OET NEWS There’s significant news for internationally educated pharmacists looking to develop their careers in the United States: the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has announced that it will accept the Occupational English Test (OET) as an English language assessment for Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification. From 11 January 2027, eligible […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ August marked ten years since Germany’s Integration Act came into force – legislation that tied recognised refugees’ access to the labour market to sustained integration effort, with language learning at its core. A decade on, the evidence offers a useful case study for anyone thinking about how ESOL provision […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ Background In August, Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority voted to strip all funding from its ESOL provision from 2027, redirecting the money towards a literacy programme aimed at those who have been resident in the UK for a minimum three years. The decision, backed by Reform UK mayor Dame […]

PRODUCT LAUNCH · CARE SECTOR Specialist Language Courses (SLC) has launched the AI Care Communication Trainer, a new AI-powered platform helping overseas-born care workers build the spoken communication skills needed for safe, person-centred care. Around 390,000 people in the UK’s direct care workforce were born overseas, and the platform gives them flexible, on-demand speaking practice […]

Back to Menu ↩ Many of in the language teaching profession have used this claim at some point: learning a language is good for your brain. It may protect you from dementia. It appears in course brochures, in conference talks, and in conversations with sceptical learners. Writing in The Conversation, Professor Eef Hogervorst of Loughborough University examines the evidence — and […]

Back to Menu ↩ Support for internationally recruited nurses usually stops early. There is a registration process, a language test, an induction programme, and then an assumption that the person has arrived and does not need further support. This new open-access review from Trinity College Dublin looks at what happens next, and finds that this assumption is naïve, […]

Back to Menu ↩ In medical English classes, we often discuss language barriers in one direction. Whether it be moving overseas for work, attending conferences, or working in international teams, the challenge facing our learners is English, and English is also the solution. This new open-access study turns that picture around. It looks at language […]

Back to Menu ↩ Many of us use clips from medical dramas in class. Perhaps we are not always sure we should. The situations are invented, and the pacing is not realistic. A new open-access study in English for Specific Purposes argues that the practice is sound — as long as we know what to […]

Back to Menu ↩ The visa route that rebuilt the frontline care workforce set the English bar at B1. That route has now closed to overseas applicants, and the new standard across skilled work is B2. This briefing sets out what changed, why it matters on the floor, and what providers in the UK and […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ In this article, Laura Wiggin, Curriculum Manager for ESOL, Skills and Community Interpreting at Hopwood Hall College, shares how the Sustainable ESOL Enterprise Day (SEED) has evolved into an annual curriculum project that combines sustainability, enterprise, employability and language learning. Overview The Sustainable ESOL Enterprise Day (SEED) has become one of the […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ Roughly half of the migrants and refugees arriving in the UK already hold a degree or equivalent tertiary qualification.[1] They include doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, finance professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs, and skilled tradespeople – people whose professional expertise the UK badly needs.  Yet 85% of ESOL learners leave provision at Entry Levels 1 to 3: […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ As the Government’s review of ESOL provision in England gathers pace, the Bell Foundation has used the summer to sharpen its advocacy. In June and July, it published a refreshed evidence hub, ‘ESOL: Our calls for change and the evidence’, alongside a concise policy summary, A national policy framework for ESOL: What needs to change, aimed squarely […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ The annual NATECLA conference is the highlight of the annual professional development calendar for many in the ESOL sector and this year’s event showed why.  SLC’s Chris Moore attended throughout, presenting on the second day on Cultural Awareness in the ESOL classroom along with his TERM colleague and co-founder, Stephanie Lam.   Here, […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ ‘Tailored learning’ features prominently in the Dept for Education’s recent ESOL stats. It’s the largest single slice of the DfE’s ‘non-regulated adult education’ category, accounting for 60.6% in the first half of 2025/26.[1] For ESOL, non-regulated provision is delivered almost entirely through courses with tailored learning aims, with negligible ESOL […]

PRODUCT LAUNCH · CARE EMPLOYERS SLC has launched the AI Care Communication Trainer, a phone-based app that helps overseas-born care workers rehearse real workplace conversations before they happen for real. Built on SLC’s accredited English for Care content and tested with clinical experts and frontline carers, the tool is ready for employers to roll out […]

EVENTS · ESOL SLC Managing Director Chris Moore is heading to NATECLA this week — without doubt the highlight of the UK ESOL calendar. Chris will be at the conference tomorrow and Saturday, and on Saturday he’s co-delivering a session on Delivering Culturally Aware Lessons.

