Alpha for ESOL
FAQS
ALPHA FOR ESOL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Do you have to be a teacher, have an ESL degree, or teaching experience to lead the course?
A: No teaching experience is necessary. Alpha for ESOL is an Alpha Course that has been adapted to reach people who do not
speak English as a first language. The aim is to simplify the language and use interactive activities and means to facilitate the
guests’ understanding of the vocabulary and Christian concepts and themes. A person running Alpha for ESOL should be familiar
with the Alpha Course and be used to the traditional course format. Ideally they would have experience hosting an Alpha Course
small group. All members of the Alpha for ESOL team should have also attended the Alpha Course Team Training sessions as well
as reading the Alpha for ESOL administrator’s notes.
Alpha for ESOL has the same principles and DNA as the Alpha Course, so it is important that course leaders, speakers, hosts and
helpers are all familiar with the Alpha Course first in order to understand and accommodate the differences in the Alpha for ESOL
course.
Alpha for ESOL does depend on live speakers, so anyone giving the talks should know the Alpha Course well and be a confident
public speaker who is able to speak clearly and adapt their speaking to the language and comprehension needs of the guests. An
interest in people from different cultural backgrounds is also a desirable quality for the Alpha for ESOL team.
The most important point to remember is that Alpha for ESOL is not an English class. It is an Alpha Course designed to introduce
people to the Christian faith that has been contextualised to reach people from other countries who are trying to integrate into an
English speaking country.
Q: Do you need to know a foreign language to run the course?
A: No, a foreign language is not required. The course is designed for guests who know enough English to listen to the course in
English and converse in English.
If guests speak very little English, it is recommended that they attend an Alpha Course in their native language. Alpha is now in 153
countries has been translated in to over sixty languages. Visit alpha.org to find more information on the languages available.
Q: Is there a cost for the material?
A: No, all materials needed will be provided at no cost, as will support via email for questions you may have in running the course.
All we ask is that you are willing to provide feedback on the materials from time to time to help us to continue to develop the
materials to meet the demands of the courses running around the world.
Q: Does the course leader need to have English as their first language?
A: No, any fluent English speaker could lead the course.
Q: Is this an ESL course and will guests be learning English writing and grammar?
A: No. This is an Alpha Course for English speakers of other languages. There will be no emphasis on learning English but the
speaker will help explain vocabulary when needed. As the course structure involves interactive activities and group discussion, the
guests will have an opportunity to practice and improve their English conversational skills but this is not the main aim of the
course. Other activities may require small amounts of reading and writing, so although the course does not seek to teach English,
all the core skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking are encouraged and used through the course.
Q: Is the course like an English lesson or like Alpha?
A: The course has all the elements of an Alpha course – food, a talk and small group discussion time. The main difference from the
traditional Alpha model is that the small group discussion is interspersed throughout the talk rather than at the end of the talk.
The role of the speaker is to present the subject for the session around which the discussions take place. The small group (like any
other Alpha Course) should be a relaxed, informal time where guests are free to say what they think. Small group hosts are there
to facilitate discussion, but are not there to teach. The small group works on a peer-to-peer basis, not a ‘teacher-student’ one.
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Alpha for ESOL
FAQS
In some instances vocabulary explanations are given, and some activities use ESOL techniques to ensure guests have understood
the key message of the session (for example, word matching, or gap-fill activities). The purpose of these activities is to facilitate
understanding of central themes, rather than to teach English. These options would only be selected where the speaker feels it is
appropriate for the language needs of the guests. The speaker’s notes will state that these activities are not intended to be
individual classroom activities, but may be done in pairs or within the small group to keep it informal and relaxed.
Q: How do you know if someone is an ESOL guest or what level they are?
A: Guests who are not confident with the English language may naturally be attracted to the course publicity and register
themselves. It’s possible, if you are running Alpha for ESOL alongside a normal Alpha Course, that you may have some guests who
are struggling with the pace and language level of the Alpha Course. If this problem is identified, ensure that you give the
opportunity to see whether Alpha for ESOL suits them better.
This principle also works the other way – if you have a guest on Alpha for ESOL who is finding the session to easy, you may offer
them the opportunity of attending the regular Alpha session to see how it suits them. These changes should only take place within
the first 2–3 weeks of the course. It would not be recommended to keep switching courses later in the course once the small
group dynamics have already formed.
