About this subject
We offer a range of free English courses just for Hongkongers aged 19 or over arriving in Britain on a British Nationals Overseas (BNO) visa.
Our courses are designed to help you:
- Improve your English for everyday life and to help you continue studying and find work
- Feel connected to your local community
- Support your wellbeing
- Increase your social contacts/friendships
We look forward to welcoming you on our courses. Please note:
- you can only enrol yourself on a course
- you can only enrol on one English for Hongkongers course per term
- if your course is online, do not share the joining link with anyone else.
To hear when courses for Hongkongers open sign up to our newsletter.
English for Hongkongers courses
English Courses for Hongkongers BNO – Check your level.
What English language speaking level are you? The statements below will help you choose the right class: Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced.
Beginners class:
Can you say yes to the first seven statements below?
1. I can greet people and make introductions (e.g. hello and goodbye.)
2. I can give personal information (e.g. name, occupation, age and nationality etc).
3. I can understand numbers up to 100.
4. I can talk about likes, dislikes and preferences.
5. I can say what the weather is like.
6. I can shop for food and understand prices.
7. I can make a medical appointment and describe illnesses at a fairly basic level.
8. I can ask for and understand simple directions (e.g. left/right/go straight ahead etc).
9. I can enquire about the location of buildings and opening and closing times.
10. I can describe daily routines using present tenses.
11. I can talk about leisure activities and interests.
If you said yes to at least the first seven of these statements, check the Intermediate section.
If you weren't able to say yes to the first seven statements you can enrol on one of our beginners' courses. Please take a look at our course information to find a suitable course.
Intermediate class:
Can you say yes to the first seven statements below?
1. I can talk about past events at a basic level.
2. I can talk about future plans and arrangements at a basic level.
3. I can make, accept, and refuse invitations.
4. I can ask for advice using appropriate polite forms.
5. I can express opinions and preferences.
6. I can shop for clothes and items (colour, size, material etc).
7. I can describe people (physical and character).
8. I can talk about different jobs.
9. I can talk about past events, using two or more past tenses.
10. I can use standard phrases to make telephone calls.
11. I can make and deal with some problems/complaints at shops etc.
12. I can ask for information about buying a house.
If you said yes to at least the first seven of these statements, check the Advanced section.
If you weren't able to say yes to the first seven statements you can enrol on one of our Intermediate courses. Please take a look at our course information to find a suitable course.
Advanced class:
Can you say yes to the first seven statements below?
1. I can speak using different past tenses.
2. I can use the conditional tense.
3. I can understand some authentic listening and reading material.
4. I can listen and respond to discussions on a range of straightforward topics.
5. I can use some advanced vocabulary to express my ideas when I speak to groups of people.
6. I can deal with more complex complaints, e.g. faulty goods.
7. I can respond to detailed or extended questions on a range of topics.
8. I can identify relevant information from longer audio broadcasts.
9. I can confidently deal with aspects of practical daily life in the taught language.
10. I can give a 5-minute presentation on a familiar topic.
If you can, this is the right level for you.
If you weren't able to say yes to the first seven statements you can enrol on one of our Intermediate courses.
For more information and advice please email: hkenglish@surreycc.gov.uk
Find out about other courses we offer. Please note all our courses are taught in English.