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ESOL

A young male student in a green t-shirt sits in a classroom, smiling while holding a whiteboard marker. Other students are visible in the background, including a student in a white hijab.

About the ESOL Department

Learning English can open the door to new opportunities, whether you want to continue your education, find employment or feel more confident in everyday life.

At Glasgow Kelvin College, our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses support learners from a wide range of backgrounds and language levels. Through interactive lessons, practical activities and real-life communication, you'll develop your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Our experienced lecturers are committed to helping every student succeed. With personalised support, modern learning facilities and opportunities to take part in college life, you'll gain the confidence, language skills and knowledge needed to achieve your goals.

Why Study ESOL at Kelvin?

At Glasgow Kelvin College, learning English is about more than developing language skills. It's about building confidence, making connections and preparing for your next step. Our ESOL courses help you build the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed for everyday life, further study and employment.

You'll benefit from:

  • Courses for all levels – From National 2 (Literacies) through to National 5 (Upper Intermediate), with teaching matched to your current level.
  • Real-life learning – Develop your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills while learning about living, working and studying in the UK.
  • Trips and visits – Take part in visits to cultural attractions and places of interest, helping you experience life in Scotland while practising your English.
  • Supportive learning environment – Learn alongside students from around the world in welcoming, interactive classes led by experienced ESOL lecturers.
  • Progression opportunities – Benefit from our partnerships with colleges, universities and community organisations, helping you move on to further study, volunteering or employment.
  • Sports and wellbeing – Enjoy access to college sports facilities and activities, helping you stay active while making new friends.
  • Events and workshops – Join celebrations, guest speaker sessions and activities throughout the year that enrich your learning experience.

 

Specialist ESOL Pathways

Looking to combine English language learning with career-focused study? Our specialist ESOL programmes help you develop your English while gaining knowledge and skills in a chosen vocational area.

Choose from:

  • Business with ESOL
  • Care with ESOL
  • Childcare with ESOL

These courses provide practical experience, industry knowledge and clear progression routes into further education, training or employment.

ESOL Youth Progression

Our ESOL Youth Progression courses are designed specifically for learners aged 16–19.

Alongside English language development, you'll study subjects including numeracy, ICT and science while building the confidence, independence and study skills needed to progress to further education, apprenticeships or employment.

Interactive lessons, project work and real-life learning help prepare you for your next step while supporting your personal development.

Not sure which course is right for you?

Whether you're learning English for everyday life, preparing for further study or developing language skills for a specific career, our ESOL courses offer flexible pathways for different experience levels and ambitions. We'll help you find the course that's right for you.

ESOL Courses

ESOL at Kelvin

Meet Heather, one of our ESOL lecturers, along with students Mehran and Tingting, who share how studying ESOL at Glasgow Kelvin College has helped them build confidence, improve their communication skills and progress to the next stage of their education.

 

  • Higher ESOL tutor interviewing an ESOL student in a classroom about his learning experience and future goals at Glasgow Kelvin College.
  • Tingting, a former Childcare with ESOL student at Glasgow Kelvin College, sits in a classroom holding a microphone and sharing her experience on the course.

Our Staff Team

A classroom scene where three female students are smiling and engaging in discussion. A teacher in a beige cardigan leans over the table to interact with them, while other students work in the background.
A young female student wearing a black Nike jacket sits at a desk in a classroom, smiling brightly. Behind her, a colorful bulletin board displays educational materials.
A female student in a patterned dress smiles while using a touchscreen in a classroom. The screen displays words related to the months and seasons.
A male student in a white sweater smiles while interacting with a large touchscreen displaying months and seasons. He gestures toward the screen in a brightly lit classroom.
A female student in a beige hijab and white shirt sits in a classroom, smiling and gesturing as she speaks to a classmate. A bulletin board with educational materials is visible behind her.
A male student in a gray sweater raises his hand enthusiastically in a classroom. He smiles while other students work in the background
A group of students, including a male student in a gray turtleneck sweater and a female student in a gray hijab, engage in a discussion while reviewing documents together.
A teacher leans in to engage with students in a classroom, offering guidance while a female student in a hijab smiles and listens attentively.
A group of students sits together reviewing English language learning materials, including textbooks titled "English File," in a classroom setting.

Student Video Transcripts

Heather and Mehran: Higher ESOL

Heather: Hi, my name is Heather and I am a class tutor on our brand new ESO Higher course here at Kelvin College. 

Mehran: Hi, I'm Mehran. I'm a student of ESOL.

Heather: You've just completed your National Five. What kind of thing are you thinking about doing in the future?

Mehran: My aim is mental health and well-being. Just recently done my interview. Hopefully get selected for next year.

Heather: What sort of workplace would you like to work in in the future?

Mehran: I would love to work with the people, you know, direct communication.

Having volunteered for three years in community made me realise, based on my life experience and the way people help me find my way in life, I think it's a time to give something back.

Heather: That sounds really exciting. Speaking to you, I would definitely say that your English level is the level that we're looking for on our new Higher ESOL course.

Is that something that you would be interested in looking at?

Mehran: Next year, coming from different countries, it's very challenging to settle down.

This course massively helped me to believe in myself. It's very essential to have a good communication, to express who you really are, your feelings and your emotions.

This course opened the door for the new opportunity.

Heather: I think you would be a great candidate for our new Higher ESO course. We are looking for students who have already completed the National 5, Grade A or Grade B, and we're looking for people who want a qualification to show that they are a higher level.

Ting Ting: Childcare

Hi everyone, my name is Ting Ting. I've been in college for almost five years.

I first started, I was in course childcare alongside ESOL and I've jumped a level two, EDA level six.

I had a placement in primary school as a classroom assistant and now I'm in HNC Childhood Practice. So I'm also in placement two days a week and two days in college.

I've always wanted to do something in nursery. That's why I came up for this course and I've always enjoyed it because I like to work with children under five. I have my own children. I have two children. I think this is a perfect career for me.

My favorite part of this course is theory and I think the theory is quite interesting. It really shows in the placement when you see the children, you'll see how they develop and how the theory link to the practice. My favorite is ASN, additional support needs unit you're working in childcare section you will be working with a lot of children with additional support needs very interesting unit as well helps you to understand how the children behave how to support them in placemen.

My plan of course is to get a job after this course because i'm dying to get a job in future really really wants to work in early years

I'd like to say HNC is a very hard course for you to come through and it's going to benefit you a lot and also if you have children that would benefit a lot as well.

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