Learn English in Oxford

English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, refers to learning English as a new resident in an English-speaking country.

Colleges offering regular ESOL courses

Below is a list of colleges offering regular ESOL courses. Each college may have different costs and eligibility criteria. Contact colleges directly to find out if you qualify for a fee reduction.

Activate Learning - Offer a variety of accredited EFL/ESOL Classes

Locations: City of Oxford College, Oxpens Road, Oxford, OX1 1SA
Contact: Call 0800 612 6008 or register your interest on the Activate Learning website

EMBS Community College - Offer a variety of accredited ESOL classes

Location: 2nd Floor, Templars Square Cowley Centre, Oxford, OX4 3XT
Contact: info@embs.ac.uk or call 01865 776041 / 07737851962

Abingdon and Witney College - some ESOL classes offered in Oxford

Contact: esol@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

Ruskin College Oxford - ESOL for education - essential English skills

Location: Dunstan Road, Oxford, OX3 9BZ
Contact: communitylearning@ruskin.ac.uk

Free, informal ESOL classes

Please note: these timings might change. Please check with the venue or organiser before attending.

Oxford Hub – drop-in classes with free access - no registration required

Location: Oxford Hub, Windale Avenue, Oxford, OX4 6JD
Contact: Email fellow@oxfordhub.org
Times: Mondays - 10:30am to 12pm for Intermediate, Wednesdays - 11am to 12pmam for Beginners

Location: Blackbird Leys Library, Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford OX4 6HT
Contact: Email fellow@oxfordhub.org or call/text 07935459023
Times: Wednesdays - 4pm to 5pm for Beginners

Location: Cutteslowe Community Centre, 31 Wren Road, Oxford OX2 7SX
Contact: Email fellow@oxfordhub.org or call/text 07935459023
Times: Thursdays – 10:30m to 12pm for Beginners

Location: St Christophers CE Primary School, Temple Road, Oxford OX4 2HB
Contact: Email fellow@oxfordhub.org or call/text 07935459023
Times: Thursdays – 9am to 10am for Beginners

St. Clare’s, Oxford - 3 Bardwell Road, OX2 6SU

online English Classes for level B1+ (intermediate) - Mondays 6pm to 7pm Contact: mark.bartram@stclares.ac.uk
in-person informal English lessons (speaking, grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening) for students aged 18 and above. English level A2-B2 (elementary to upper-intermediate) - 2-week and 4-week courses running regularly. Monday to Friday 4.30pm to 7pm.

Contact: free.english@stclares.ac.uk for start dates and registration

Teaching House Oxford at The Oxford English Centre - offers free English classes for students aged 18 and above, Levels A1+ to B2+. Improve your fluency, vocabulary and listening comprehension with interactive and engaging classes delivered by student teachers.

Location: 66 Banbury Road, OX2 6PR
Contact: just come along to reception 15 minutes before the class for a quick spoken test
Full-time: Monday to Friday 1.30pm to 3.30pm

City of Oxford College offers informal ESOL classes at your local Community Centres – no registration required in advance, just bring your ID with you to the class to enrol:

Rose Hill Community Centre - Carole’s Way, Oxford, OX4 4HF

Mondays - 9.30am to 11.15am - intermediate level
Mondays - 11.30am to 1.30pm - beginners

Cutteslowe Community Centre - 31 Wren Road, Oxford, OX2 7SX

Tuesdays - 12.30pm to 2.30pm - beginners and intermediate level

Blackbird Leys Library - Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford, OX4 6HT

Tuesdays – 9.30am to 11.30am - beginners

Language learning in the library (Oxfordshire County Council website) - free and open to all adults over 18 years old.

Language Café is run by Oxfordshire Libraries and is a safe space for you to talk in English and other languages. It is a place to meet others, ‘swap’ languages and practise speaking and listening in other languages.

For current sessions at the following libraries, see the Language learning in the library pages on the Oxfordshire County Council website:

Contact: 01865 815509 or county.library@oxfordshire.gov.uk

St Ebbe's Church – Visit the Free English Classes website. Beginners and advanced student welcome. Register on arrival.

Location: St Ebbe’s Church, Pennyfarthing Place, Oxford, OX1 1QF
Contact: freeenglishclasses@stebbes.org
Timetable: Mondays, 6pm to 7.45pm in term-time

St Aldate's Church - English conversation. All levels. Optional Bible study

Location: St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1BT
Contact: Email english.classes@staldates.org.uk or telephone 01865 254800
Times: Tuesdays - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Rivers of Life Church – beginner and intermediate level

Location: Rivers of Life Church, 12 Sutton Road, Northway, OX3 9RB
Contact: 07860342323 or 07908437226
Times: Tuesdays - 12.45 to 2.15pm. Thursdays - 12.45 to 2.15pm.

Children and young people

EMBS Sixth Form College - offer a 4 day, full-time ESOL programme for all levels, from complete beginners to Level 2/GCSE for young people aged 16-19. Subjects include English, Maths, ICT, Health & Wellbeing, Employability, and sports sessions. Continuous enrolment throughout the year.

Location: Oxford and Banbury
Contact: To register please complete the EMBS Community College Google form or contact EMBS Sixth Form by emailing joe@embs.ac.uk or calling 07737 816471.

Jacari - 1:1 English tutoring for children aged 6-16

Location: Oxford
Contact: Email oxford@jacari.org or call 07376 293596

Refugee Education UK (REUK) - 1:1 educational mentoring for people aged 14 to 25

Location: Oxford
Contact: Email giulia@reuk.org

Learn English online

Visit the following websites for more information:

English language course in Oxfordshire

For other English language course in Oxfordshire please see English courses for adults on the Oxfordshire County Council website.

Listing updates

If you would like to add your English language classes on this page or update a current listing, please contact refugeehousing@oxford.gov.uk.