Small group hosts and helps should be made aware to use the introductory session (and session 1 – which also attracts new
guests) to monitor and gauge the language levels of the guests to ensure that discussion is pitched either to the lowest level
represented, or to the majority in the group if the language levels are very varied. The first two weeks can be used to adjust any
groups in order to ensure people are matched according to language level to avoid guests feeling frustrated in their group.
Q: What is the difference between Alpha ESOL and TESOL/TEFL?
A: The course has all of the core parts of Alpha – food, the same alpha talks and discussions (just intermixed and simplified), the
Alpha Weekend or Day, and small group dynamics. The course has only been tweaked as needed to make it accessible for
speakers of other languages.
Alpha for ESOL is not an English Language class nor is it an academic classroom setting. The guests who attend Alpha for ESOL will
be learning about the Christian faith, building relationships through discussion, and discovering more about the meaning and
purpose of life in a relaxed informal setting. This is an opportunity for guests to explore the Christian faith, but also helps them to
integrate and build friendships in the English speaking country where they now find themselves living.
If the guests decide to attend church – it is highly likely that the services will all be in English. Alpha for ESOL helps to introduce
them to church and build confidence in the English language skills as well as vocabulary that is commonly used in church.
Q: How long is the course?
A: This course is typically run over ten-weeks, and it can be run alongside a regular Alpha Course so you can share the meal and
other resources, such a childcare, etc. There is also a twenty-week option if you wish to go at a slower pace. The twenty-week
option works by splitting a proportion of the session into two parts. Instructions for this are provided in the speaker’s notes.
In total, there are fifteen sessions, four of which are given during the Alpha Weekend or Day – which is usually hosted in a
different location and focuses on the theme of the Holy Spirit.
The following tables show the ten- and twenty-week course structures:
Ten-week Alpha for ESOL course
Week
Introduction
1
2
Session
Is There More to Life Than This?
Who is Jesus?
Why Did Jesus Die?
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Alpha for ESOL
FAQS
3
4
5
6
Weekend/Day
7
8
9
10
11
How Can We Have Faith?
Why and How Should I Pray?
Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
How Does God Guide Us?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
How Can I be Filled with the Holy Spirit?
How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?
How Can I Resist Evil?
Why and How Should I Tell Others?
Does God Heal Today?
What About the Church?
Celebration Meal (Introduction: Is There More to Life Than This?)
Twenty-week Alpha for ESOL course
Week
Introduction
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Weekend/Day
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Session
Is There More to Life Than This? (one session)
Who is Jesus? Part 1
Who is Jesus? Part 2
Why Did Jesus Die? Part 1
Why Did Jesus Die? Part 2
How Can We Have Faith? Part 1
How Can We Have Faith? Part 2
Why and How should I Pray? Part 1
Why and How should I Pray? Part 2
Why and How Should I Read the Bible? Part 1
Why and How Should I Read the Bible? Part 2
How Does God Guide Us? Part 1
How Does God Guide Us? Part 2
Who is the Holy Spirit? (one session)
What Does the Holy Spirit Do? (one session)
How Can I be Filled with the Holy Spirit? (one session)
How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life? (one session)
How Can I Resist Evil? Part 1
How Can I Resist Evil? Part 2
Why and How Should I Tell Others? Part 1
Why and How Should I Tell Others? Part 2
Does God Heal Today? (one session)
What About the Church? Part 1
What About the Church? Part 2
Celebration Meal (Introduction: Is There More to Life Than This?)
Q: What do I need to get started running an ESOL course?
A:
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Team: Course administrator, course speaker/s, small group hosts and helps (1–2 hosts and 1–2 helpers per group
depending on the size of the groups), caterers or volunteers to provide food and refreshments, prayer team, welcome
team (especially in the first few weeks to help with registration and taking guests to their group), worship leader (for
larger courses and for the Weekend/Day) or worship CDs
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Alpha for ESOL

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FAQS
Training: Ensure the team has completed the Alpha Course team training sessions (Hosting Small Groups; Pastoral Care
and Prayer Ministry on Alpha. Ensure that guests have also read the separate Alpha for ESOL training documents: How to
Run Alpha for ESOL; Hosting Small Groups on Alpha for ESOL; Guest Notes Guide; Speakers Notes Guide and information
about the Alpha Weekend or Day in an ESOL context
Materials: Alpha ESOL Speaker’s Notes (for speaker); Alpha ESOL Guest Notes (for guests and small group hosts); copies
of handouts for addition activities depending on the options chosen
Q: How do you attract ESOL guests to your course if you don’t already have ESOL people in your
church?