Back to Menu ↩ Artificial intelligence is being adopted across healthcare at a remarkable pace, and language access services are no exception. Hospitals are increasingly trialling AI-powered interpretation tools to help patients who do not speak English as a first language. But according to a research agenda published in npj Digital Medicine in May 2026 […]

Back to Menu ↩ Standardized patients — trained actors who simulate clinical encounters — have long been considered the gold standard for teaching doctor-patient communication. But they are expensive, hard to scale, and inconsistent in quality from session to session. The rise of large language models has prompted a wave of interest in AI-powered alternatives, […]

Back to Menu ↩ UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand These four countries each have a single national medical regulator. The GMC sets the highest bar of the four — notably stricter than the equivalent nursing requirement in the same country Canada — unusually unified for doctors Unlike nursing, where requirements vary noticeably by province, […]

Back to Menu ↩ UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand These four countries each have a single national nursing regulator, so their requirements compare directly. Canada — regulated province-by-province There is no single national nursing regulator. Every province (except Quebec, which uses OIIQ) routes applicants through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) first, then its […]

Back to Menu ↩ Most discussions about AI in healthcare interpretation focus on whether the technology is accurate enough to use. A study from Mass General Brigham, published in NEJM Catalyst, asks a different question: when patients are given a genuine choice between an AI interpreter and a human one, which do they actually prefer, […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how language learning is delivered, assessed and experienced. Chatbots, automated writing evaluation tools, adaptive platforms and AI-generated feedback are increasingly embedded in mainstream English language education. Yet a body of emerging research suggests that the learners who might benefit most from these technologies – […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ For many ESOL learners in English FE colleges, there is a structural disconnect at the heart of their educational journey: the qualifications they work towards in class are not the same as those they need for immigration purposes. As English language requirements for visas and settlement rise, this mismatch […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ As the government raises the English language bar for migrants seeking to work and settle in the UK, serious questions are being asked about whether the ESOL sector has the capacity to help people meet it. The evidence, from a growing range of credible voices, suggests a widening gap […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ The UK’s English language requirements for migrants and refugees have undergone their most significant overhaul in a generation, with further changes still to come. A House of Commons Library research briefing, updated in June 2026, provides the clearest single summary of where things stand. The changes flow from the […]

Conference Report · Medical Linguistics What a brilliant event the Semmelweis Medical Linguistics Conference was. A great line up provided rich insights into the intersection between language and healthcare, and much food for thought for the work we’re doing at SLC.

Back to Menu ↩ With so much focus on reading, listening, and communication skills, grammar can feel like an afterthought in OET preparation — but choosing the right structure at the right moment makes a real difference to your score in both Writing and Speaking. In this lesson, SLC tutor Jo shares five practical grammar […]

Back to Menu ↩ OET Listening Part A is worth over 50% of your total Listening marks — and most candidates lose points not because their English isn’t good enough, but because they’re listening for the wrong thing. In this lesson, SLC tutor Jo shares two practical skills that will change how you approach Part A […]

Back to Menu ↩ Before you write a single word of your OET letter, the marks you earn are already being shaped by how well you read the case notes in front of you. In the Medicine Writing sub-test, everything — selecting the right information, structuring your letter, hitting the right purpose — depends on understanding […]

Case Study · ESOL We ran a free, evening digital classroom to help refugees and migrants across the East of England pass the UK Driving Theory Test — and achieved 87% average attendance across 17 sessions. The Driving Theory Test is a real barrier for ESOL learners: dense idiomatic English, unfamiliar road conventions, and revision […]

