ESOL support for teachers

What is ESOL?

ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages. In pre-16 education it's known as EAL (English as an Additional Language).

What is Skills for Life?

Skills for life (launched in 2001) is the national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills. ESOL is one of the main strands of this strategy, which aims to improve the language skills of adults in England. The strategy sets out demanding targets for improving adult basic skills. Each learner's achievement and level of skill can be measured against national standards set out in the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum (www.dfes.gov.uk/curriculum_esol). This curriculum, which is based on the national standards for adult literacy, describes what should be taught in English language programmes.

(Adapted from www.lda.gov.uk.)

How does teaching ESOL differ from teaching EFL?

You may find yourself teaching multi-level, multi-nationality, multi-age classes.

There may be a wide range of educational and employment backgrounds in the class, so you may find learners who have had no formal schooling sitting next to university professors...all of them waiting to be taught by you.

Some ESOL learners have left their country unwillingly and may be suffering post traumatic shock: for many, attending English class regularly is low on their list of priorities.

Learning requirements may be quite different from a standard EFL class: ESOL learners will want to know about life in the UK — for example, immigration rules, how the education system works or how to apply for jobs.

Who are the learners?

There are four main categories of ESOL learner, all of whom should be over 16 years of age:

• Settled communities, typically from the Asian subcontinent and Hong Kong
• Refugees and asylum seekers
• Migrant workers, mostly from Europe
• Partners and spouses who are prevented from attending EFL courses because of family responsibilities or low income.

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