Introduction to ESOL

Introduction

ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages.  Over Glasgow, there are more than 3,000 people studying ESOL.

 

What happens on an ESOL course?

Your ESOL course will focus on using English to communicate, giving you the opportunity to practice and study the language you need for your life, your work or studies.  For example, at lower levels you might practise things such as making an appointment or describing your family; at higher levels you might write a CV and job application. 

Your course will include work using the four language skills of speaking and writing (the productive skills) and listening and reading (the receptive skills).  The table below describes some of the ways you will develop each skill.

Language Skills

The Productive Skills:

Speaking and Writing

 

The Receptive Skills:

Listening and Reading

§         Use a range of grammatical structures

§         Use a variety of vocabulary

§         Provide the correct information in an organised way

§         When speaking use understandable pronunciation

§         When writing use correct spelling, punctuation and layout

 

§         Understand different speakers and types of writing.

§         Identify the purpose of a piece of reading or a speaker.

§         Identify points of information in a reading or listening text

§         Understand the layout of a written text

 

 

Alongside skills work, your ESOL class will contain work on language awareness where you study English grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.  The Downloads section of this website contains a short Language Study Booklet. 

Your ESOL course will include lots of different language learning activities such as exercises, games, role-plays, and discussions to help improve your English.  As part of these, your teacher will encourage you to speak to other students in pairs and groups to maximise opportunities for language learning.

ESOL Learners in Class

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hard-working groups

learners exchanging information

 

Think about which types of activity help you to learn best.  The Downloads section of this website provides a Personal Learning Plan to help you to think about what you want to learn and how you might do this.

PHOTO: Abdullah Rasuli

“My ESOL course helped me to go shopping, travelling or registering my name with a doctor because we learned these things.”

Abdullah Rasuli from Afghanistan

 
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