ESOL - Curriculum & Resources
ESOL
English for speakers of other languages
If English is not your first language, you can take a course to help you improve your English language skills. You can gain a qualification at the end of your learning.
These qualifications offer the first steps in helping build your knowledge of the English language and will allow you to live more independently in the UK.
To find out more about our ESOL courses call 01254 507720 or
email us at esol@blackburn.gov.uk
Assessments
All learners will be offered an assessment prior to joining the course. It is important we find out your current skill level so we can start you off on the right course.
COURSES
Pre-Entry ESOL
- Family Hub-Darwen
Monday & Friday 9:15 to 11:45
16/09/2024 to 31/01/2025
- Bangor Street Community Centre
Wednesday & Thursday 9:15 to 11:45
18/09/2024 to 30/01/2025
- Audley & Queens Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Monday 12:15 to 14:45 & Friday 9:15 to 11:45
16/09/2024 to 31/01/2025
- Bank Top Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Monday & Friday 09:15 to 11:45
16/09/2024 to 31/01/2025
Entry 1 ESOL
- Darwen Town Hall
Monday & Thursday 12:15 to 14:45
16/09/2024 to 30/01/2025
- Bangor Street Community Centre
Tuesday & Wednesday 9:15 to 11:45
17/09/2024 to 29/01/2025
- Audley & Queens Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Monday & Tuesday 9:15 to 11:45
16/09/2024 to 28/01/2025
- Bank Top Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Monday 12:15 to 14:45 & Friday 9:15 to 11:45
16/09/2024 to 31/01/2025
Entry 2 ESOL
- Bank Top Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Wednesday & Thursday 9:15 to 11:45
18/09/2024 to 30/01/2025
- Bangor Street Community Centre
Monday & Tuesday 9:15 to 11:45
16/09/2024 to 28/01/2025
- Audley & Queens Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Wednesday & Thursday 9:15 to 11:45
18/09/2024 to 30/01/2025
Entry 3 ESOL
- Bank Top Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Wednesday & Thursday 9:15 to 11:45
18/09/2024 to 30/01/2025
- Bangor Street Community Centre
Monday & Tuesday 9:15 to 11:45
16/09/2024 to 28/01/2025
- Audley & Queens Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Wednesday & Thursday 9:15 to 11:45
18/09/2024 to 30/01/2025
Level 1 ESOL
- Audley & Queens Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Thursday 9:15 to 11:45
19/09/2024 to 30/01/2025
- Bank Top Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Tuesday 9:15 to 11:45
17/09/2024 to 28/01/2025
Level 1 Award in Citizenship
- Bangor Street Community Centre
Wednesday 12:15 to 2:45
18/09/2024 to 29/01/2025
- Audley & Queens Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Monday 12:15 to 2:45
16/09/2024 to 27/01/2025
AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME
Our courses will help you to:
- Feel more confident in the community
- Move onto other courses or training
- Progress into work
- Support your children with their school work
- Become independent with everyday life activities
To find out more about our ESOL courses call 01254 507720
or email us at esol@blackburn.gov.uk
ESOL
RESOURCES
Discover a range of resources to support your learning journey
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
General Resources
These websites are good for practising your English skills
Video Channels
These YouTube channels have lots of helpful videos
Podcasts & Audio
Some recommended Podcasts and other audio resources
- English for Action (SoundCloud) – a new ESOL podcast every Monday.
- WorldStories.org.uk/library has a collection of stories in both English and other languages. You can also download the files. It is an excellent way to get family members to read to each other in both their own language and in English.
- On kidsread2kids.com/abridged-classics you can listen to kids and young adults reading classic stories. It has a great selection to choose from!
Pre-Entry Level
Speaking & Listening
Family Words
Look at the family picture and practice speaking the family words. (Click image to download)
Practise talking about exercise in this lesson from Talk English.
This activity is about asks you about what you do in your daily life. See if you do this with a partner.
This activity will help you to ask and answer questions about how you exercise and keep fit. Use the audio buttons on each slide to listen.
Reading
Family reading
Read the text carefully and see if you can find the family words. (Click image to download)
Every day (BritishCouncil.org)
In this task you will watch a video and learn new words about shopping and food. You will also get the chance to make your own shopping list.
Reading text messages (BritishCouncil.org)
This topic will help you learn about text messages. You will learn to find key information about dates and times too. You will also learn new words about school.
Games about exercise (Quizlet)
These games will help you read, match, write and spell the keywords. Then, test yourself here.
