In England and Wales, 5.1 million people speak English as a second or additional language (ESL) – one in five of whom report that they do not speak English “well” or “at all”.
For this group, an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course could be lifechanging. By unlocking their skills and experience, they could also help tackle current skills shortages. Fifty percent of migrants and refugees in the UK have tertiary qualifications.
And yet, this potential is going unfulfilled because of an ESOL curriculum that is out of date and does not reflect the needs of language learners well. This impacts the effectiveness of teaching and learning and slows learners’ progress.
Currently, the ESOL curriculum focuses mainly on providing learners with the skills needed for home life – to make a doctor’s appointment, to go to the grocery store, to open a bank account. These are essential of course, but they are not sufficient for life in the UK and for the English language skills needed for work or for study.
