Community-Based English Language Training (HTML)
Published 18 February 2022
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1. Community-Based English Language
- English language tuition is a core intervention to help new and established migrants integrate into British society.
- Key part of government’s integration strategy by providing funding for these courses in the places across the country where they were most required.
- Community based English Language (CBEL) tuition uses classes held in community centres with a less formal structure than classroom courses.
- CBEL comprised an 11-week language programme focused mainly on women from non-English-speaking South Asian backgrounds.
- Evaluation explores practical benefits and influence of language training on social integration outcomes.
2. Methodology
- Participants were randomly allocated to a treatment group (participating in the English language course – 249 people) and a control group (278 people, receiving the training a few months later – a wait-list design, rather than preventing people from receiving the training.
- Of the 527 research participants, about 60% provided data at all stages of the study. Sample sizes were sufficient to test and measure the key indicators, including ability to understand, speak, read and write English, and changes in propensity to interact with other cultures.
- RCT was rolled out in five areas – Manchester, Rochdale, Oldham, Kirklees, Bradford.
- Treatment group started in May 2016, and the control group the following September.
3. Findings
- RCT showed significant results in favour of CBEL classes.
- The English skills and key social integration measures of both the control group and those attending CBEL classes increased over the duration of the treatment group’s course.
- English language and key social integration outcomes increased at a significantly faster rate for those attending the classes than the control group.
- Key social integration measures showing significant improvement included social interactions and everyday activity, increased confidence in interacting with health services, and higher levels of trust in the local community and among people from a different background.
‘Apart from your English class, how many people did you speak to last week using English?’
| Number of participants reporting increased engagement with people from other culture between baseline and follow up | Average change in speaking and listening scores baseline and follow up | |
|---|---|---|
| Control | 30.2% | 0.71 |
| CBEL | 53.7% | 1.39 |
4. Impacts
- The RCT gave policy makers, researchers, course providers, and communities evidence that the English Language programme was working as intended. This increased confidence that Community Based English Language training was effective in building basic skills for living in Britain and positively impacting on social integration outcome measures.
- It provided specific insights on where it was working best, enabling further roll out to be tweaked.
5. Next Steps
- Government has continued to promote and fund Community Based English Language training.
- Later programmes of English language tuition, involving more formal classroom structures, have been evaluated in recent years. Results will be disseminated once completed.