Communicating With ESOL Students Doesn’t Have To Feel Difficult
Learn to adapt your conversation style to be more easily understood, with or without interpreters.
We've Worked With
SOUND FAMILIAR?
Enroling students who don’t speak English well can be challenging
If you work in an FE college, you already know that helping ESOL students can be difficult. Especially beginners. You’re trying to welcome new students or get them enrolled, and no interpreting budget exists to help you speak to them.
You worry that you’re speaking too fast, or that if you slow down, they might feel patronised.
Even if they bring a friend, it’s hard to fill in their paperwork and explain what documents you need to see.
What ESOL Students May Be Experiencing
To them, your speech may sound like a stream of noise.
This causes feelings of anxiety and overwhelm which can seriously reduce their ability to focus on what you say.
If they have little previous experience of formal education in the UK, they may find it especially difficult to understand your systems and procedures.
A college setting can feel intimidating to newcomers. If you speak too quickly, ESOL students may drop out before they get enrolled.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
That's exactly what you'll learn in this workshop!
HI, I'M SHELLEY PURCHON
I’m the founder of English Unlocked and for 25 years I taught English to people from all over the world, including asylum seekers and other migrants. I became highly skilled at adapting my speech so that even beginners could understand me.
When other people discover this clearer way of speaking, their conversations become slower, calmer and more interactive.
And the best part?
This practical workshop takes just two hours. The years I spent mastering this skill through trial and error are condensed into one short, impactful workshop.
You can use these skills immediately to help you welcome and enrol new students. If booking an interpreter is not an option, these skills will be transformative.
Even when you speak extremely slowly, you won’t sound patronising. You will phrase complex ideas simply and become much easier to understand.
This fun and interactive workshop is only available from English Unlocked.
Watch the video for more detail on what we cover in the workshop!
What Your Conversations Will Feel Like After The Workshop
ESOL students will notice and appreciate your new way of speaking.
You’ll see them visibly relax, and you will feel more relaxed too.
Migrants will understand which documents you need to see, or what to write on forms.
Conversations will feel more productive and enrolment will be easier.
How To Speak To Learners of English As A Foreign Language
Master the skill of speaking in a way that ESOL students find easier to understand.
This training is available online or face-to-face for groups of up to 20 people.
If it’s just for you, we’ll put you on a waiting list. You’ll receive a notification when the next session is taking place.
Prices for groups range from £600 to £800 depending whether a consultation to develop bespoke training is required.
What you’ll learn
By the end of the workshop, will be able to adapt your communication style with confidence and skill. You will feel calmer and more confident during all your encounters with ESOL students, including enrolment.
What English sounds like to a beginner, through a short foreign-language listening exercise
See how your speech looks on a soundwave recorder. Are you leaving enough gaps?
The seven communication mistakes that can seem patronising, and what to do instead.
The everyday words and phrases which cause confusion for learners of English.
How to speak to beginners in a way that is very slow but dignified.
How to speed up for those with better English while still sounding crisp and clear.
What Others Say
5 Star Feedback
THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR YOU IF
You work in an FE college which has an ESOL department. Especially if you work in:
- Student Services
- Admissions
- Reception
- Student Support
A Real Example From an esol setting
Rachel Fox, Timetabling & Student Data Systems Manager, first came across our training when we delivered it for the The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group. She knew that her Student Services team would benefit from our communication tips, but she also asked us to look at the enrolment process. How could they explain it more simply? She requested a bespoke training session just for them.
Enrolment is such an abstract concept and without examples it’s very hard to explain what new students need to bring with them and how to answer the questions on the form.
We helped the Student Services team put together a resource pack they could show to ESOL students of important things like proof of address and eVisas. With examples like these, and with communication training, it became easier to successfully guide new ESOL students through the enrolment process.
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?
This workshop is usually delivered by our founding director, Shelley Purchon.
Is this just for groups?
No, we also deliver training to individuals, who can book on to mixed-group sessions. The tips in our mixed-group sessions don’t focus on enrolment, but 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 this workshop suitable for ESOL practitioners?
We have a different version of this workshop which is especially useful for those who teach English to migrants. When you click on the ‘Enquire now’ button you’ll be directed to a form which asks ‘What problem will the training address?’ If you’re interested in our training for ESOL practitioners, please mention it here.
Is this workshop helpful for subject lecturers (who are not ESOL practitioners)?
Yes. We understand that it’s hard for teaching staff to meet the needs of students whose first language isn’t English if the other students in the class grew up speaking English. If subject lecturers are also interested in attending, please let us know when you book so we can meet their needs during the session.
Can you help us solve a different communication problem?
Yes. Here are some examples of communication difficulties which other clients have brought to us-
- how to explain grooming to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
- how to explain safeguarding to new service users
- how to explain housing legislation to people at risk of homelessness
- how to explain data protection over the phone
- how to explain what volunteering consists of.
Is there any follow-up?
Yes. Bespoke workshops include a consultation before and after the workshop.
Can we book this for mixed teams with different roles?
Yes. Many organisations book this for mixed groups – the skills are useful for all front-facing staff. If that’s your situation we recommend booking a workshop specially designed for mixed groups, rather than a bespoke one.
Do you offer a discount for third sector organisations?
Yes. Please mention this when you book.
We use interpreters. Do we still need this workshop?
Interpreters are essential for certain conversations, especially if the topic is legal, medical or financial. But booking an interpreter isn’t always justified, and even with an interpreter, meanings can get missed. This workshop complements – not replaces – interpreter use. To learn about our training on ‘How to Work Effectively with Interpreters’, check our website.
We already have cultural competency training. How is this different?
This workshop focuses specifically on language, not culture. It teaches you practical communication techniques you can use immediately, alongside any broader cultural awareness training you already have.
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.
KEEN TO LEARN MORE?
Sign up for our bulletin, providing free resources, industry news and training opportunities once a month
© 2026 All Rights Reserved.