Writing
Family Spelling
The family words are missing letters. See if you can find the missing letters. (Click image to download)
Family Writing
The family words are missing letters. See if you can find the missing letters. (Click image to download)
Everyday life (BritishCouncil.org)
In this task you will learn new words to describe what you do every day. You will also read and write sentences about your daily life.
Games about daily life (Quizlet)
Learn to read, write and spell new words about daily life. You can then test yourself here.
Games
Family Word Search
See if you can find all the words in the word search. (Click image to download)
Entry Level 1
Speaking & Listening
Travel Survey
See if you can complete the travel survey in this task. (Click image to download)
Simple Questions
Make questions to ask somebody in the present simple. (Click image to download)
Jobs & Work
Practice asking questions about jobs and work. (Click image to download)
Transport vocabulary (ESOLcourses.com)
Listen to the words relating to transport and repeat. This will help you pronounce the words correctly.
Idea! Speak to your family about the transport they use. See if you can ask the questions correctly.
Reading
Travel & Transport
See if you can complete the travel survey in this task. (Click image to download)
Reading job adverts (Britishcouncil.org)
Practise finding information and understanding important words in job adverts.
Reading a hospital letter (Britishcouncil.org)
Read a letter from the hospital. Find days, times and important information in a letter.
Food words (Britishcouncil.org)
Learn new food words. Practise reading, listening and spelling words beginning with ‘p’ & ‘b’.
Writing
Jumbled words
Rearrange the words to make sentences about how people travel. (Click image to download)
Writing about myself and my family (Britishcouncil.org)
Practise writing sentences about you and your family. Listen to and spell ‘family words’.
Games
Memory game: Transport (ESOLcourses.com)
Click on the tiles to match the pictures to the words.
Level 2
Speaking & Listening
Asking about a house
Think of ten questions that you could ask about someone’s house. (Click image to download)
Travel and transport
Practise making questions to ask about travel and transport. (Click image to download)
Follow-on questions
Practise developing questions to ask for more information. (Click image to download)
My journey to work (BritishCouncil.org)
Listen to Anne describing her journey to work. Then record yourself speaking about your journey to work or school.
Healthy eating (BritishCouncil.org)
Does your family have a healthy lifestyle? Listen to a conversation between a mother and a school nurse.
Reading
My Sundays
Read the text carefully and then see if you can write about your day. (Click image to download)
Writing
Your free time
Write about your free time and what you enjoy doing. (Click image to download)
Where I live
Write sentences about your home and where you live. (Click image to download)
Your local area
Write a description of your local area. What do you think it needs? (Click image to download)
Transport in your country
Write about transport in your country and how people travel. (Click image to download)
Education & studying
Write about your education and what you would like to study in the future. (Click image to download)
Games
Alphabet quiz
Practise English words by completing the sentences in this alphabet quiz. (Click image to download)
Entry Level 3
Speaking & Listening
Travel experiences
Using questions to discuss your travel experiences. (Click image to download)
Looking for and applying for jobs
Talking about jobs and asking questions about jobs.
(Click image to download)
Jobs & Work
Practice asking questions about jobs and work. (Click image to download)
Food in the UK and in your country
Speaking about food then asking questions to obtain more information.
(Click image to download)
Finding out what's in the news
Talk with somebody about what’s in the news, and giving your opinion
(Click image to download)
Job likes & dislikes
Listen to Zahra talk about her job, then look at the task sheet. Does she like her job?
(Click image to download)
Council services (BritishCouncil.org)
Listen to how Natalia and Iain talk about how they got help from the council.
Do you have a hobby? Listen to Penny talking about her hobby. The language focus is present perfect.
My favourite country (BritishCouncil.org)
Listen to a recording about 3 countries. Practise comparative and superlative adjectives.
Reading
Written complaints
Practise reading a letter of complaint. (Click image to download)
Comparing places
Read the text comparing 2 places and then write your own sentences. (Click image to download)
Writing
Living in the UK
Practise writing about the good and bad points about living in the UK. (Click image to download)
Proofreading text
Practise your proofreading skills and accuracy by correcting the text. (Click image to download)
Past tense sentences
Arrange the words into the correct order to make sentences in the past tense. (Click image to download)
Confusing words
Practise your spelling by choosing the correct words in this gap fill activity. (Click image to download)
Writing about jobs
Write sentences about jobs you did in the past or want to do in the future. (Click image to download)