A: Introduce Alpha for ESOL to your church and ensure the leadership promote it in church services and encourage the
congregation to invite people they know. Host an Alpha ESOL launch event. Advertise at local colleges that offer ESOL, ESL or EFL
classes. Network with other local churches that may already have outreach programs to international communities in the area.
Q: How many guests need to attend the Alpha for ESOL course in order to run it?
A: To run Alpha for ESOL, you will need: A speaker to do the live talks, one small group host (per group), and 1–2 small group
helpers (depending on the size of the group). The small group host would be the discussion facilitator, and the helper is there to
provide support for the host and to befriend the guests during the course.
As for the number of guests per group, 5–7 guests is ideal, because that will allow for a broader discussion, and since conversation
will take longer due to an ESOL group, this will allow each guest to have time to speak, and ask questions. Any more than seven
guests per group, you might find you are pressed for time during discussion and it might be that not everyone will feel
comfortable speaking during discussion because the group is too big.
An ideal minimum would be three guests. If you can only get two guests, it could work assuming they would attend each week. It
would not work so well with just one guest because it would be more of a one-on-one discussion and the guest may feel less
comfortable saying what they really think.
If you have only advanced level English speaking guests, having 8–10 guests could work also, because the discussion could go
faster, and there would be less vocabulary to explain.
Q: What translation of the Bible do you use?
A: Alpha for ESOL uses three main Bible translations (chosen for their accessible language level and appropriateness of language
for each quote within the context of the talk content). The Bible translations used are: New International Reader’s Version (NIrV);
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV); Contemporary English Version (CEV). Quotes are also taken from the New International Version (NIV),
and the New Living Translation (NLT). For copyright reasons the abbreviation of the translation used appears after each quoted
verse in both the Speaker’s Notes and the Guest Notes.
All of the key Bible verses are written out in full in the guests’ notes. It is also fine for guests to use their own Bibles in their native
language.
Q: Would this course be suitable for youth or students?
A: There are already Student Alpha and Youth Alpha Courses running in countries all over the world, which are specifically aimed
at youth and students. However, Alpha for ESOL would also suit international students who fit these categories. If you do have
teenage guests or university students attending the course, it would be ideal if you could place those of a similar age in the same
group, as they will benefit from shared experiences and lifestyle.
Q: How do you handle multiple groups that finish the discussion at different times? Do you cut off
the longer discussion?
A: Since one of the most important parts of Alpha is the discussion, it is best to avoid cutting off the discussion suddenly. It is often
a good idea for the speaker to give a two-minute and a one-minute warning so that hosts know to start drawing discussions to a
close. You might consider using chimes or a signal to let the groups know that the next part of the talk will soon begin.
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Alpha for ESOL
FAQS
If groups are struggling to understand a certain point, the group hosts may arrange to continue the discussion at a different time.
Q: Should worksheets/notes be given out as you use them, or all at once at the beginning of the
session?
A: The way worksheets/notes are given out is totally up to the person leading the session. Due to the interest of saving time
during the sessions, it may be an idea to provide the guests with all the necessary handouts at the start of the session.
Alternatively, you could give them to the small group hosts to distribute them to guests at the appropriate time during the talk.
Q: How do you determine what level of English competence the guest is? Is there a test for
determining ESOL level?
A: The administrator’s guide provides details of an IELTS scoring system, listing levels 0–9. Read this thoroughly and use this to
work out what level the guests might be.
It is not recommended that you give the guests a test to assess language level, as this will make the course feel too much like an
English language class. Instead, use the introductory session to converse with and get to know the guests so that you can assess
their conversational English level and ensure that the guests are placed in a group with others of a similar level. If you only have
one group with a mixture of low levels and high levels, you should pitch the talk and discussion to cater for the lower levels so that
they don’t feel alienated.
If the majority of the group is intermediate level, with perhaps only one guest at a more basic level, you should aim the session at
the majority, but try to include the lower level guest as much as possible. If necessary, you might seek to provide a translator to
support the guests, who can help them with anything they don’t understand.
