Aberdeenshire offers new virtual english for speakers of other languages course
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Aberdeenshire Council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) Team have been very impressed with the successes and achievements of learners who have adapted so well to learning online over the past year.
Among many other learning opportunities, CLD have continued to offer free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses for those who speak other languages but want to learn English.
The courses are taking place virtually using Google Meet and Google Classroom so that the restrictions in place to combat the Coronavirus are met.
Learning session last up to two hours and these are offered at various times fitting around work or childcare.
Around 40 different languages are spoken by ESOL learners in Aberdeenshire, who are offered an initial assessment when they first contact the service to determine their level of English and then find the best provision to meet this.
Aberdeenshire Councils Interim CLD service manager Philip Boath explained: “Our lessons are practical and focus on language, phrases and scenarios that learners will encounter in everyday life.
"Those learners who complete the course may decide to be assessed for a national recognised certificate in English which will be useful when applying to undertake further learning or when entering the job market.”
As well as providing classes for beginners we offer qualification opportunities for learners at SQA ESOL National 2 and National 3, and classes often cover topics including the use of Doric dialect, employment, community action, local history and customs, ensuring that useful information and knowledge are offered as well as the chance to develop language skills.
ESOL courses provide learners with the opportunity to develop the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking using simple English language and cover two main topic areas:
ESOL for Everyday Life - developing the language skills needed for everyday life in routine personal, social and transactional contexts.
ESOL in Context - developing the language skills needed for routine community, work and study-related contexts.
For more information or to enquire about a place on the next course please email Steven.Maclennan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or Karen.Smith@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.
