‘Survival English ESOL’ is a flexible programme aiming to equip those possessing basic language abilities with essential English skills. We encourage social connections and familiarity with local community and culture.
The programme will build learner confidence to engage in further learning and utilise established relationships with ESOL providers to provide progression routes.
WEA ‘Survival English’ ESOL courses are designed to meet the complex needs of learners who may have limited first language skills in addition to varying skills and confidence in reading, speaking, listening and writing in English. Learners gain basic English language skills, build the confidence and understanding necessary to support their integration into Scottish society, make social connections and attain some cultural knowledge.
Our approach to building a curriculum is to start with a framework but to adapt to suit particular needs of learners in any given group in order to maximise progress and engagement with the learning process.
A common format would be 20 x 2 hour sessions totalling 40 hours. In each week there would be 2 sessions over 10 weeks. However the programmes can be tailored to meet the requirements of specific project partners and learning outcomes.
Throughout the course each participating individual’s English language skills are assessed and recorded in their own Individual or Group Learning Plan (G/ ILP). G/ ILPs are a record of the learning progress individuals/ groups have made and are an effective tool in identifying future learning needs and provision. They facilitate the identification of learning goals and provide opportunities for reflection on progress. The final review provides a written record of progress and celebrates achievement.
Students will:
• have opportunities to discuss progress with the tutor and other students
• receive feedback through individual discussions with the tutor and other students
• be encouraged to share their work and learning with the group
The target audience are refugees, asylum seekers and others who would gain from the provision e.g. some learners have come from settled communities and have experienced long term isolation from the wider city community and English language due to cultural norms, traditional gender roles etc.
Overall ESOL language levels should be assessed between Literacy (defined by the Glasgow ESOL partnership as ‘students may have varying levels of speaking and listening but very little or no knowledge of Roman script, reading and writing’) and Elementary. (CEF levels A0, A1)
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be able to:-
1. communicate more easily with others
2. better able to read, write, speak and listen to basic English
3. be more confident to access further learning opportunities
4. be more aware of local words, pronunciation, accents
5. access local services
This course offers progression pathways through partnership working.
WEA partners include the City of Glasgow College, Kelvin College, Glasgow Clyde College, Glasgow Life (CLD) and the ESOL Forum. The partners aim to coordinate initial assessment and ESOL provision in the city. The Glasgow ESOL Register plays a key role and consists of a common database and register of interest, which all providers populate and then use to offer courses. The result is a clearer picture of the ESOL need in the city and the ability to plan to meet them as a partnership. It aims to eliminate duplication within waiting lists and reduce learner waiting time when accessing provision.
WEA is able to offer progression to learners as well as refer learners who are not suitable for Survival English classes on to other more appropriate provision.