Teaching Pre-entry and Low-level Literacy ESOL Learners
Course description:
This is a practical blended course of around 14 hours (4 x 2-hour live online sessions and independent study in between). The course is aimed at new and experienced ESOL teachers. To gain a certificate, participants are expected to complete tasks, reflections and are encouraged to share with peers. Participants will come away with original resources and links to a large number of teaching, learning and assessment materials.
The course contents include:
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The effects on learning if you are pre-entry.
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A supportive classroom environment.
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Teaching listening and speaking skills.
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Supporting with reading and writing skills with a number of teaching approaches.
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Examining the sub-skills of reading and writing.
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Trauma and its effect on learning.
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Practical, authentic resources and signposting to existing free resources.
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Mixed level classes, adaptive teaching and spaced learning.
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Digital skills for the low-level classroom.
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Teaching pronunciation.
This course is now extended to 4 weeks to include more activities, practical sharing and collaboration. (£110 + booking fee).
To book, please follow the booking link below ⬇️:
Afternoon course, starting 24th September 2026 on Zoom. Dates and times:
Session 1 - Thursday 24th September 3pm - 5pm
Session 2 - Thursday 1st October 3pm - 5pm
Session 3 - Thursday 8th October 3pm - 5pm
Session 4 - Thursday 15th October 3pm - 5pm
This course is accredited by:
This course is planned to run regularly, so keep your eye on this page. Alternatively, to register your interest in any future iteration of this course, please complete this enquiry form. Thank you.
Supporting ESOL learners on Functional Skills and English Programmes
Next course 23rd September 2026, 3-5pm via Zoom
This training will aim to give teaching staff much more confidence in supporting ESOL learners who are studying on Functional Skills and other English courses. It will provide a deeper understanding of the needs of ESOL and explore relatively simple strategies and teaching ideas that can be put into immediate use.
This training will focus on :
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the common ‘profiles’ of ESOL learners.
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share experiences of supporting ESOL learners on other English courses.
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an understanding of the language learning challenges of ESOL speakers on English programmes, with a particular focus on vocabulary and grammar.
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strategies to help second language learners with reading, writing, speaking and listening tasks.
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challenges with culturally specific content.
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exploring adaptive teaching.
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knowledge of a range of resources and tools that can support ESOL learners.
Here is some previous delegate feedback for this session:
"This was excellent. It was really refreshing to have an ESOL specialist represent our learners."
"Excellent. This has helped me to see how I can support learners moving from ESOL to functional skills and also how to help functional skills tutors."
"A game changer. The pace of delivery was perfect and Rachel was incredibly knowledgeable providing excellent food for thought and strategies for delivery. A highly enjoyable session, thank you."
This practical and interactive online training event will be delivered via Zoom. Course participants will receive an exclusive Padlet of collated TLA resources which include activities designed for ESOL learners: handouts, worksheets and videos for learners in self-study.
This course is accredited by:
This training will aim to give teaching staff more confidence in supporting ESOL learners who are on their maths programmes of study. It will provide a deeper understanding of the needs of ESOL and explore relatively simple strategies and teaching ideas that can be put into immediate use. The course is aimed at non ESOL teachers as well as ESOL teams.
This training can allow tutors to:
• share experiences of supporting ESOL learners on maths courses.
• identify common language difficulties for ESOL learners.
• identify some of the barriers that learners may face with maths vocabulary and concepts.
• explore the use some practical tips for supporting learners with learning vocabulary.
• identify opportunities and strategies to support to ESOL learners with a tutor’s spoken & written instructions.
• analyse language of maths assessment.
• explore some strategies to assist with language comprehension.
• examine practical resources to practice language vocabulary & structure.
This practical and interactive online training event will be delivered via Zoom. Course participants will receive an exclusive Padlet of collated resources which includes maths activities designed for ESOL learners, maths vocabulary handouts and worksheets, videos for ESOL learners, teachers’ section and maths vocabulary lists in over 40 languages.
The session normally lasts 2 hours and participants will be issued with an accredited certificate (accredited by the Association for Accredited Learning).