English for Work and Life in Scotland
You speak English. But real life in Scotland can still feel harder than expected.
Maybe you've studied English for years. You can work in English, manage emails and everyday tasks. Then a colleague asks you to join them for lunch. People speak quickly. There's slang you've never heard before. You understand some of it, but not enough to feel comfortable joining in. So you stay quiet.
This programme is designed to help international newcomers understand more of the English they hear around them, join conversations more easily, and feel more connected to life in Scotland.
This programme is for you if…
You moved to Scotland within the last year to eighteen months
You already have functional English, but real conversations are still difficult
You struggle with fast speech, slang or informal language
You sometimes stay quiet at work because you're worried you won't understand
You'd like to feel more comfortable speaking with colleagues and people you meet socially
You want to practise the English people actually use in everyday life
You do not need perfect English.
This programme is designed for people who already have English but want more support using it in real situations.
Built around situations you'll actually face
Joining conversations at work
Move from avoiding informal chats or lunch with colleagues to feeling more able to listen, respond and join in.
Starting conversations and speaking up
Practise approaching colleagues, starting conversations and sharing ideas without waiting for the "perfect" sentence.
Understanding real spoken English
Notice the vocabulary, slang, pronunciation and conversational cues that can make everyday English in Scotland difficult to follow.
Building a life outside work
Practise the language and social skills that help you make plans, join activities, meet people and feel more connected.
Six weeks, online and in person
You'll get
- 4 x 90-minute live online group sessions
- 2 in-person group sessions
- Modules that support each topic and section of the programme, with audio, video and practical materials
- Examples of real everyday English
- Useful vocabulary and expressions
- Cultural context
- Around 1 hour of independent work each week
- Small real-life challenges to try between sessions
- A private alumni group on Facebook
Everyone moves through the programme together, so you'll be learning and practising with the same group each week.
What happens between sessions?
This is not a programme where you just watch videos and hope things improve. Each week, you'll use what you've learned in a small, manageable real-life challenge. That might mean:
Starting a conversation with a colleague
Joining a lunch or coffee break you might normally avoid
Trying a new phrase in conversation
Asking for clarification instead of pretending you understood
Going to a social activity or speaking to someone new
Then we unpack what happened together.
What felt easier? What was difficult? What did you hear that you didn't understand? What could you try differently next time?
The in-person sessions
Two of the six sessions take place in person. These sessions are designed to help you:
Get to know the group more naturally
Use English outside a classroom setting
Explore more of the city
Practise communication in real situations
The final in-person session is a social or cultural activity where you can use what you've learned in a more natural setting.
Six sessions, September to November
This is not a traditional English class
We won't spend six weeks working through a grammar textbook. The focus is on the English and communication you actually need for your life in Scotland.
The goal is to help you use the English you already have more effectively, while continuing to build it.
The first beta of this programme
Beta price
You'll receive the full 6-week programme at a beta price while helping shape the experience for future groups. Places are limited so everyone gets the support they need.