Adult English for beginners

These courses are for adults whose first language is not English. These courses are designed for those whose English level is below Level 2. It is also for adults for whom once a week lessons work better than twice a week. As it is just once a week, there will be a mixture of levels in the class, but following your initial assessment, we will do our best to place you in a class with students of a similar level.

You will learn basic vocabulary and phrases for everyday life topics such as going to the doctor, using transportation, speaking to people in Bristol, going to the bank, etc. You will also practice correct pronunciation, grammar and spelling. There will be a variety of activities that practice the four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

You must be 19 or older and meet the residency requirements. Your residency will be assessed by the Learner Services team during enrolment.

The course is delivered in the classroom once a week. There are no formal assessments as this is an ILP course (Individual Learning Plan) which means that you will set your own goals at the beginning of the class and work to achieve them throughout the ten weeks with the help of the lecturer.

These courses are designed to be a stepping stone into further studies. Ideally, you will finish this course and then join a twice a week Adult ESOL course, another 10 week ESOL and vocational short course or a full-time or part-time vocational course. You may also go on to find new employment.

As a City of Bristol College student, you may incur additional costs to attend your course. For example, it is likely you may need to pay for travel and stationery. 

Many courses offer learning opportunities that you may need to pay for. This may include things like study visits and visiting speakers. We will let you know in advance if there will be additional costs.

If you are on a limited income, you may be able to receive help from our Learner Support Funding Bursary.