Back to Menu ↩ n the OET Speaking test, you receive your role card and have exactly 3 minutes to prepare before the role play begins — and how you use that time can make a significant difference to your score. In this guide, we walk you through a practical five-step method for analysing a Medicine […]

Back to Menu ↩ One of the most important decisions you will make before your OET exam is whether to sit it on computer or on paper — and choosing the wrong format for your strengths can directly affect your score. In this guide, we break down the real advantages and disadvantages of both formats so […]

News · Partnerships & International Specialist Language Courses (SLC) is delighted to announce a new partnership with m2r Education to deliver a major new Teach English in Uzbekistan programme, recruiting full-time native English-speaking teachers into public junior high and high schools across the country.

Back to Menu ↩ Already in the room The question is no longer whether AI tools will enter the medical English writing classroom. They already have. The more pressing question is how to integrate them purposefully, without sacrificing the development of genuine language skills or undermining academic integrity. A wave of recent research across medical […]

Back to Menu ↩ A concept whose time has come There is a phrase that has been quietly reshaping workplace learning and development over the past several years, and it is now arriving with some force at the door of language education: learning in the flow of work. Coined by HR analyst Josh Bersin in […]

Back to Menu ↩ Beyond the novelty argument Mention gamification in a staffroom and reactions tend to split along familiar lines: enthusiasts who have seen it transform a reluctant class, and sceptics who worry it is all points and no depth. The research of the past year or so suggests both camps have a point […]

Back to Menu ↩ A new kind of practice partner There is a familiar tension at the heart of clinical communication training: students need to practise high-stakes conversations, but the cost and logistical complexity of doing so with human actors, or standardised patients (SPs), has always placed a ceiling on how much practice any programme […]

Back to Menu ↩ Fast speech, unfamiliar accents, and losing your place in Part C — the OET listening paper presents challenges that require targeted, consistent practice to overcome. In this guide, we share five of the most effective resources for OET listening preparation, along with specific activity ideas so you know exactly how to use […]

Back to Menu ↩ The OET reading paper is widely considered the toughest section of the exam — but most candidates are not using the best resources to prepare for it. In this guide, we share five of the most effective free and paid resources available, along with practical activity ideas so you can get the […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ Published on 9 March 2026, Protecting What Matters is the government’s most substantial statement on social cohesion in years. Framed as a “call to action” against extremism, division and declining community trust, the Command Paper has significant implications for ESOL, both as opportunity and as warning. The paper’s most […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ For years, ESOL has been promised a national strategy. Now, for the first time in a generation, there is a genuine window of opportunity. The current government has committed to reviewing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision as part of its Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ The devolution of adult skills funding was meant to bring decision-making closer to communities and their needs. For ESOL provision, it is increasingly looking like a double-edged sword – and learners are caught in the middle. The starkest illustration is Greater Lincolnshire. In February 2026, the Combined County Authority […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ Artificial intelligence is everywhere in education right now and ESOL classrooms are no exception. But as the technology becomes more accessible, a debate is sharpening in the sector: is AI a genuine asset for language learners, or is it actually undermining the learning process? The most pointed recent contribution […]

Back to Menu ↩ Did you know you could secure a UK Health and Care Worker visa as a nurse before you’re even fully registered as a nurse in the UK? It sounds surprising, but it is possible, provided you meet all the relevant requirements. If you want to work as a nurse in the […]

ESOL · Case Study We have published a new case study showing how our targeted ESOL and OET training is helping refugee doctors rebuild their careers and return to clinical practice in the UK.

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ A major new survey into the employment situation of refugees and migrants in Devon has shed light on the significant barriers preventing highly qualified people from finding work that matches their skills and experience. Source: https://dcrs-plymouth.org/ Carried out by Dr. Omid Afghan — himself a refugee and former professor […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ The recent expansion of the right to work for asylum seekers is welcome news, but gaining permission to work is only the first step. For the thousands of highly qualified asylum seekers now eligible to enter the workforce, the ability to function effectively in a professional environment will depend, in […]

Contact us Back to Menu ↩ New immigration rules that came into force on 26 March 2026 have changed the employment rights of asylum seekers in the UK in ways that are more complex than they might first appear. While the changes open up a wider range of professional roles for some, they may in practice make […]

News · Conference We are delighted to announce that Specialist Language Courses is a sponsor of English for Healthcare: from Expertise to Practice, an international conference taking place on 11–12 September 2026 at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków, Poland.

