Free Online English Classes (ESOL and ESP) in Edinburgh
Join free online ESOL and ESP classes in Edinburgh
ESOL classes are open to people from anywhere in Scotland.
ESOL means English for Speakers of Other Languages. It is also called General English.
ESP means English for Specific Purposes. It is our English for Employment course.
You learn on Zoom with a friendly tutor. You build your speaking, listening and writing, and your confidence.
The next round of ESOL starts on 1 December 2026. The next ESP round starts on 2 December 2026.
Free
Online on Zoom
3 ESOL levels plus ESP for work
4 months
2 rounds a year
Which class is right for you?
We have four classes. Choose the one that fits you.
Not sure which one to pick? We will contact you about your level.
ESOL: Beginner
You can understand simple sentences and want to speak more easily.
DAYS
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
TIME
11am to 12.30pm
ESOL: Intermediate
You can talk about daily life and want to speak, listen and write with more confidence.
DAYS
Tuesdays and Thursdays
TIME
1pm to 2.30pm
ESOL: Advanced
You speak English well and want to be more accurate and fluent.
DAYS
Mondays and Wednesdays
TIME
3pm to 4.30pm
English for Employment (ESP)
You are looking for work and live in Edinburgh. You want to use English at work.
DAYS
Mondays and Wednesdays
TIME
11am to 12.30pm or 1pm to 2.30pm
Free ESOL classes (General English) for adults in Edinburgh and online
We have run ESOL classes for over 10 years. The classes are free and fully online, on Zoom.
We teach at three levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.
The classes help you build confidence and improve your everyday English.
What you will learn
You learn English that you can use in daily life, in education and at work. We work on:
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Speaking
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Listening
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Writing
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Confidence in English
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Language for life in the UK
Maybe you want to speak more easily every day. Maybe you want to study more, or find work. These classes can help you take the next step.
Who can join
You can join an ESOL class if you:
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Are from a minority ethnic group
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Live in Scotland
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Are over 18
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Are not an absolute beginner
Class times and length
Each course has 2 classes a week. Each class is 1.5 hours.
A course lasts 4 months. We run 2 rounds a year.
Beginner:
Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11am to 12.30pm
Intermediate:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1pm to 2.30pm
Advanced:
Mondays and Wednesdays, 3pm to 4.30pm
The next ESOL round starts on 1 December 2026.
After a course, you can move up to the next level. Then you join the next round.
English for Employment course (ESP)
English for Employment helps you use English at work. Its other name is English for Specific Purposes (ESP).
A pilot course supported 60 participants. 80% of them stayed on the course.
English for Employment is funded by the City of Edinburgh Council. The funding continues in 2026/27.
Who the course is for
You can join English for Employment if you:
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Understand job adverts
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Complete job applications
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Prepare for interviews
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Communicate at work
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Build your skills for getting a job
The course builds your confidence in business English, work words and communication skills.
What the course includes
Each 4-month course is online. It includes:
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2 English classes a week, 1.5 hours each
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A speaking club every week, 1.5 hours
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Free one-to-one mentoring support
The course helps you to:
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Understand job adverts
-
Complete job applications
-
Prepare for interviews
-
Communicate at work
-
Build your skills for getting a job
English classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays, 11am to 12.30pm or 1pm to 2.30pm.
We run 2 rounds a year. The next ESP round starts on 2 December 2026.
How to join
Download the form for your class and fill it in on your computer.
1
2
We contact you about your level.
3
English for Specific Purposes (Employment):
Following a successful pilot supporting 60 participants, we have been awarded funding from the City of Edinburgh Council to continue delivering our English for Employment programme in 2026/27. These courses are designed specifically to help New Scots build confidence in using business English and develop the vocabulary and communication skills needed to feel more work-ready.
Improving confidence in business English can help participants to:
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Understand job adverts and the requirements of different roles
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Complete job applications with greater confidence
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Develop the language and communication skills needed for interviews
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Feel more confident communicating in a professional workplace
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Build their overall employability skills
As part of the programme, participants can also benefit from one-to-one support through our mentoring programme, providing additional guidance tailored to their individual goals and employment journey.
Ultimately, the programme aims to help New Scots strengthen their employability skills, increase their confidence and improve their chances of securing employment.
Course Structure
We offer two rounds of courses each year, with each round running for four months.
Courses are delivered online and include:
Intermediate to Advanced English
Each four-month course includes:
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Two 1.5-hour English classes per week
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A weekly 1.5 hour speaking club
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One-to-one mentoring support
The programme is designed to give participants practical English skills, greater confidence and the tools they need to take their next steps towards employment.
For more information or enquiries, please contact: linknet2@linknetmentoring.com denboba.natie@linknetmentoring.com
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL):
LINKnet has been delivering English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for over 10 years. Our free, fully online classes are designed to help learners build confidence and improve their everyday English communication skills.
Our ESOL Courses
We offer group English classes at two levels:
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Beginner to Intermediate
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Intermediate to Advanced
Each four-month course includes:
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Two 1.5-hour sessions per week
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Four months of tuition
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Free online classes delivered via Zoom
Learners can progress to the next level after completing their course and join the following round. We run two rounds of four-month courses each year.
What You’ll Learn
Our classes focus on developing practical English skills that learners can use in everyday life, education and employment.
Key areas include:
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Speaking
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Listening
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Writing
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Building confidence in communicating in English
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Developing language skills for life in the UK
Whether you want to communicate more confidently in everyday situations, prepare for further education or strengthen your employability, our ESOL classes can help you take the next step.
For more information or enquiries, please contact: linknet2@linknetmentoring.com denboba.natie@linknetmentoring.com
Case Study: Marina
"When I arrived to LINKnet I was surprised by the simplicity of how the teacher explains English grammar. Till that moment I was so confused in it, but there I saw the connections between the grammatical parts. Also, the examples given by the teacher during the classes were from daily life, so I could implement them in my daily activities in Edinburgh. I liked as well that the teacher doesn’t act differently when someone made a mistake and I think this encourage people to improve their English. The teacher was very patient to explain me when I have doubts in some grammatical rules. The material provided during the classes contained very useful information. At the same time, arriving from a long and exhausting day in front of the computer, I received from LINKnet a lot of energy, positivity, moments of laugh, that I missed so much in this cold environment. In my opinion, the quality of these English classes is better than a university course. I am very satisfied with the information I received at LINKnet."
Stories: English Classes
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Wilma (English Tutor)
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Sara (English Graduate)
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