centre  ESOL Courses (wwcplus.org.uk). This organisation welcomes men and women to their ESOL classes
• Hemel Hempstead / Berkhamsted - Community Action Dacorum creative-learning.org.uk

• Also contact ATN Home (adult-training.org.uk) and ask for the courses funded through Step2Skills

Norfolk

• English+: English+ Norwich - Free English Classes in Norwich (englishplus.org.uk) If you are interested in lessons please email [email protected]

Suffolk 

• register your interest by contacting us at [email protected]

   

If you are located in an area in the East of England About - East of England Local Government Marketplace (eelga.gov.uk) that is not listed here for ESOL provision, please contact us at [email protected]

If you have any problems accessing the provision listed above, please contact us at [email protected]

For online lessons you must have a computer/laptop and a quiet working environment.

We are funding a limited number of places on the following online courses, so you can attend free of charge. 

Please be aware that these courses are only for BNO visa holders and their dependants living in the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk). If you do not reside in the East of England, please contact the Hong Kong Welcome Hub in your region to find out about ESOL in your area.

You can sign up here

The courses will begin in January 2024 and end in July

Course times are below

All Levels: Monday Wednesday Friday 0930-1230 [WSC4311]

A1: Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday 1100-1400 [CAD4311]

A1: Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays 0900-1100 [SLC4311]

A2: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 1800-2000 [SLC4322]

B1: Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 1800-2100 [CAD4321]

B1: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1000-1300 [CAD4312]

B1: Tuesday and Thursday 0930-1230 [SLC4212]

B1: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 1800-2000 [SLC4323]

B2: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1800-2000 [SLC4321]

B2: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 0930-1230 [SLC4312]

C1: Wednesdays and Fridays 0930-1230 星期3及5[SLC4211]

Thanks to the South West Hong Kong Welcome Hub and NATECLA, here is a list of free online ESOL resources:

Websites:

• ESOL UK: https://esoluk.co.uk/index.php
• ESOL courses: https://www.esolcourses.com/sitemap/sitemap.html
• Using English.com: https://www.usingenglish.com/
• We speak NYC: https://wespeaknyc.cityofnewyork.us/
• British Council | Learn English:https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/
• Future Learn: https://www.futurelearn.com/partners/british-council
• Spotlight Radio: https://spotlightenglish.com/
• BBC Learning English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/
• English My Way: https://www.englishmyway.co.uk/
• Breaking News English: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/easy-news-english.html
• Cambridge English: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/index.htm
• Teaching ESOL Literacy Online: https://emilybrysonelt.com/2020/08/18/teaching-esol-literacy-online/
• Listening lessons with ‘Ello’: https://elllo.org/

Youtube:

• Oxford Online English: https://www.youtube.com/user/oxfordonlineenglish/playlists
• Joel and Lia: https://www.youtube.com/user/joelandlia/playlists
• English Like a Native: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Hg2Ks00kCekyjZG_LxOmg/playlists
• To Fluency: https://www.youtube.com/user/tofluency/playlists
• BBC Leaning English: https://www.youtube.com/user/bbclearningenglish/playlists
• English Snacks: https://www.youtube.com/c/EnglishSnacks/videos
• Cathy Mcintosh: https://www.youtube.com/c/cathymcintosh/videos
• Reading practice/Daily news: https://breakingnewsenglish.com/

Learn English with social media and Apps:

• BBC Learn English on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbclearningenglish.multimedia/
• BBC Learn English on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bbcle
• British Council on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachingEnglish.BritishCouncil/?hc_ref=ARR5kCpBPR2NHaEVtXQIM45-RAOfTRRmb7P55pWd3Z89kQxf4fau130klGrfLeiqnJA&fref=nf
• English Grammar Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnglishGrammarClubs/
• BBC Learn English App: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/app

Pronunciation practice:

• BBC Learning English – pronunciation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/pronunciation
• You Tube pronunciation classes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcZskyb2IXq53zmwaiQhVq7bnSWQ2ytKX
• 45 sounds of English: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcZskyb2IXq53zmwaiQhVq7bnSWQ2ytKX

Citizenship

• ESOL Courses, Life in the UK: https://www.esolcourses.com/content/topicsmenu/life-in-the-uk.html
• Life in the UK – Official App: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/official-life-in-the-uk-test/id632064672
• Applying for UK Citizenship: https://www.esolcourses.com/esol-courses/esol-courses-in-the-uk/esol-courses-with-citizenship-faq.html
• Life in the UK test practice: https://lifeintheuktests.co.uk/life-in-the-uk-test/

Younger children:

Websites:

• FREE Printable Books for Early Reading: https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/learn-english-free-books/
• British Council, Learn English Kids: https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/
• Twinkl EAL: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/inclusion-teaching-resources/eal-inclusion-teaching-resources
• Games to Learn English: https://www.gamestolearnenglish.com/
• English club – English for babies: https://www.englishclub.com/babies/

YouTube:

• British Council, Learn English Kids: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qWJlvaPME3MWvrY-yjXeA
• English through Disney Cartoons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3hnyQ86mao
• Fun Kids English: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4P8csyQKa2_0D5-VtITRIg

Teenagers:

Websites:

• British Council | Learn English Teens: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/
• ESOL for Learners :https://esol.britishcouncil.org/
• News in Levels: https://www.newsinlevels.com/
• English File: https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
• Headway: https://elt.oup.com/student/headway/beg/?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
• BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
• Future Learn | Basic English 1: Elementary: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/basic-english-elementary

YouTube:

• British Council | Learn English Teens: https://www.youtube.com/user/BCLearnEnglishTeens
• Learn English with Papa Teach Me: https://www.youtube.com/c/papateachme
• GoEnglish: https://www.youtube.com/user/WatchandLearnEnglish

I cannot find the times for face to face courses on the provider's website

Please contact the provider for the updated course schedule.

Are the courses free?

We have found lots of different ways to fund courses for BN(O) visa holders in the East of England, so you can learn English free of charge.

None of the courses suit me!

Please contact us at [email protected]