ESOL SFL Entry Level

If English is not your first language and your English skills are stopping you making progress in your life in the United Kingdom, an ESOL course is a good choice for you. You may be newly arrived in the United Kingdom, have not studied English before, or perhaps only studied English for a few years in your home country.

Before classes start, you’ll have an interview and take an initial assessment. Based on your skills, we’ll place you in the right level to help you progress quickly and smoothly.

An ESOL course at our College can help you to improve your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

Lessons are topic based (e.g. shopping, job, interviews) and each level includes:

Beginner: Basic communication skills, simple vocabulary, and fundamental grammar.

Intermediate: More complex sentence structures, expanded vocabulary, and improved comprehension.

Advanced: Advanced grammar, nuanced vocabulary, and fluency in various contexts.

You will develop vital English skills which will help you in everyday life – making it much easier, for instance, for you to talk to doctors and teachers, to help your child with their homework, and to understand the laws and customs of the UK.

Your Derby College Group experience will be interesting and rewarding. All lessons take place in the classroom with your teacher.  You’ll enjoy group work, role plays, tutorials and guest speakers. Our supportive staff have extensive experience teaching English to students from around the world.

Each year we have two terms – Term 1 (19 weeks) from September to February and Term 2 (16 weeks) from February to July.

Classes range from pre-entry to Level 2 and are held in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. You’ll learn at your own pace, studying six hours per week in either two three-hour classes or three two-hour classes. At the end of the course, you’ll earn a nationally recognised ESOL qualification.

Our ESOL classes are taught in the heart of the community at the St James Centre, three college campuses (The Roundhouse, The Joseph Wright Centre, and Ilkeston), and a community venue in Sinfin. These areas are some of the most culturally diverse in Derby.

You can also study maths and digital skills at the St James Centre.

You will need a pen, some lined paper or an exercise book, and a folder to keep your work in.

There is an exam at the end of every term. You will do one of following:

• A reading assessment
• A writing assessment
• A speaking and listening assessment

During the term you will have regular tasks, homework and tests to complete to check your progress.

When you pass your course, you can progress to the next component at your current level of ESOL or move on to the next level of ESOL. 

You may be able to progress to a further education course at the College, such as in Health and Social Care, Early Years and Business, or for Teaching Assistant roles.

For people wishing to progress into further education, Level 2 ESOL is accepted for entry to a range of college courses (check with course providers for information about specific courses). 

For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk