English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
You can take a variety of ESOL courses in community centres, colleges and universities across the West 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 | IELTS 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 Glasgow ESOL Forum offers flexible ESOL provision through a project supported by trained volunteer ESOL tutors. The services of the project are open to asylum seekers, refugees and settled black and minority ethnic communities in Glasgow. The ESOL tutors work in community-based ESOL classes and can support individual learners who are unable to access ESOL classes for any reason or who have specific learning needs. The tutors can also support ESOL learners who have initial difficulties on an accredited college course, whether they struggle with general study skills, language skills or academic writing. Telephone 0141 3331196.
The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) offer pre-intermediate ESOL classes at a range of venues across the West of Scotland. In East Renfrewshire, City of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire, WEA are running a pilot project to support ESOL in the workplace. Telephone 0131 2263456.
Glasgow YWCA runs free ESOL classes that are open to men as well as women. They have a free onsite crèche. Telephone 0141 2485338 or email info@ywcaglasgow.org
What questions should I ask?
The tables below provide a brief outline of ESOL provision at colleges and universities within the West of Scotland. 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.
Several of the universities in the West of Scotland have an ESOL unit. Some university-based ESOL courses are specifically designed for students who have already enrolled there, or who are about to begin their undergraduate studies. This also means that these courses tend to start at intermediate level rather than at beginners' level.
ESOL courses at Scotland's Colleges and higher education institutions
| Institution | Telephone | Level | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anniesland College | 0141 3573969 | All Levels | The College offers in-college/outreach community classes. Preparation for IELTS tests is also offered, as well as Cambridge examinations. Students can slot in as places become available. |
| Argyll College | 0845 2309969 | Access 2 to Higher | Please contact the College directly for further information. |
| Ayr College | 01292 265184 | All Levels | Courses include Conversational English, General English, SQA modules and Cambridge Examinations courses. The college is a registered centre for the Cambridge English Examinations. There is provision in the community. |
| Cardonald College | 0141 2723333 | All Levels | The College offers ESOL provision on campus and through community outreach. Students can work towards the Cambridge Certificate and can join at any ability level. |
| Central College of Commerce, Glasgow | 0141 5523941 | All Levels | The College offers courses at all levels, up to Advanced. There is no provision in the community. |
| Clydebank College | 0141 9517400 | All Levels | The College offers a rolling enrolment to classes. Preparation for Cambridge and IELTS according to demand. |
| Coatbridge College | 01236 422316 | Access 3 to Intermediate | The College offers evening and daytime classes, both on a part-time basis. There is no provision in the community. |
| Dumfries and Galloway College | 01387 261261 | Access 2 and Access 3 | Please contact the college directly for further information. |
| Glasgow Caledonian University | 0141 3313000 | From Intermediate | Offer two courses, one intensive (10 weeks) in English language and academic skills. Both courses are pre-sessional, designed to bring students to the level of English required for academic studies.
There is no provision in the community. |
| Glasgow College of Nautical Studies | 0141 5652500 | Access 2 to Intermediate 2 | The College offers full-time and part-time courses, with SQA accreditation. Also ESOL literacies classes, which are not certified. |
| Glasgow Metropolitan College | 0141 5666222 | Beginners to Advanced | One year course. Seven levels of English courses are offered from beginners to advanced level. There is provision in the community. |
| James Watt College | 0800 5872277 | Elementary to Advanced | The College offers 'English Plus': intensive tuition in the English language; this can be further developed in a vocational subject area of choice. ESOL support is available to enrolled students throughout the academic year. There is no provision in the community. |
| John Wheatley College | 0141 5881500 | Beginners to Intermediate 1 | Free English classes at College and in the community at Cranhill Parish Church. Contact College for more information. |
| Kilmarnock College | 01563 523501 | All Levels | The College offer a course covering comprehensive use of English. At the end, students can sit Cambridge examinations. The course is part-time. There is no provision in the community. |
| Langside College | 0141 2723600 | Elementary to Advanced | Courses are run according to the levels of students (Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced). Classes give preparation for all major accredited ESOL exams (SQA ESOL Units and Courses, Cambridge & IELTS). There are also ‘ESOL plus’ courses, where language is taught together with other subjects (e.g. computing, beauty therapy). There is provision in the community. |
| Motherwell College | 01698 232323 | Beginners to Intermediate | The College offers ESOL provision on campus and out in the community. Access 2, Access 3, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 Levels are available part-time. |
| North Glasgow College | 0141 5589001 | Beginners to Advanced | The College offers courses ranging from Beginners to pre-university level. The full- or part-time one-year programme at Intermediate 2 and Higher levels prepares speakers of other languages for study at NQ, HN and degree level. Start dates are flexible. There is no provision in the community. |
| Reid Kerr College | 0141 5812222 | Beginners to Upper Intermediate | The College offers courses to help communicate in English socially, at work or while studying. There are also options to prepare for Cambridge examinations. There is provision in the community. |
| South Lanarkshire College | 01355 807780 | Beginners to Intermediate | The College delivers Beginners to Intermediate courses and hope to develop the portfolio further. They work in partnership with community learning to offer courses. There is provision in the community. |
| Stow College | 0141 3321786 | Beginners to Intermediate |
The College provides an extensive range of support for students whose first language is not English. This support is available to all students starting in the College through ‘The Hub’.
In addition, full-time and part-time ESOL courses are available at Beginner, Elementary and Intermediate level. There is provision in the community. |
| University of Glasgow | 0141 3302000 | From Intermediate | The University provides year-round pre-sessional courses that teach English for academic purposes only, for which there is no certification. There is no provision in the community. |
| University of Strathclyde | 0141 5524400 | From Intermediate | The University's English Language Teaching Division offers pre-entry and pre-sessional courses for new international students from April each year. There is no provision in the community. |
| University of the West of Scotland | 0141 8483000 | From Intermediate | The University offers pre-sessional courses – pre-Foundation and Foundation – that are designed to prepare students for university study. Also offers an intensive four-day Academic English course. There is no provision in the community. |