Student Story: English for Speakers of Other Languages

Learning English on an ESOL class has opened many new doors for Amani; she has gone from speaking no English when she arrived in the UK to applying Cambridge University. Here she encourages others to try an ESOL class…

Name: Amani Chouman
Institution: City of Westminster College
Course: ESOL

When I arrived in the UK in 2004 from Lebanon I couldn’t speak any English. This meant I had no confidence and I just didn’t like going out alone. My husband told me about the course and encouraged me to enrol. It was a class full of all nationalities and the only way we could communicate with each other was in English, so this meant we had to learn! The tutors were incredibly helpful and gave lots of advice about improving language skills outside the classroom.  

It was a great confidence boost to be able to speak and write in English and communicate with others. Writing in English was very hard as I was French educated and the two languages are so different. I also found it very frustrating at first when tutors asked me a question. I knew what they were saying but didn’t have the words to respond. Also, I wanted to speak correctly so it would take me a long time to put an answer together. After three years of learning English, I moved on to an ITQ course and am now studying a Level 3 course. I intend to take my studies further and have applied to Cambridge University to study computing. Recently I was asked to represent City of Westminster College at a meeting with a government minister and I spoke to him about the importance of ESOL classes.

My advice to other English learners is enrol and start studying! English is an international language and it makes a huge difference to be able to speak and write it. I am proud to have learned English. It’s wonderful to be able to understand everything I read and hear and it has also meant further study and career opportunities.

 

There are plenty of English courses all over the UK. Have a browse of all the English courses on offer or search specific types such as English As A Foreign Language, English As An Additional Language, English For Speakers Of Other Languages, Business English, or English for Academic Purposes.