ESOL - communication skills for life and work (entry 3 reading and writing)

What is the course about?

This is the second half of a year long course which will give you confidence using English for work, study and socialising. You will practise reading, writing and speaking and listening but you will focus more on reading and writing and take Entry 3 ESOL Reading and Writing exams if you are ready. You will practise being able to talk and write about common topics such as living in the UK or work and describing people, places and objects using different tenses - present simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, present perfect and future forms. You will learn how write short emails, letters or articles on a formal or informal topics using the right grammar and vocabulary. You will focus on planning and organising your writing into paragraphs and writing clear introductions and conclusion. You will read about interesting everyday topics and practise finding information and understanding the general meaning of stories, descriptions, messages, signs, notices, letter and emails. You will work on speaking fluently and extending your vocabulary about everyday topics and how to spell the words. You will practise asking and answering questions in different tenses and improving your pronunciation.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

You will practise reading, writing and speaking and listening but you will focus more on reading and writing in order to prepare for reading and writing exams. Each class will focus on a certain topic such as life in the UK, different cultures, work, technology, health and enjoyment. You will focus on:
• developing your everyday conversations including asking and answering questions using different tenses
• speaking fluently and writing on common topics using different tenses accurately - present simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, present perfect and future forms
• developing your vocabulary on a range of topics and spelling words correctly
• understanding everyday conversations and short recordings
• writing short emails, letters and messages – formal and informal.
• writing descriptions of people, places and objects
• organising your writing into paragraphs and writing clear introductions and conclusion
• punctuating accurately
• reading for details and for understanding the gist of stories, descriptions, messages, signs, notices, letter and emails.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• use your English to participate in general everyday life – at home, in the street and at work
• pass the English Speaking Board ESOL reading and writing exams
• engage in everyday conversations including asking and answering questions using different tenses including present simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, present perfect and future forms
• pronounce auxiliaries (do, does, did, was, were, has, had, am, is, are) correctly in questions, answers and sentences
• speaking fluently on common topics using different tenses - present simple, present continuous,
• past simple, past continuous, present perfect and future forms - with a good degree of accuracy.
• use a range of vocabulary to talk and write about topics such as life in the UK, different cultures, work, technology, health and enjoyment.
• understanding details in everyday conversations and short recordings (TV/radio, phone messages, group discussions)
• write short emails, letters and messages – formal and informal – with a good degree of accuracy e.g. to family, friends, work, companies
• write descriptions of people, places and objects with good use of adjectives including comparatives and superlatives
• organise your writing into paragraphs and write clear introductions and conclusions
• use full stops, commas, capital letters and other basic punctuation accurately
• find details and understand the general meaning of stories, descriptions, messages, signs, notices, letter and emails

By the end of this course you will also have improved your digital skills through use of Google Classroom, the internet and Microsoft Word.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is an Entry 3 pre-intermediate course (B1). This course is ideal for you if you can ask and answer questions on personal information, routines, likes and dislikes, use present simple and past simple, and write short paragraphs. Now you want to talk and write about more complicated topics.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn in a supportive and welcoming environment with an emphasis on your discovering how to do and complete tasks, with guidance from the tutor. You will work on your own and with other students on different tasks so you are always practising important in-demand life and work skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, prioritising, negotiating, collaborating and independence. You will learn in a step by step manner so you can complete challenging tasks in enjoyable and relaxing ways. Your tutor will also work with you individually so you know how to improve and how to work in a way that improves your learning. You will need to do work outside the classroom and use Google Classroom to help you.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need a pen, some lined A4 paper and a file to keep your work in. Your tutor will provide handouts and worksheets.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

There are many courses you can do before, at the same time or after this course. These include:
• ESOL, maths and digital skills - for life and work (entry 2-entry 3)
• ESOL - communication skills for life and work (entry 3 speaking and listening)
• Grammar in practice: pre-intermediate (entry 2- entry 3)
• ESOL: Learn English and learn about London, its people and your rights (entry 3-level 1)
• ESOL: Develop your speaking and listening skills (entry 3-level 1)
• Communication skills: how to speak with confidence inside and outside work (ESOL entry 3- level 1)
• Workplace communication skills: how to be confident and do well in interviews (ESOL entry 3-level 1)
• ESOL - communication skills for life and work (level 1 speaking and listening)

For more information, talk with your tutor or contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.