Getting Ready for Functional Skills English Level 1

Course Title: Getting Ready for Functional Skills English Level 1

Brief course description:

Get ready for a 10-week journey that transforms your everyday English into a powerful tool for life, work, and study!

With just two lessons a week, this course helps you build the confidence and skills needed to take on a Functional Skills English qualification. You’ll dive into reading real-world texts like articles, instructions, and reports, and learn to write with clarity and purpose whether it’s a letter, email, or formal document.

Along the way, you’ll sharpen your punctuation, expand your vocabulary, and explore literary techniques that make your writing shine. You’ll also practise speaking and listening in group discussions, learning how to express your views and respond thoughtfully to others.

By the end, you’ll feel equipped to tackle everyday challenges and take your next step whether that’s further study, a new job, or simply feeling more confident in your communication.

 

Objectives:

1. Participate in discussions, adapt your communication for different audiences and purposes, and respond clearly to detailed questions.

2. Compare, identify, and extract key points, ideas, and details from a variety of text types.

3. Communicate ideas and opinions in writing with clarity and accuracy, tailor your content to suit the audience and purpose, and adjust length and detail appropriately.

4. Use punctuation correctly, apply proper grammar, and spell both common and specialist vocabulary with precision.

5. Identify, develop, and apply essential digital skills to succeed in accredited courses and online learning environments.

6. Set, pursue, and achieve meaningful goals aligned with your career or study aspirations.

Entry requirements:

You need to hold a level 1 qualification in Reading & Writing for ESOL, or have higher level writing skills. You should be working towards Level 1 English for this course. This means you are already a confident speaker, reader, and writer. You can give presentations, read newspaper articles, write formal emails for work and/or other services. This course is the right one for you if you need to develop your practical English. For example, you can choose the right word in the circumstance, you can recognise how a writer creates meaning and you can convey the right tone in speaking and writing, with high levels of accuracy.

This is not an ESOL course. If you need to develop your language skills such as verb tenses, listening for detail and gist, pronunciation, and expressing yourself in an additional language, please join one of our many ESOL classes.

This course assumes you already have a good level of communicative language.

You will need to do a pre-course assessment.

Equipment required:

Please bring to every lesson:

• A folder
• Pens & pencil
• Lined A4 paper
• A smartphone (if you have one)

We will give you the WIFI details in the first lesson.

If you do not have access to a smart phone or a computer, speak to your tutor.

You will also need a personal Gmail account to access the Google classroom, which will be used for submitting coursework and accessing course materials. If you do not have a Gmail account speak to your tutor.

What courses can I go on to:

There are other courses you can do after or at the same time as this course:

• Getting ready for Functional Skills English Level1/2
• ESOL level 2
• Functional Skills English Level 1/2
• Functional Skills Maths Level 1/2
• Becoming Confident in Digital Skills
• Digital Skills Entry 3/Level 1
• Digital Skills for creating: How to organise a community event
• Digital Skills in the workplace: Promoting and Selling your product or business online
• Digital Skills in the workplace: Using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Please ask your teacher for more information or contact Functional Skills email: functionalskills@towerhamlets.gov.uk

What examination is there:

There is no examination for this course. You will agree individual learning goals with your tutor which you must achieve by the end of the course.

How will I know I am making progress:

At the start of the course, your tutor will talk with you about which parts of your English you need to practise most and help you create an individual learning plan. Throughout the course, you will have a tutorial meeting to discuss your strengths, areas for improvement, and any problems you may have. You will keep a folder with your work, which will help you review your learning outside of class. Your tutor will give you regular feedback on your class work and homework to help you improve. To make progress, you need to attend all your classes and do work outside of class.

You will lose your place if your attendance is less than 80%.

Other info:

One of our aims is to help you make progress in work or future studies. We also want to help you participate in your communities and become an active citizen. In our classes, you will develop important skills that employers value and that will help you in everyday life. Here’s what you will learn:

• Communication Skills: You will learn to speak and write more clearly and confidently. This includes practising conversations for work, writing emails, and filling out forms.
• Decision-Making: You will learn how to make good choices by evaluating different options and thinking critically about situations.
• Teamwork: You will learn how to work well with others.
• Problem-Solving: You will develop the ability to identify problems and find effective solutions, useful in both work and daily life.
• Time Management: You will practice managing your time effectively, including setting goals and meeting deadlines.

By improving these skills, you will increase your chances of finding a job, advancing in your career, and becoming an active member of your community.

Extra support

We can help you if you tell us you have a learning difficulty, disability or other support needs. Please tell us when you enrol or in your first class.