Skills for life and work

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This qualification is designed to help you build practical English skills for everyday life, work, and further study. Whether you're writing emails, reading instructions, or speaking in meetings, this course gives you the confidence and ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Important Notice for Prospective Students 

Enrolment process: 

      Please note that enrolment on this course has a 2-stage process. 

1. A written reading and writing initial assessment 

1. A short 10–15-minute interview with one of our assessors. 

This process is important as the course is demanding and requires a high level of commitment. We want to ensure that you are well-prepared and can achieve your true potential. 

Funding eligibility: 

Students are eligible to complete only one Level 2 qualification for free, either GCSE or Functional Skills Level 2. If you choose to complete Functional Skills Level 2 first, you can NOT then proceed to complete the GCSE for free. 

This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here

This course will help you get become confident in your everyday communication including reading and writing. We will focus on topics that interest you and use these to help you improve the key elements of reading and writing as well as communication skills to enable you to express your thoughts and feelings including in difficult situations. You will learn to how write whole sentences and paragraphs, use adjectives effectively, organise your writing, make notes and complete drafts, spell important common words, use punctuation correctly and develop reading and writing strategies most suited to you. And you will learn some digital skills including reading and finding information from websites.

This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here

Do you speak English with confidence but still find grammar confusing? Have you been learning for years but feel unsure about sentence structure or using more accurate forms when speaking or writing? This course is designed to help you review and practise key grammar points at Entry 3 / Level 1, so you can strengthen your understanding and communicate more clearly. You will focus on building more accurate sentences and using grammar confidently in everyday situations. Through practical speaking and writing activities, you’ll consolidate the grammar skills needed at this level. Whether you're looking to refresh your knowledge or fill in the gaps, this course will support you in becoming a more accurate and effective English user.

You can join the course during terms 1,2 and 3.

You need to do a short test before joining.

Contact: universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk or call 0204 582 0423

This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here

This is the Entry 3 ESOL Writing unit of the course to give you confidence in writing for everyday life, work and study. You will learn how write formal or informal topics using the right grammar and vocabulary. You will focus on planning and organising writing into paragraphs and writing clear introductions and conclusions. Through practical tasks and guided support, you’ll learn how to structure your writing, use correct grammar and punctuation, expand your vocabulary and write for different real-life situations — all in a supportive and practical environment.

 

You can join the course during term 3. You need to do a short test before joining. Contact: universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk or call 0204 582 0423

This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here

This is the Level 1 ESOL Writing unit to help you build confidence and accuracy when writing in English for everyday, academic, and work-related purposes. At Level 1, you will learn to write clearly, using appropriate tone, vocabulary, and grammar. You will practise writing emails, forms, letters, notes, and short texts such as descriptions, stories, or opinions.

 

This course runs during term 3. You need to do a short test before joining. Contact: universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk or call 0204 582 0423

This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here

Can you speak, read, and write a little English but want to do more? This course will help you speak more clearly, write better emails and messages, and understand others more easily. You will learn more grammar, new words, and improve your pronunciation. By the end of the course, you will feel more confident speaking English in daily life.

 

You can join the course during terms 1,2 or 3. You need to do a short test before joining. Contact: universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk or call 0204 582 0423

This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here

This is the Level 2 ESOL Writing unit to develop your confidence and ability to write clearly, accurately, and appropriately in different contexts. You will learn how to write for formal, academic, and everyday purposes, preparing you for the ESOL Skills for Life Writing Level 2 exam, accredited by the English Speaking Board (ESB). 

 

The course focuses on developing effective planning, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and proofreading skills, and is ideal if you are aiming to study, work, or live independently in the UK. 

 

This course runs during term 3. 

You need to do a short test before joining. 
Contact: universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk or call 0204 582 0423 

This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here

Do you speak English as a second language? Do you want to practise your speaking and listening skills in an immersive and engaging environment? Want to practise making good conversation? Would you like to improve your fluency and learn social cues, norms and natural key phrases we use in the English language? The conversation club will allow you to develop your verbal and non-verbal communication skills. You will meet different people on the course and explore different themes and topics.

You can join the course during terms 1,2 and 3.

You need to do a short test before joining.

Contact: universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk or call 0204 582 0423

This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here