English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Campus: Bridgend

Length of Course: 15 weeks, starting in either September or January

Days & Times: Day classes usually operate from 9.30am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm.  Day class learners attend 6.5 hours a week (one and a half days).

Evening classes are usually once a week from 6.15pm - 8.15pm

Fees: The courses are free for learners from EU countries, for those with ‘indefinite’ leave to remain if they have lived in the UK for more than 3 years, for asylum seekers and for refugees.  Other students would be required to pay £6 an hour.

Learners are expected to pay for textbooks, which can be bought from the College.

Course Description: The ESOL Programme provides classes at six different levels from Absolute Beginners through to Advanced level.  Lessons focus on everyday English and aim to improve the students’ skills in all areas - speaking, listening, reading, writing, vocabulary and grammar.

Daytime students attend between 6 and 6.5 hours of lessons a week and the main aim is a Cambridge ‘Skills for Life’ Qualification.  For Entry Level classes there is an embedded citizenship element. Evening students attend 2 hours of class.  The accreditation is either by continual assessment (Agored Cymru qualification) or a Skills for Life Listening and Speaking external examiniation).