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: Templar 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: Windale Avenue, Oxford, OX4 6JD
Contact: Email fellow@oxfordhub.org
Times: Mondays - 10:30am to midday for Intermediate, Wednesdays - 10am to 11am 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
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 for students aged 18 and above - English level A2-B2 (elementary to upper-intermediate) - 2 week-courses at a time. Monday to Friday 4.30pm to 7pm
Contact: for start dates and registration please email free.english@stclares.ac.uk
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 - Conversation class with optional bible study
Location: St Ebbe’s Church, Pennyfarthing Place, Oxford, OX1 1QF
Contact: freeenglishclasses@stebbes.org
Timetable: Mondays, 6pm to 7.45pm
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
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:
- Skillswise pages on the BBC website
- Learn English courses on FutureLearn
- Languages page on the Open University website
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.