Q: How does Alpha for ESOL differ from the Alpha Course?
A: There are several ways that Alpha for ESOL differs from the Alpha Course:
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Alpha for ESOL always uses a live speaker (rather than the Alpha Course DVDs). There are a specific set of speaker’s notes
for Alpha for ESOL
The pace of the course is adjustable
The Alpha for ESOL course can be offered as a twenty-week course, or a ten-week course
The ideas are simplified to be accessible to lower level English speakers
The discussion is integrated within the talks. So, after each main point is covered by the speaker, the guests discuss what
they just learned before moving onto the next main point from the speaker
Most sessions begin with a warm-up activity that is related on a surface level to the topic the guests will be learning
about. This warm-up activity allows the guests to start thinking generally about the topic. Each activity ties into the
session at some point, so the activities help illustrate key points and themes in the talk
There is an interactive element to Alpha for ESOL through the use of activities and multi-media to help the guests engage
with the themes of the talk. The aim of these activities is to promote fun, interaction and to increase the guests talk time
(and keep the speaker talk time to a minimum)
Q: How do you deal with low reading/literacy levels?
A: The most important thing to remember is that no guest should feel forced or pressured into speaking. Many guests ay want to
spend more time listening and absorbing information, especially at the start of the course. The most important thing is to make
the guests feel at ease and to build friendships. Through this the guests will build confidence to contribute to discussion.
There are Bible verses within each session that the guests are encouraged to read aloud together. Ensure that the Alpha for ESOL
team also join in reading these so that the guests feel comfortable to join in. Never ask a guest to read out loud alone to the
group. It will put some guests off (through fear of being asked themselves).
Err on the side of caution with the vocabulary explanations and be sure to explain important words. As the course progresses (and
if the course is small) you might aim to elicit the meaning of words from guests to promote peer-to-peer learning.
Always make the guests feel perfectly comfortable to ask any question at any time.
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Alpha for ESOL
FAQS
Small group hosts may need to modify or change the group discussion questions to suit their group.
Q: How do you minimize the teacher/student dynamic? Is there a difference between “guest” and
“student”?
A: Yes. The people who attend this course are guests, and should be referred to as such. The term “student” implies the wrong
kind of dynamic for the Alpha for ESOL course. The intention is to have a discussion with guests, rather than a lesson with
students. Be very careful to not use the word “student” in front of the guests. As the speaker, especially, it can be easy to slip into
the “teacher” role. The aim of the speaker is to clearly present information. The small group hosts should then encourage a peerto-peer dynamic in the small groups.
Q: How can you tell when someone does not comprehend?
A: 85 per cent of all communication is non-verbal. That said, it is very possible to tell through someone’s body language when
they doesn’t comprehend. They may frown or have a confused or blank expression. Watch for non-verbal cues. Also, if the guests
start to pull out their translators or dictionaries, this is also a good sign they do not understand the word.
If you have an advanced level class, most likely you can move right past the easier underlined words, but when you come to the
more difficult underlined words, such as “resurrection” or “crucifixion” for example, watch for comprehension with the more
difficult words for an advanced group.
Q: How do you handle the underlined words?
A: These are words that guests may have difficulty understanding. When speaking these words, be aware of how your guests are
reacting and whether it seems like they comprehend. If you sense they are having difficulty, or are unsure as to whether they
understand, explain the word, using the vocabulary explanation provided (or your own explanation if preferred). Alternatively, try
to elicit the meaning from the guests by asking, ‘Can anyone tell me what the word ‘sacrifice’ means?
It may not be appropriate to elicit the meanings of all words (especially more complex ones), especially in the first few weeks of
the courses when guests may still need to build trust and confidence within the group.
Q: How do you integrate worship into Alpha for ESOL?
A: Worship would typically be held after the meal, just before the warm-up activity. And, if you have access to people who can do
live worship, this is ideal. But, if you do not have access to people do to live worship, playing a CD with appropriate worship songs
works great. Choose songs where you can hear the lyrics fairly well. I also recommend you type out the lyrics and photo copy
them and give a copy to each guest, or put the lyrics on a screen so they can read along as they hear the songs.