News · Institutional We are delighted to announce that Specialist Language Courses has launched a new institutional licence, giving university and college students access to over 850 hours of Medical English courses.

Back to Menu ↩ In the OET Speaking sub-test, you perform two role plays in which you are assessed on your ability to ask questions, provide information, use appropriate language, and demonstrate effective clinical communication. On paper, those criteria might seem straightforward. In practice, a great deal depends on the questions you ask — when […]

Back to Menu ↩ If you are preparing for the OET Medicine speaking sub-test, questions are not simply a device for gathering information — they are the backbone of the entire role play. Whether you are exploring a patient’s concerns, confirming what they already understand, or giving them space to express how they feel, almost […]

Back to Menu ↩ If you are preparing for the OET and planning to take the computer-based test or OET@Home, the Speaking sub-test will look a little different from what you might imagine. You won’t be sitting in an exam room with an interlocutor across a table — instead, you’ll be at your own desk, […]

Back to Menu ↩ The latest OECD International Migration Outlook 2025, published in November in collaboration with the WHO, paints a striking picture of just how dependent the world’s healthcare systems have become on migrant professionals. In 2020–21, more than 830,000 foreign-born doctors and 1.75 million foreign-born nurses were working across OECD countries — roughly […]

Back to Menu ↩ In February 2026, the University of Tartu in Estonia made history by becoming the first institution in the world to embed the WHO Global Competency Standards for refugee and migrant health into a national medical curriculum. The standards are designed to equip healthcare professionals to deliver trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care — […]

Back to Menu ↩ A new qualitative study published in JMIR Medical Education in February 2026 offers a timely glimpse into the future of clinical communication skills training — and raises some fascinating questions for those of us teaching English for Healthcare. The study, conducted at Great Western Hospital in Swindon, UK, explored medical students’ […]

Webinar · SLC × EALTHY We are delighted to announce that Chris Moore, Managing Director of Specialist Language Courses, will be presenting at the next SLC × EALTHY webinar.

Back to Menu ↩ If you are a doctor, nurse or carer thinking about working abroad this year, you’ve probably felt like the job market’s been changing pretty rapidly. More staff are moving between countries, and patients often need support at home instead of long hospital stays. Understanding what’s going on right now can really […]

YouTube · Season 8 We are delighted to announce that Season 8 of OET Tips & Strategies is coming to our YouTube channel — and it launches on 8th April 2026. From 8th April, we will be publishing one new video every week, packed with exam-focused strategies, practical techniques, and real tips you can use on […]

For Care Managers & Service Leads · 30 March – 20 April 2026 Specialist Language Courses is currently testing a new AI communication training tool built specifically for the care sector — and we need the help of care managers and service leads to get it in front of the right people.

Beta Testing · 30 March – 20 April 2026 Something new is being built for carers like you — and before it launches, the people testing it should be the ones who actually do the job. Specialist Language Courses is looking for frontline carers to try out a brand-new AI communication training tool — one […]

Back to Menu ↩ When the NMC introduced the SIFE pathway in 2023, it was intended to solve a real and pressing problem: internationally educated nurses, many of them highly experienced, were stuck in lower-paid healthcare assistant roles because they couldn’t clear the OET or IELTS hurdle. The idea was straightforward—if an employer could vouch […]

If you’re at all interested in how language works in healthcare, you’d be nuts to miss the upcoming webinar from SLC and EALTHY.

