English for Speakers of Other Languages has always been provided in Highland. Current providers are all involved in the Highland Adult Literacies Partnership which funds many projects for basic ESOL tuition. There are classes available at different levels and incorporating different activities ranging from conversation and a study of citizenship materials, to workplace ESOL and classes for accreditation. The classes that are currently provided are constantly changing and evolving to meet identified need. Much of the present ESOL work in the Inverness and surrounding area is funded by the Hi Hopes Equal in Scotland Project.
The main providers are:
Adult Basic Education, Highland Council
The council provides tuition at a basic level and other classes such as creative writing, computer classes and family literacy classes, that may also be suitable for people whose English skills are improving. There are 7 ABE Co-ordinators throughout Highland who are able to advise on the nearest suitable class. They also provide one to one tuition where necessary.
Workers Educational Association
- Community Literacies
The WEA provide many classes that are useful for people with low English skills. These classes are mostly integrated with other activity such as form filling or cv writing so may be very useful to people who are wanting to move on from the basic stages. They have delivered courses using citizenship materials developed by tutors within the partnership, and are soon to publish and distribute these materials. They have also supplied the tutor for the current family literacy initiative in Crown Primary School.
- Workplace ESOL
The WEA has been piloting workplace ESOL literacies to the benefit of both employee and employer. This work has progressed in leaps and bounds and is expected to continue to develop through 2024. Some small employers in the hotel sector are now keen to take part in the provision for their staff and are working at overcoming the potential barriers for this to happen. Companies, both in the hotel trade and the fish processing industry are considering offering their employees SQA accredited course work. Leaflets about the Workplace ESOL Programme will be ready by mid-December.
InvernessCollege
Inverness College provides more formal learning possibilities and can arrange for accreditation of English skills.
NorthHighlandCollege
North Highland College is currently running many ESOL classes throughout Highland through ESF Funding. This level of provision will continue till 2024.
Highland Libraries
Libraries play a key role in supporting people with ESOL across the Highland area by extending a whole range of services and resources. The most obvious to the public is probably the facility to e-mail home using the Peoples Network Computers. The computers can also be used to access newspapers in their own languages.
Highland Libraries have sets of books available for reading groups which are held at the Library Support Unit for tutors to book out and use with learners . These have been chosen specifically for English Language learners. There are also “Learn Together” sacks which enable parents and children to improve their English language skills together. Other language learning resources include dual language books for children and Audio Cassettes and CD language packs. In addition to this Highland Libraries has made arrangements to hire books in some of the most prevalent languages in the area and these books can be requested from any library. Leaflets in Polish have been distributed to advertise the resources and facilities that are available in libraries and leaflets in other languages are in development.
WEA community classes
Thursday am Spectrum Centre 2hr 10 week course at Intermediate 1 level.
Group work based on broad and current topics.
Family ESOL literacy - Saturday mornings at Crown Primary school
WEA Workplace ESOL
Have been running several successful courses in workplaces in the Inverness area ranging from fish processing to care homes and hotels. Current numbers in the various classes are about 40 but there are some hopeful negotiations with employers in the pipeline and it is hoped to develop and expand these classes in the coming months.
ABE
Have had 175 learners in group work and one to one from Jan 06 to October 06
InvernessCollege
All courses run from September to June
Current total 102 students
NorthHighlandCollege
3 classes currently in Inverness
ABE
ESOL tuition for 149 learners from Jan 06 to Oct 06 in one to one and group work. They also provide some workplace ESOL.
NorthHighlandCollege
2 classes currently in Alness and 1 in Strathpeffer
WEA
A class each in Dingwall and Alness 41 students in all
Level - beginners to upper intermediate
One course completed an SQA ESOL award.
Lead Scotland
Have had one ESOL learner on their books.
ABE has offered one to one and Group work ESOL to 8 people from January 06 to October 06
Lairg Learning Centre has had 2 people receiving ESOL tuition together as a group
between May 06 and October 06
ABE has provided tuition in 2 classes in Wick for 16 people between Jan 06 and October 06. A new class has started in Thurso since the October school break.
ABE provides tuition for 14 people in one to one and group work.
ABE has provided ESOL tuition for 125 people between Jan 06 and Oct 06.
ABE has provided ESOL tuition for 40 people between Jan 06 and Oct 06. Some of this is workplace based.
HAIL has 19 ESOL learners currently on its books at the Learning Centres.
North Highland College has 1 class in Grantown and 1 in Aviemore
To enquire about availability of classes in any area or to update this information please contact
Mary Rhind, Highland Adult Literacies,
31A Harbour Road, InvernessIV1 1UA
Telephone 01463 251 276
E-mail mary.rhind@highland.gov.uk