Teaching beginners doesn’t have to be the hardest kind of ESOL teaching
When teachers are trained to speak simply for beginners, student retention and attainment improves. Everyone understands, and nobody is left behind.
We've worked with:
How ESOL students feel
Fluent English sounds like a stream of noise.
From the moment they enter the classroom, beginner ESOL learners are working hard to understand every word.
English lessons can become an exhausting and dispiriting experience if the teacher doesn’t know how to moderate their speech. Learners may:
- Panic
- Tune out
- Feel embarrassed when they cannot answer
- Disengage from learning
- Drop out altogether
For learners with limited literacy, the challenge is even greater. Most books and classroom activities assume reading and writing skills. Without them, learners can silently fall behind.
How ESOL teachers often feel
A sea of faces watches as you explain a task. No one responds...
You want the ground to swallow you. How do you teach people from around the world when you can’t use their languages to explain?
This is why new ESOL practitioners often find pre-Entry and Entry 1 groups the hardest. It’s tempting to focus on the learners who understand and leave others behind.
Over time, teachers develop a different way of speaking. But it can take years to master clear, simple language and feel comfortable with silence. While they are still learning, students can under-achieve, lose confidence, or disengage.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
There is a shortcut to being a highly skilled classroom communicator.
Instead of learning from trial and error in the classroom, ESOL practitioners can learn two foundational skills in just one day from an ESOL veteran-
- The ability to moderate speech clearly and respectfully so learners can process and respond.
- The ability to identify and support Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education.
And that's exactly what you'll learn in these workshops!
HI, I'M SHELLEY PURCHON
I’m the founder of English Unlocked and for 25 years I taught English to people from around the world. First in Spain, and then in the UK.
When I returned to the UK in 2001, my employers noticed that even the beginners could understand me. They gave me the Entry 1 class full time, and I became highly skilled at communicating in a way that is simple enough for ESOL students to understand, but challenging enough that they still make progress.
If not everyone in your ESOL provision can read or write in their first language, we also have a workshop to help you understand and meet their particular needs.
Teaching beginners is my favourite kind of teaching, and it can be yours too. Let me help you and your team create a calm learning environment where silences are comfortable, students are productive and nobody is left behind.
The training on this page brings those hard-earned lessons directly to your team.
What Particpants Say...
"I have taught English in Morrocco, but there were tips here that I’ve never come across in my ESOL training." Hannah Barnes, West End Refugee Service.
Imagine your beginner classes three months from now
- All tutors communicate as clearly as your best tutor
- Even mandated learners participate fully in class
- Literacy challenges are spotted early
- Attendance and punctuality is better than this time last year
For you as a provider, that means stronger ESOL capacity across your team.
How to Teach ESOL Beginners
- The first is foundational for everyone who teaches beginners.
- The second is for those who teach Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education
Practical details
✔️ Each workshop lasts 2 hours.
✔️ Up to 20 participants per session.
✔️Attend one or both workshops
✔️ Face-to-face or online
✔️ Prices for groups range from £600 to £800
✔️ If it’s just for you, let us know. You’ll receive a notification when the next session is taking place.
5 Star Feedback
This training is for you if
You are an ESOL manager who wishes to-
- Improve student retention and attainment statistics
- Improve accessibility across your service
- Motivate and retain ESOL staff
The workshops are highly recommended for staff who
- Are in the first years of an ESOL career
- Are new to teaching Pre-entry and Entry 1.
- Are struggling to teach a mixed level class
- Are volunteering in an ESOL classroom
- Have taught EFL but not ESOL
- Teach groups with a ‘spiky profile’
An under-diagnosed problem
During level testing, do you identify Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE)? Or do they mix in with everyone else?
Traditional ESOL teaching materials don’t work well for students who can’t read or write in their first language.
If you don’t actively look for non-literacy, and teach those students differently, they are very likely to-
- Attain poorly
- Drop out
- Get stuck at one level
Globally, only 60% of adult refugees are literate. (According to UNESCO’s 2022 report.)
Workshop 2 helps ESOL practitioners understand the needs of students who are non-literate or semi literate in their first language, and provides ideas and resources for better learning outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions below
How long is the training?
All our workshops are 2 hours long.
Can you hold this training in-house?
Yes. We can deliver the workshop online or in-house. Depending on your location, in-person training may incur a small additional cost.
Who delivers the training?
Workshops 1 and 3 and delivered by our founding director, Shelley Purchon. Workshop 2 is delivered by leading interpreter Marta Leigh.
Is this just for groups?
No, we also deliver training to individuals, who can book on to mixed-group sessions. These sessions don’t focus on health and social care research, the tips are more generalised to staff in a wide range of roles. To find out more, request a mixed group session when you click on ‘Enquire now.’ In our reply we’ll let you know which workshops we have coming up, and we’ll add your name to the waitlist if nothing is scheduled already. Prices start at £60 per person.
Is there any follow-up?
Yes. Bespoke workshops include a consultation before and after the workshop.
Do we have to book both workshops?
No. Most teams begin with Workshop 1. Workshop 2 can be added if literacy challenges are affecting student progression from Entry 1 to Entry 2.
Do we have to book the workshops on the same day?
No, but it’s an option.
Is workshop 1 suitable for experienced tutors too?
Up to you. We do get positive feedback from experienced tutors who attend, they enjoy the opportunity to reach a consensus on what works and what doesn’t. Their insights can support the learning of their less experienced colleagues.
Is this a repetition of what ESOL teachers learn in their teacher training?
Many tutors report that explicit training in language grading for beginners was limited or absent from their initial qualification.
Can you tailor this to our setting?
Yes. Workshops can be adapted to reflect your learner profile and context.
Is the workshop accessible for staff with different learning styles?
Yes. The session is interactive, visual and practical, with plenty of examples, opportunities to try techniques and space to ask questions.
Can tutors share this with their manager?
Yes. A concise PDF summary is available to support internal conversations.
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