ESOL Skills for Life
Course Description:
Skills for Life is the government\'s strategy for improving adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL skills in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From September 2004, all qualifications for adult learners of English in the state sector which relate to the strategy must be based on the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum — a development of the National Standards for Adult Literacy — and accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
In response to these requirements, Cambridge ESOL is offering the full range of Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life. These qualifications provide flexible assessment of ESOL learners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, whilst minimising the workload of teachers and administrators. They reflect the use of English in everyday life and are fully based on the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum.
The Skills for Life Certificates are:
- available at five levels — Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2
- wholly externally assessed, by trained and experienced examiners
- available on demand to suit the learner and the learning provider
- accredited by the QCA and funded by the Learning and Skills Council
- available every day of the year, except UK public holidays
Recognising that the individual\'s language skills can vary quite significantly in their development, the new certificates allow learners to enter for different modes at different levels, to accommodate spiky profiles.
At each level, learners who achieve a Pass will be awarded certificates at mode level from University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
Who are they for?
The Skills for Life tests are designed for adult (16+) speakers whose home language is not English, who are living or trying to settle in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These ESOL learners may include refugees or asylum seekers, migrant workers, people from settled communities, and partners or spouses of people who are settled in this country for a number of years.
It is expected that the learners\' educational and employment backgrounds will be diverse, as well as their aspirations, literacy levels and language learning skills. This diversity will be reflected in the range of material selected for use in these tests and in the task types which candidates will need to complete.
Course Modules:
Candidates will encounter topics in the tests which are both familiar and relevant to them as learners of English. Topics may include:
- personal details/experiences
- work
- education/training
- housing
- family and friends
- health
- transport
- weather
- buying goods
- leisure
- UK society.
Entry Requirement: No formal qualification is required.
Assessment:
Course Work: Each level here has its own course book which follows the Cambridge syllabus. A technique that has had proven results which enables students to pass all the exam set by Cambridge. Each Course book includes the above mentioned elements, helping you to strengthen your weaknesses, no matter what they are. Intake: January, April, July and October
Duration and hours: 4 weeks to 1 year, 15 to 21 hours.
Progression: You can join any higher education course of certification or Diploma depending on your previous qualification and experience.
