LSME always strives to achieve success for its students and critical to this is having good English and being able to communicate effectively. We have therefore invested and developed in resources and courses in English with a special focus on the needs of people who have English as a Second Language (ESOL).

English is the language of international communication for study, research, business and industry and LSME are proud to be in a position to deliver qualifications designed by Edexcel who are world-renowned for internationally recognised qualifications. Edexcel has been setting standards and testing English Language for many years and their certificates are accepted by universities and employers worldwide.

Edexcel: ESOL Skills for Life Qualifications

These qualifications are available to adult learners in education, the workplace, on training schemes, in Adult and Community Learning programmers and in everyday life. They are designed to develop the literacy skills and capabilities that adults who are speakers of languages other than English need to take a full part in at work and in society.

Aims

The Edexcel Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life has been designed to facilitate programmers that enable learners who are speakers of languages other than English to:

• Progress to the next level in manageable steps
  
• Achieve a level of attainment in English which is appropriate to their needs
  
• Use language at a level to function at work and in society in general
  
• Follow a structured course of study
  
• Become better qualified.

These qualifications contribute to the government’s Skills for Life initiative by providing assessment of ESOL, which is designed around the Standards for adult literacy and the ESOL Core Curriculum. They are designed to cover the Standards and curriculum with sufficient range and depth to properly reflect the use of the English language in real-world situations, appropriate to the needs of the client groups and the NQF level in question.

Target groups

Learners who may benefit from the Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life qualifications are speakers of languages other than English, including, for example:

• Learners from settled communities, including communities from the Asian subcontinent and Hong Kong
• Refugees in the categories of asylum seekers and settled refugees or migrant workers who work/settle in the United Kingdom for most of their lives

Structure of the qualifications

Edexcel offers Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life at the following Levels:

• Entry 1, 2 and 3
  
• Level 1
  
• Level 2

They are based upon the National Standards for Adult Literacy and the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum. The qualifications offered by Edexcel at Entry 1, 2, 3 conform to the requirements of the QCA Entry Level Criteria. The qualifications at Levels 1 and 2 confirm to the requirements of the QCA Common Criteria.

There are three modes available at each Level:

• Speaking and Listening
  
• Reading
  
• Writing

Each mode, at each Level, consists of one unit, which is assessed by means of a unit test. Tests have specific time limits and these may vary between mode and Level. It is important to stress that many learners will not be ready for assessment of all modes at the same time or Level. Learners are registered for five years and can seek final accreditation at any time over the five years.

Unit achievement is available for each mode. Learners obtain the whole qualification at each Level by achieving all three modes.

Assessment of the Qualification

The ESOL qualifications have been designed to support flexible assessment. The key features at each Level are:

• No portfolio
  
• Tests can be taken on-demand
  
• Tests are administered in supervised conditions by the centre
  
• Internal marking with external verification

On-demand Assessment

Programme Structure

Award and Certification : The students will be awarded certificates according to their respective levels

Duration : 3-6 months

Course fees : Check the current tuition fees here.

The final certificate is issued by EDEXCEL to successful candidates.