What will I learn?
You will increase your confidence in English and develop your speaking and listening, reading and writing skills, whilst working towards an ESOL Skills for Life qualification at an appropriate level for you. This will help you gain the necessary skills that may be required for employment, further education and day-to-day life in the UK.

What will I need to take part?
We recommend that you have a pencil, a pen and a notepad during the session, further resources are provided in Google Classroom. If this is an online course, a laptop, PC or tablet and a stable internet connection will be needed.

What to expect?
ESOL courses are mixed levels ranging from Entry 1 to Entry 3. You will complete an initial assessment to make sure you work towards a level that is right for you. Each course consists of two 2-hour lessons each week and lasts for approximately 24 weeks. You will progress faster if you complete all your homework and practice as much as you can at home. You will be expected to attend classes regularly and commit to attending and taking an exam at the end of the unit. If you are doing an online course, you will be sent the Google Classroom joining information and the link for the live video lessons by email, prior to the start date of the course.

Where can it lead to?
You could progress to the next level in ESOL which includes Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing. Once you have achieved a full Entry 3 qualification, you could progress to an English Functional Skills course at Level 1 and then Level 2. This ESOL course is accredited by City & Guilds. Information, advice and guidance on further learning and progression will be available during the course.

Course eligibility and fees
ESOL courses are free for learners that are unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Universal Credit or employed and earn below £27,750 per year. Learners who earn over that amount are still welcome to attend the course, but will be expected to make a financial contribution for each unit which you can pay as you go. To be eligible for an ESOL course for free you must also meet our eligibility requirements. This includes having lived in the UK/EEA for the last 3 years and if from an EU/EEA country must have a pre -settled or settled status, this rule does not apply for those granted a refugee status. UK nationals in an EEA country do not qualify unless they have recently returned to the UK. International students can still enrol on this course but will not have access to funding and will have to pay a financial contribution for each unit which can be paid as you go. Eligibility requirements for a free ESOL course are summarised below. Aged 19 or over on 31st August of the funding year UK nationals and other persons with right of abode UK nationals in the EEA EEA nationals in the UK Other non-UK nationals Asylum Seekers who have resided in the UK for 6 months or more Unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or - Universal Credit or if employed and earning below £25,750 per year. Eligibility requirements can be complicated, so the important thing is to always ask us if you are not sure what support you are entitled to. For more information or to see whether you qualify contact Adult Learning Northants or fill out our Online Eligibility Checker tool to see whether you might qualify - https://forms.office.com/e/Wv2Mb9nSz6