Back to Menu ↩ Vocational ESOL focuses on the language that migrants and refugees need when working in the UK. Different sectors require different language – different conversations, different vocabulary, different skill sets. Vocational ESOL builds learners’ abilities to engage and thrive at work – from social care to accounting to construction to hospitality, marketing, […]

Back to Menu ↩ Succeeding in the OET on Computer requires more than strong language skills — you also need to be ready for the digital environment, timing pressure, and possible technical issues. Many candidates report facing similar challenges during the exam, and being aware of these in advance can help you stay calm and […]

At Specialist Language Courses, your progress doesn’t stop when your subscription ends. All Reach OET B Medicine, Reach OET B Nursing and all professions subscribers automatically benefit from the SLC Progress Promise.

Back to Menu ↩ Preparing for the OET on Computer requires a combination of strong language skills, confidence with the digital interface, and awareness of the test-day environment. Many successful candidates say that the key is practice—both with OET materials and with typing under pressure. This guide brings together the most helpful insights shared by […]

Alongside the continued development of our course portfolio, Specialist Language Courses is advancing its AI-Powered English for Care project — an innovative learning tool designed to help carers practise real-life workplace communication in English through safe, guided role-play scenarios.

Back to Menu ↩ Preparing for the OET takes focus, structure, and the right resources. If you start now and commit to a consistent plan, you’ll give yourself the best chance of success.   This article gives you a week-by-week roadmap, combined with tips, an FAQ section and guidance on how to integrate your own time and resources.  […]

As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on what has truly been an inspiring and rewarding year for Specialist Language Courses. It has been a year filled with growth, innovation, collaboration, and—most importantly—people.

We are proud to announce the development of a new OET preparation course for all Professions, designed for healthcare professionals preparing for OET in: Dentistry, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology, and Veterinary Science.

We’re delighted to have been commissioned to provide an online ESOL programme for refugee and migrant learners by the South East Strategic Partnership for Migration (SESPM).

We are excited to announce our Black Friday Mega Sale, designed to help healthcare professionals prepare for their exams with high-quality, flexible online learning at an unbeatable price.

We’re delighted to announce a new partnership between Specialist Language Courses (SLC) and the University of Sharjah’s Clinical & Surgical Training Center (CSTC) — one of the UAE’s leading institutions for medical education and professional development. 

Back to Menu ↩ Specialist Language Courses (SLC) is proud to announce a new partnership with the University of Sharjah’s Clinical & Surgical Training Center (CSTC) — one of the region’s most prestigious hubs for medical education, simulation, and professional skills development. Through this collaboration, CSTC will deliver SLC’s Medical English and OET preparation programmes […]

Do you teach Medical English to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals? Or are you a pharmacist with English as a second or third language? Join us for this insightful EALTHY Teacher Development Webinar with Reena Mistry on Thursday, 6th November 2025 at 10am GMT / 11am CET.

7 courses, 105 places, gone in under a week. We were delighted to have been asked by Local Government East Strategic Migration Partnership to deliver a set of online informal ESOL courses across the region, focusing on learners from Hong Kong, Ukrainian and Afghan communities.

The annual UK SkillsFest, organised by the Department of Business and Trade and the UK Skills Partnership, showcases the best in British education and training, focusing on innovation, internationalisation, and vocational education that is used – or can be used – by governments, educators and employers across the world. We were delighted to be selected […]

Back to Menu ↩ Breaking bad news is one of the most challenging tasks for healthcare professionals. It requires a careful balance of empathy, clarity, and professionalism. For learners of Medical English, mastering this type of communication is especially important—not just for exams like OET but also for their daily clinical practice. As teachers, we […]

Back to Menu ↩ Preparing for the OET Speaking sub-test can be one of the most challenging parts of your exam journey. The role-play tasks require you to communicate naturally, demonstrate empathy, and use accurate medical English in a professional context. Practicing with another person is one of the best ways to develop these skills. […]

Back to Menu ↩ Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing everything from healthcare to classrooms; the teaching of Medical English is no exception. From AI chatbots that role-play patients to analytics that surface common language errors, today’s tools can draft, translate, and even simulate clinical conversations. So where does the teacher fit? Front and centre. In […]

We are delighted to announce that SLC has joined the UK Skills Partnership as an Associate Member.

