For Learners

🎓 For Learners

Learn English free, online,
from your own home.

We run free English classes online via Microsoft Teams. You do not need to travel. You do not need to pay. You will need a tablet, laptop, or Chromebook. A smartphone is not suitable for online lessons.

Take the free test → How to join
🆓 Free — always
💻 Online via Teams
📊 Pre-A1 to A2
🌙 Evening sessions
🤖 AI tools taught

English levels

We start where you are

Pre-A1

Complete Beginner

Little or no English

  • Basic greetings and numbers
  • Your name, address, family
  • Simple yes/no answers
  • Colours, days, time
A1

Elementary

Some basic English

  • Simple present sentences
  • Shopping, transport, health
  • Basic UK life vocabulary
  • Short conversations
A2

Pre-Intermediate

Can manage everyday tasks

  • Past and future tenses
  • Work and job language
  • Reading official letters
  • Expressing opinions
Not sure?

Take the test

We’ll tell you your level

  • 20 minutes online
  • 500 questions in the bank
  • Instant email result
  • We place you in the right group

What we teach

English for real life in the UK

🏛️

ESOL — English for Speakers of Other Languages

Our core 9-week course covering everyday English for life in the UK.

  • Speaking and listening
  • Reading and writing
  • Grammar in context
  • Vocabulary for real situations
📋

Universal Credit & DWP English

English built around the language of the benefits system.

  • UC journal entries
  • Work Coach appointments
  • Claimant commitments
  • DWP letters and forms
💻

Microsoft 365 Essentials

Digital skills taught through every session — not a separate module.

  • Microsoft Teams (our classroom)
  • Outlook — reading emails
  • Word — CVs and letters
  • OneDrive — saving documents
🏥

Everyday Life English

English for the situations you face every day in the UK.

  • NHS appointments and letters
  • Housing and council communications
  • Shopping and banking
  • School and children’s services

When can I come?

11:00
Monday – Friday
13:00
Monday – Friday
18:30
Monday – Friday

⚠️ Pilot phase: We are currently building our first cohort. Session times will be confirmed once your group is formed. We will work around you as much as possible.

📚 Homework: Each session is followed by approximately 45 minutes of homework. This reinforces what you have learned and — for Universal Credit claimants — counts as Work Related Activity alongside your session attendance.

Something different

We teach you to use AI translation tools

Read any letter. Independently.

Most ESOL courses don’t teach AI translation. We do — because we know that letters from the DWP, NHS, and housing associations can be frightening if you can’t read them.

We teach you how to use Microsoft Translator and Google Translate safely and confidently — so you can understand what you receive and take action yourself.

🔵 Microsoft Translator
🌐 Google Translate
📬 DWP and Universal Credit letters Understand what you owe, what you need to do, and when.
🏥 NHS appointment letters Know where to go, when, and what to bring.
🏠 Housing and council forms Read tenancy agreements and council tax notices.
📝 Forms before you sign Understand what you are agreeing to.

Getting started

How to join — it’s simple

1

Take the online test

Visit our website and take a short English placement test. It takes about 20 minutes. You don’t need to prepare — just answer each question as best you can.

About 20 minutes · Tablet or laptop recommended
2

We contact you

We email you your result and let you know which group is right for you. We may call to discuss your availability and confirm your start date.

Email within 24 hours
3

We help you set up Microsoft Teams

If you have never used Teams before, don’t worry. We will guide you through downloading it and joining your first session. You will need a tablet, laptop, or Chromebook — we are teaching digital workplace skills, so learning on the right device is part of the course.

Free app · Tablet or laptop required
4

Come to your first class

Log in, say hello, and start learning. Our classes are small, friendly, and welcoming. Everyone starts from where they are — there is no wrong level.

Small groups · Friendly · Safe space
5

Complete your 9-week course

Two sessions per week for 9 weeks. You receive an attendance record and completion report — useful for your Work Coach if you are on Universal Credit.

UC evidence provided · Progress tracked

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Yes. All SLC CIC courses are completely free. There are no registration fees, no course fees, and no hidden charges. We are a Community Interest Company funded by grants and donations.
You will need a tablet, laptop, or Chromebook. A smartphone is not suitable — our sessions teach Microsoft 365 workplace skills, and you need a proper screen and keyboard to get the most from them. You will also need a reliable internet connection and a quiet space to join from.
Yes — and our course is designed with you in mind. Attending English classes and completing homework counts as Work Related Activity under Universal Credit conditionality. We provide attendance records, homework logs, and completion reports in the format your Work Coach needs.
Yes. Because our classes are online, you don’t need to arrange childcare to attend. Evening sessions at 6:30pm are available for those who prefer to learn after the children are in bed.
We understand that life happens. Please let us know in advance if you cannot attend. We ask for commitment to at least 80% attendance to make the most of the course.
We teach from the very beginning. If you know almost no English, we have a Pre-A1 group just for you. Take our free test and we will place you in the right group — you cannot be “too beginners”.
You will receive a completion record confirming your attendance and the level you studied at. We are working towards offering accredited qualifications in the future. If you need a formal ESOL qualification, we can also advise you on next steps with other providers.
For many women, cultural, religious, and personal safety considerations make a female-only learning environment not just preferable but essential. We are planning to introduce female-only sessions by the end of our first year. If this matters to you, please mention it when you get in touch and we will make it a priority.
Absolutely — we encourage it. Both people will need to register separately and take the placement test, as we need to make sure you are placed in the right level group.

Is this for me?

You are welcome here if…

🏠

You live in Greater Manchester

We serve learners across all ten GM boroughs — Stockport, Manchester, Salford, Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, Trafford, Bolton, Bury, and Wigan.

🌍

English is not your first language

We teach adults whose first language is not English. We have no restriction on which language you speak at home.

📊

Your level is Pre-A1 to A2

We teach from the very beginning. If you have never studied English before, start here. If you have some English but want to improve, we have a group for you too.

💷

You are on Universal Credit or low income

Our courses are fully funded for people on UC or low income. There is no means test — just register and we will confirm your eligibility.

👩‍👧

You are a carer or parent

Because we are online, you do not need to arrange childcare to attend. Evening sessions at 6:30pm mean you can learn after children are in bed.

❓

Not sure if you qualify?

Just take the test. We will contact you with your result and let you know if we can help. No commitment required.

📋

What you need to join

✓A tablet, laptop, or Chromebook (not a smartphone)
✓An internet connection
✓A valid email address
✓To be 18 or over
✓To live in Greater Manchester
✓Commitment to attend regularly

Ready to find your level?

Take our free 20-minute test. No preparation needed. Instant result by email.

Take the free test →