English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
You can take a variety of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses in community centres, colleges and universities across the South East of Scotland. The course you choose and where you study it will depend very much on your language needs and your present circumstances. Click here for general information about English for speakers of other languages.
Most colleges offer ESOL courses at a variety of levels, from beginners through to advanced or proficiency. The table below gives an indication of how ESOL levels might compare with other English language qualifications.
| SCQF level | School/FE qualifications for English language skills | ESOL SQA qualification levels | Commonly used ESOL levels | Cambridge exams* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Advanced Higher | Proficiency | CPE | |
| 6 | Higher | Advanced | Advanced | CAE
IELTS 6/6.5 |
| 5 | Credit: Standard Grade Intermediate 2 |
Intermediate 2 | Upper Intermediate | IELST 5/5.5 |
| 4 | General Standard Grade Intermediate 1 |
Intermediate 1 | Intermediate | IELTS 4.5 |
| 3 | Foundation Standard Grade: Access 3 |
Access 3 | Pre-Intermediate | PET |
| 2 | Access 2 | Access 2 Access 2 – Literacies |
Beginners/ Elementary |
KET |
| 1 | Access 1 |
* CPE: Certificate of Proficiency in English; CAE: Certificate in Advanced English; IELTS: International English Language Testing System; PET: Preliminary English Test; KET: Key English Test.
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) gives more information about the standards of English language qualifications.
Different educational institutions use different terms to indicate the level of ESOL courses they offer: always check directly with the institution.
There are several different systems for assessing and examining levels (such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English and the Scottish Qualifications Authority Standard Grade English). Before enrolling on an ESOL course, you will be offered a test to assess your current English language skills to make sure that you are placed on the appropriate level of course. The level of the course will depend on the system used by that particular institution.
What sort of ESOL course and where?
If you are just beginning to learn English, classes run by your local authority are probably the best place to start. They offer courses and individual tuition to adults who want to improve their English for everyday communication, work purposes or to progress into training or education. Your local library or community learning centre can provide you with information about classes being held near where you live. Click here for contact details for your local council.
To find your nearest library or learning centre, visit the Scottish Library and Information Resources website.
The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) offers pre-intermediate ESOL classes at a range of venues across the South East of Scotland. In West Lothian, City of Edinburgh and Falkirk, WEA are running a pilot project to support ESOL in the Workplace. To contact them telephone 0131 2263456.
What questions should I ask?
The following table provides a brief outline of ESOL provision at Scotland’s Colleges and higher education institutions within the South East of Scotland area. For more detailed information contact individual institutions to find out about:
- the different levels of ESOL course available
- whether it is open to all, or only to students registered, or about to register, with that particular institution
- whether it is full or part time
- whether it is held during the day or evening, or as a summer school
- whether the course is available off-campus at a location in the community
- how long the course lasts
- the cost and whether you might be eligible for funding for course fees.
ESOL courses at Scotland's Colleges and higher education institutions
| Institution | Telephone | Level | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borders College | 08700 505152 | Access 3 and Intermediate 1 | Offers part-time classes at various campuses, mostly at Access 3 level. There is provision in the community. |
| Carnegie College | 0844 2480115 | Elementary to Intermediate | ESOL support for existing students. Evening classes for external students. There are plans to provide day classes in the future. |
| Cumbernauld College | 01236 731811 | Access 2 to Intermediate 2 | Part-time, flexible provision. Progression through qualifications according to the level reached. |
| Edinburgh's Telford College | 0131 5594000 | All levels | Full- and part-time courses, from Beginners to Advanced. Foundation course that prepares for academic studies and English for Postgraduate Studies. There is provision in the community. |
| Forth Valley College | 01324 403000 (Falkirk campus) 01259 215121 (Clackmannan campus) 01786 406000 (Stirling campus) |
All levels | Part-time English classes at different levels, from Beginners to Advanced, in its three campuses (Clackmannan, Stirling and Falkirk). All courses have citizenship content, and can lead to the Cambridge examinations. There is provision in the community. |
| Heriot-Watt University | 0131 4495111 | Upper Intermediate to Advanced | General English for overseas students with a lower level of English, who can then progress to the Foundation English programme (for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate students). Advanced English offers academic English study to Heriot-Watt students only. Heriot-Watt students can use the Support While Studying facility (for students with language level equivalent to IELTS 5.5 or below). There are also classes preparing for Cambridge exams open to the community. |
| Jewel and Esk Valley College | 0131 6601010 | All levels | From post-Beginners to Upper Intermediate (full-time). There is no provision in the community. |
| Napier University | 0131 4442266 | Advanced | The University supports its own international students. There is no provision in the community. |
| Newbattle Abbey College | 0131 6631921 | From Intermediate | Please contact the college directly for further information. |
| Queen Margaret University | 0131 4740000 | Advanced | The University supports its own international students. There is no provision in the community. |
| Stevenson College | 0131 5354600 | Beginners to Advanced | General English as a Foreign Language; Academic English; English for Business and a summer school are offered to students who need to improve their English to access higher education. The College awards a Certificate. It is possible to sit IELTS and Cambridge exams. English for Work and Training is offered at Access, Intermediate and Higher levels. There is provision in the community. Various venues throughout the city, flexible hours. |
| University of Edinburgh | 0131 6501000 | Pre-Intermediate and Advanced | The University runs a large programme of general English courses throughout the year from lower intermediate to advanced. Also English for Academic Purposes, general and specialist summer courses, for international students. There is no provision in the community. |
| University of Stirling | 01786 473171 | All levels (except complete beginners) | General English and IELTS Preparation courses from February to June, English for University Study (plus a five week pre-sessional course) from April to September, and three week English Language summer school in August. The University also offer in-sessional support to Stirling students during the semesters. There is no provision in the community. |
| West Lothian College | 01506 418181 | Beginners to Advanced | Check availability of places directly with College. |
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