We’re delighted to have won a grant from Ufi VocTech Trust to develop an AI-driven technology solution that provides cheap phone-based language and communication skills training for overseas social carers at scale, improving their communicative confidence and enabling their progression within the sector.

We’re delighted to announce a partnership with leading Medical English app, Doxa.

Back to Menu ↩ What is the UK Foundation Programme? The UK Foundation Programme is a two-year, structured, work-based training programme which is designed to bridge the gap between medical school and specialty or general practice training. It gives newly qualified doctors essential clinical and professional skills, ensuring they can deliver safe and effective patient […]

Back to Menu ↩ Many still believe refugee and migrant learners must attend in-person English classes to build social connections. But this overlooks so many learners who: ✅ Can’t leave home due to childcare, health, or cultural reasons✅ Work shifts that don’t allow fixed schedules✅ Live far from colleges or centres running ESOL classes✅ Need […]

Many people feel that refugee and migrant English language learners need to be in physical classrooms so they can meet others and build social connections.

Back to Menu ↩ Listening Part C of the Occupational English Test (OET) assesses your ability to understand extended spoken texts—like interviews, presentations, and discussions—on healthcare topics. These can involve complex language, subtle meaning, and contrasting opinions. In this article, we break down how to approach Listening C successfully using sample questions and key strategies. […]

Back to Menu ↩ OET Listening Part B tests your ability to understand short workplace conversations in healthcare settings. Whether it’s a nurse briefing a colleague or a doctor giving instructions, this part of the test focuses on identifying the purpose, main points, and specific details of the exchange. Let’s look at how to approach […]

Back to Menu ↩ Listening Part A of the Occupational English Test (OET) focuses on your ability to understand consultations between a healthcare professional and a patient. This is a critical skill for real-world clinical practice—and one that you can absolutely improve with the right strategies and preparation. In this article, we’ll walk through essential […]

Back to Menu ↩ The OET Speaking sub-test for Medicine is your opportunity to demonstrate the clinical communication and linguistic skills you use every day as a doctor. But it’s also a structured test—with specific criteria and expectations. In this article, we break down how the test works, what you’re assessed on, and how to […]

Back to Menu ↩ Getting work can make a life-changing difference to refugees and migrants. Employment offers more than just financial stability—it can provide dignity, purpose, and a sense of belonging. A job helps refugees and migrants rebuild their lives and integrate into new communities. It boosts confidence and provides opportunities to improve English and […]

Given the weather forecast – a rare explosion of sunshine and warmth in the UK – and that I only live 5 minutes from Brighton beach, it was perhaps with a little reluctance that I set the EALTHY Symposium in motion by hitting the start button on Zoom.

We’re excited to share an inspiring article by Sam Pepper, originally published in ESOL Matters, now republished on our platform!

Back to Menu ↩ We’re delighted to re-publish an article written by Sam Pepper for ESOL Matters on the work he did on an online ESOL programme SLC delivered to Syrian refugees across Northern Ireland during the pandemic. In the article, Sam describes how he worked with learners who had very low levels of English, […]

This Saturday, April 26th, we’re delighted to be co-hosting ‘Innovating Medical English Teaching with AI’ with EALTHY, the global association of teachers of English for Healthcare.

Back to Menu ↩ Calling all healthcare students and professionals! Whether you’re a doctor, a nurse or another healthcare professional, at Specialist Language Courses (SLC), we offer expertly designed online courses tailored to every stage of your English language journey—whether you’re just starting out, building on an existing foundation, or preparing for an English language […]

Spring into learning this Easter with Specialist Language Courses (SLC)! From April 18 to April 24, 2025, we’re offering exclusive discounts on all our 1-month and 3-month subscriptions across every course on our website.

Back to Menu ↩ English for Nursing Foundation is for nursing students and professional nurses with an elementary or lower-intermediate level of English (A2-B1) who want to develop a strong foundation in profession-specific English language and communication skills. English for Nursing Foundation includes sections on communicating with patients and colleagues, building medical terminology, describing symptoms, […]