ESOL: Speaking & Listening
Courses In London & Online
Do you want to focus on your speaking and listening, your fluency and your pronunciation? These courses will help you express yourself when talking inside and outside work, in formal and informal situations. You will also understand other people better in conversations or on the radio, internet, TV and films.
What is the best course for me?
You need to do a pre-course assessment. You can also do it online, but a face-to-face assessment is best.
- Online assessment - click ‘Start Assessment’ on the course page
- Or book a face-to-face assessment - call 0204 582 0423 or contact us by email at universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk for an appointment. You can also come without an appointment.
Times:
- Every Monday 12- 2pm
- Every Wednesday 6-8pm
- Every Friday 11am-1pm (23rd August – 6th October)
The courses are FREE to most learners if you earn less than £21,547.50 a year or are on Universal Credit, JSA or ESA (WRAG). They are either in the City Lit building or are live online interactive classes. For online courses, you will need a computer with a microphone, a camera and the internet.
- ESOL - communication skills for life and work - level 1 (Reading)
Course start date: Mon 7 Sep 2026 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
This is the Level 1 ESOL Reading unit to give you confidence in reading straightforward and some complex texts for work, study and everyday life. At Level 1, you will develop the confidence and ability to read and understand a variety of texts including emails, letters, articles, forms, profiles, books, newspapers, and websites. The course will help you identify key information, understand vocabulary in context, and interpret meaning in a range of reading materials.
This course runs during term 1. 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
Full fee £339.00 Senior fee £339.00 Concession £237.00 - ESOL - communication skills for life and work - level 2 (Reading) Course start date: Tue 8 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This is the Level 2 ESOL Reading unit to help you become confident in understanding more complex written texts used in work, education, and daily life in the UK. This course supports you in reading a wide range of authentic texts and preparing for the ESOL Skills for Life Level 2 Reading exam, accredited by the English Speaking Board (ESB).
You will practise reading strategies, develop critical reading skills, and learn how to compare and analyse texts in detail. This course also supports your progress to Functional Skills English or further academic study.
This course runs during term 1.
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
Full fee £339.00 Senior fee £339.00 Concession £237.00 - Conversation Club Course start date: Tue 22 Sep 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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.
This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
Full fee £195.00 Senior fee £195.00 Concession £137.00 - English dialogue: speaking, listening, pronunciation, performance (level 1-2) Course start date: Thu 1 Oct 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to sound more natural and expressive when speaking English? Are you interested in exploring how pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation affect meaning? This engaging course gives you the opportunity to experiment with spoken English through everyday dialogues and well-known plays-and even create your own!
You’ll work on how to perform and enact speech, focusing on linking and chunking words, developing rhythm and stress, improving fluency, and expressing meaning clearly. You’ll use authentic language rather than the often artificial examples found in textbooks.
Although performance is part of the course, no acting experience is required-just a willingness to participate and explore. By writing and performing your own dialogues, you’ll also strengthen your writing skills and collaborate with classmates to create and present a 5-minute play by the end of the course!
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
Full fee £195.00 Senior fee £156.00 Concession £98.00 - ESOL - communication skills for life and work -level 1 (Speaking and Listening) Course start date: Mon 16 Nov 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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
Full fee £452.00 Senior fee £452.00 Concession £316.00 - ESOL - communication skills for life and work -level 1 (Writing) Course start date: Mon 16 Nov 2026 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
This is the Level 1 ESOL Speaking & Listening unit to give you confidence in using English in a range of everyday, study, and work-related situations. At Level 1, you will build your ability to communicate clearly, fluently, and appropriately in both familiar and unfamiliar settings. You will take part in discussions, express your opinions, give presentations, and listen for specific information in spoken texts such as announcements, interviews, and conversations.
You’ll develop the skills needed to communicate effectively and prepare for the ESOL Level 1 Speaking & Listening exam.
This course runs during term 2. 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
Full fee £638.00 Senior fee £638.00 Concession £447.00 - Communication skills: developing your writing, speaking and digital skills through creating a radio programme (ESOL level 1-2)Course start date: Thu 14 Jan 2027 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to develop your writing and speaking skills while also improving your digital skills? In this interactive course, you will write, present, and record short radio programmes on topics such as current news, arts, hobbies, and other areas that interest you.
Through this creative process, you will build confidence in your communication skills-learning how to emphasise meaning, choose the right words, speak and write concisely, use an appropriate tone, and create emotion in your audience. You will also work on pronunciation, fluency, and editing techniques, and you will gain hands-on experience in putting together a complete radio programme. We hope to share your finished programme with friendly listeners!
You can join this course during terms 2 and 3.
A pre-course assessment is required 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
Full fee £195.00 Senior fee £195.00 Concession £137.00 - English communication skills - improve your confidence and fluency when you speak (entry 3-level 1) Course start date: Mon 18 Jan 2027
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to speak more easily and communicate in English without translating from your first language? Do you think too much about what to say or write? Would you like your English to be more automatic? This course will help you become more relaxed when you speak and write English so you can express yourself clearly and confidently without worrying about mistakes. You will build fluency in both speaking and writing, with a stronger focus on speaking.
You can join this course during term 2.
A short test is required 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
Full fee £153.00 Senior fee £153.00 Concession £107.00 - ESOL - communication skills for life and work -level 2 (Speaking and Listening) Course start date: Tue 16 Mar 2027
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This is the Level 2 ESOL Speaking & Listening unit to help you become confident in taking part in discussions, making presentations, and communicating effectively in formal and informal situations. This course prepares you for the ESOL Skills for Life Speaking & Listening Level 2 exam, accredited by the English Speaking Board (ESB).
You will learn how to contribute to discussions, express opinions clearly, listen actively, and adapt your language to different audiences. This unit will also help you build fluency and accuracy for work, education, and everyday life in the UK.
This course runs during term 2.
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
Full fee £638.00 Senior fee £638.00 Concession £447.00 - ESOL: Develop your speaking and listening skills (entry 3-level 1) Course start date: Wed 6 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to understand English better and feel more confident when speaking? This course will help you improve your listening and speaking skills so you can follow conversations, enjoy TV and films without subtitles, and feel relaxed when talking to people. You will learn useful techniques to hear important words, understand how words join in speech, and recognise stressed and unstressed sounds. These skills will make English clearer and help you speak more fluently.
You can join this course during term 3.
A short test is required 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
Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £111.00 - ESOL and making podcasts: pronunciation, presentation, expression (level 1-2) Course start date: Sun 10 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to improve your pronunciation, learn more about how you sound when you speak English and develop your speaking? A podcast is a digital recording, which can be used in a very practical way to help develop your English. On this course, you will discover how to make and edit a podcast to record yourself as well as what to say and how to say it. You will be able to practise speaking on your own and interviewing others as well as learn how to prepare what to say and how to say it. Podcasting is a fantastic way of improving your pronunciation, your vocabulary, your spoken accuracy, and your fluency.
You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).
Please note you will need to download the free Audacity software and have a headset with mic to do this course.
This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £85.00
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