80 Days of ESOL

View all tags

Hello and welcome to this Pearson ESOL blog that introduces Pearson’s 80 Days of ESOL, a celebration of ESOL, the learners, the tutors and providers.

ESOL has been in the news a lot recently and too often the headlines haven’t reflected the real impact it has. Greater Lincolnshire Council’s decision to cut the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) funding for ESOL courses from 2027 will make it harder for learners to access the specialist teaching they need.

Why ESOL matters

This is important. ESOL encourages independence. ESOL develops skills and confidence. ESOL brings communities together. I’ve seen this first-hand, learners from South Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa learning side by side; all coming together to support each other and develop their skills because they wanted to be part of society. This is what ESOL does, it helps learners to engage and develop their skills and become part of a wider society. Having lived in other countries as an economic migrant, it’s easy to live in a bubble of people that share the same culture and the same language as you. But you don’t get to experience all that those countries have to offer and without access to the language, real integration is out of reach. ESOL opens that door.

Case study: Mohammad

Mohammad (name changed) is a doctor from Iraq, who completed his medical training in Ukraine. He arrived in the UK as a refugee and has since completed ESOL Entry 3 and Level 1. He bonded very well with Ukrainian learners over their shared love of the country and the language. He volunteers at a local hospital and hopes to secure a job in the NHS soon.

Supporting the whole learner

We need to celebrate ESOL, we need to celebrate those that have dedicated their careers to supporting ESOL learners and we need to celebrate ESOL learners themselves. It’s so much more than just language learning. Adult Education in Gloucestershire states:

“Those that have been uprooted from their own country, quite often have suffered some sort of trauma and suffer from PTSD. Many have loved ones left behind, which causes anxiety and stress. Emotional upheaval is a common theme with many of our learners, and we are very aware of this and help them as much as we can using our safeguarding officers on a regular basis to support those in need. Some have poor health and may miss many lessons, so we encourage them to start again on the next course rather than turn them away. Everyone on the ESOL team has had trauma informed training.”

Outcomes that benefit everyone

Even in a challenging climate, against all the odds, ESOL delivers strong outcomes.

Reporting on the decision to defund ESOL courses, FE Week states “an analysis...from Lincoln College, the largest ESOL provider in the region, argued that 90 per cent of learners who achieve the course move into positive destinations such as employment or further study, contributing £1,700 per year more to the local economy than they would if they had not.”*

This is the conversation we need to be having, the value ESOL brings to our society for individuals, employers and communities. It supports learners to find work and succeed in it. To access services like the NHS with greater confidence and to take an active role in everyday life. In short, ESOL helps people contribute more and feel they truly belong.

Case study: Yonas

Yonas (name changed) arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of the Conga. His university education was disrupted by war, and he was unable to complete his law degree. At his ESOL initial assessment, he was at a low Entry 1. He was very dedicated and progressed quickly to Entry 2, then Entry 3. His long-term goal is to complete his law degree and qualify as a solicitor or even a barrister in the UK. His advice to other ESOL learners is “You don’t need to wait until your English is perfect to speak. Perfection isn’t the goal, but communication is. Speak with mistakes. Speak with hesitation. That’s how real learning happens. Every time you open your mouth, you gain confidence.”

Provision built around learners

ESOL is probably the most flexible of the provision types that I have been involved with. Providers go out of their way to include and support learners. Many colleges deliver courses via outreach programmes, running classes in community centres as well as on main campuses and building provision where it’s needed most. This makes sure all learners can access the support they need to help them progress.

A personal perspective

I must admit at this point that I am biased. My first teaching role was as a volunteer ESOL tutor with the Leeds Chinese Women’s Group. The group’s aim was to provide support and assistance for Chinese women facing challenges in their day-to-day lives. Although the group no longer runs, their website set out a clear purpose:

“We understand that a lot of Chinese women in this country are the victims of oppression due to the language barrier, so they are suffering by isolation and lack of social provision.

  • To relieve poverty and the needs of Chinese women in Leeds and neighbouring districts together with their children and dependants
  • To promote the education of Chinese women in order to improve the quality of life for them and their families.”

Alongside this there was fun. Chinese meals, excursions to the London Dome and Whitby. I can still clearly remember going to the Dracula Experience and my group being chased by the live action actors in costume and their screams of joy (I think).

Join us for 80 Days of ESOL

That’s why we’re celebrating ESOL through Pearson’s 80 Days of ESOL, shining a light on the learners, practitioners and providers making a difference every day. We’ll also be refreshing our Pearson ESOL offer with new resources, new training and an updated website. Join us on LinkedIn as we celebrate 80 Days of ESOL.

Upcoming training

Explore our upcoming training sessions:

*Source: https://feweek.co.uk/greater-lincolnshire-to-cut-esol-courses-from-2027-reform-uk-mayor-confirms/

Filter by tag