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ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

City Lit has a wide range of courses to help you develop your reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills in English (ESOL).

The courses are FREE to most learners. Click into the courses below for more information.

For more information about our live online courses, please see our guide to online learning.

Our offer includes both a year long and short termly courses at different levels.

  • Level 2
  • Level 1
  • Entry 3
  • Entry 2
  • Entry 2
  • Pre-Entry 
  • Maths for ESOL 
  • Conversation Club 
  • Grammar in practice 
  • Writing skills in Practice 
  • ESOL, maths and digital skills for Life 
  • Learn English- learn about London
 
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12 Items

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  1. English communication skills for life and work (ESOL entry 2)
    Course start date:  Tue 13 Jan 2026 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Can you have short conversations in English, and read and write simple emails, but want to do more? This course will help you talk, read and write about more interesting subjects and make fewer mistakes so people can understand you, you can understand them and you can read and write important messages, emails, forms and news stories. You will improve your vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. By the end of this three-term programme you will able to interact confidently with English speakers in your daily life. You can join the course at any time.



    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).



    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 £419.00 Senior fee £335.00 Concession £210.00
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  2. English communication skills for life and work (ESOL entry 1)
    Course start date:  Wed 14 Jan 2026 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    For students who can speak or write only a few words in English or maybe none at all. On this beginners' course, you will learn new words and grammar, how to ask and answer questions, how to read and write about yourself, your family, and friends, and how to complete forms and short emails.



    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).



    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 £289.00 Senior fee £231.00 Concession £145.00
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  3. English pronunciation: stage 1
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 26 Apr 2025 (and 4 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  David John Gwillim
    Are you a non-native fluent speaker who wants to improve your pronunciation of English and to speak the language more clearly and confidently? Work on clear formation of vowel and consonant sounds including the English neutral vowel and the distinction between voiced and unvoiced sounds. This term the course will be taught in the college.
    Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £181.00
    Rating:
    97% of 100
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  4. Conversation Club
    Course start date:  Wed 14 Jan 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 £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £85.00
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  5. English pronunciation: stage 2
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 17 Jan 2026 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  David John Gwillim
    Designed for people who have completed ‘English Pronunciation: stage 1’ although new students with sufficient skills can join. Develop confidence and clarity, explore diphthongs and triphthongs, inflection and the rhythms of Standard English. This term the course will be delivered in the college.
    Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00
    Rating:
    97% of 100
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  6. Entry 1 Reading and Writing
    Course start date:  Thu 8 Jan 2026 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Do you want to improve your reading and writing skills in English for everyday use? On this course, you will practise your reading and writing skills, but also improve your speaking and listening. Covering different topics such as daily routine, transport, health and shopping, you will practise identifying and reading different texts, writing answers, and asking and answering basic questions in the present simple tense.



    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 £209.00
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  7. Communication Skills for Life and Work (ESOL Entry 3 - Level 1)
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 23 May 2026

    Location on this date:  Online

    This is the Writing unit of the ESOL course to give you confidence in writing sentences for emails and letters clearly. 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 conclusion.



    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
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  8. ESOL - communication skills for life and work -level 1 (Speaking and Listening)
    Course start date:  Tue 13 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    This is the Speaking and Listening unit of the ESOL course to give you confidence in communicating with others on different topics in a range of contexts. You will practice speaking fluently in different types of conversations, responding to questions on a range of topics and you will build your vocabulary by learning more synonyms and antonyms. You will also have the opportunity to hear a variety of accents and varieties of English. Speaking about interesting everyday topics you will practise different tenses and improve your pronunciation including stress and intonation to convey meaning.



    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 £549.00 Senior fee £439.00 Concession £275.00
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  9. Grammar in practice: upper intermediate (level 1-2)
    Course start date:  Wed 14 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Unsure when to use present perfect or past perfect? Is reported speech still causing you problems? Do you need to practise your conditionals? Join this course and put your grammar into practice in speaking, writing, reading and listening. Gain confidence in using grammar effectively through high level and engaging tasks



    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).



    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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £90.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
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  10. Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £105.00
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  11. English communication skills - improve your confidence and fluency when you speak (entry 3-level 1)
    Course start date:  Wed 21 Jan 2026

    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 be confident you can express yourself in a way people understand and not be worried about making mistakes. You will develop your fluency in both speaking and writing but you will focus more on speaking.



    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).



    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 £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £75.00
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  12. ESOL: Learn English and learn about London, its people and your rights (entry 3-level 1)
    Course start date:  Wed 21 Jan 2026

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Do you want to improve your English and learn about London, its history, culture and people at the same time? And also learn about your democratic rights? On this course, you will visit places of interest and learn about the history of these places especially about the different people and cultures who have lived there, and about important events which have shaped the city. You will do your own research and so improve your reading and writing skills as well as your speaking and listening. In addition, you will learn about democratic systems in the UK, your rights and where you can find advice. By the end of the course, you will feel more at home in London and able to participate in its rich and diverse life.



    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).



    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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £90.00
    Add to Compare
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