If your course is very small, it may not be appropriate to introduce worship until the Alpha for ESOL Weekend/Day. If your course
is larger (enough guests for 4 small groups or more) then you might try singing two worship songs before each session starts.
Q: How much flexibility do we have with the names of the sessions?
A: The session titles are the same as those used in any other Alpha Course; therefore you are not permitted to change the session
titles. However, you do have flexibility in how you want to present the session. The speaker’s notes are only a guide and may be
adapted to suit the needs of the guests and the context in which you are running the course. Activity and story options have been
provided so that you can adapt the course to suit your needs and preferences. If you chose not to use one the activities provided,
or you create your own activities, we ask that you send in your ideas and feedback to Alpha International so that we can consider
including your activity/story ideas in to the course content as additional options.
It is important, however, that you remain faithful to the Alpha Course structure and session themes. Make sure you are also
familiar with the original Alpha talks by reading Questions of Life by Nicky Gumbel, or by watching either The Alpha Course DVD or
the Alpha talks online at alpha.org/resources
Q: How does the Alpha Weekend/Day work?
A: The Alpha Weekend is a key part of the Alpha Course that focuses on the subject of the Holy Spirit. This consists of three
teaching session on the Holy Spirit and a fourth session called, ‘How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?’ This is typically
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Alpha for ESOL
FAQS
done over a weekend, usually in a separate location to the usual course venue. A weekend away gives the guests the time and
space to focus on the talks, and this time is often a turning point in the journey for many guests attending an Alpha Course.
In some contexts a weekend away is not a practical option, so the alternative is to hold an Alpha Day (usually a Saturday). In an
ESOL context, this is quite a lot for guests to take in but is also a powerful and life-changing time for many guests on the course.
Refer to the Alpha for ESOL Guide to the Alpha Weekend for more information on running an Alpha ESOL Weekend or Day. If you
are running a ten-week course you might consider attending the same weekend as the regular Alpha Course Weekend and holding
the Alpha ESOL sessions in a different room.
If you're not running along side an Alpha Course in your church, then you would hold the weekend or day between weeks six and
seven (between ‘How does God Guide Us?’ and ‘How Can I Resist Evil?’).
If you are running a twenty-week course, the weekend or day would be between weeks twelve and thirteen.
Q: Does this work in a home setting?
A: Alpha for ESOL can work in any setting and works perfectly well in a home or in a church. If your course starts off small, then a
home or a smaller room in your church building could be an ideal more intimate setting for the course. Wherever you choose to
run your course, ensure that you have the equipment necessary to do the activities you have chosen (for example, some will
require a TV/DVD player or a laptop). If you have more than one small group, ensure that you have sufficient space for the groups
to spread out so that the noise levels are not disruptive for each group.
Q: How much flexibility do we have with the script? Do we have to follow it like a script, or can we
adjust things based on what we think will work best for our group?
A: The speaker’s notes are only a guide to help speakers prepare. The speaker may need to adapt the language level to suit the
guests on each particular course. Instructions are also given in the scripts as to sections that are optional and may be left out due
to level of difficulty or time constraints.
The success to any Alpha talk is for the speaker to be open and to tell personal stories. The speaker is invited at points in the script
to share their own stories and experience. In most cases and alternative story is provided to help the speaker prepare, or for the
speaker to use if they do not have a personal story that relates to the specific point.
Speakers may also introduce their own activities instead of the options given in the script. The aim for Alpha for ESOL is that new
ideas for activities and illustrations will be added to the material over time. If you do find your own ideas work well on your
course, email them to publications@alpha.org so that we can include them in the main resource notes for others to use.
Q: How well suited is Alpha for ESOL for single culture/religious groups?
Alpha for ESOL has been written with an assumption that the guests on the course will generally be from multi-ethnic
backgrounds. This is to allow for as much cultural diversity as possible. However, it is possible that you may run a course with
people from one cultural or religious group. In such cases, you may need to adapt some of the material accordingly. For example,
if all the guests speak a common language, you may choose to introduce some words in that language to help guests understand
the concepts more fully (although the course should still be given in English).
If you have guests who are all from the same religious background (such as Buddhist or Muslim), you may need to adapt some of
the language slightly in order to make it more relevant to those groups and may require the skill of someone with specific ministry
expertise with those people groups to help you.
In such cases, we would greatly appreciate your feedback so that we can see how the course may benefit more widely from those
additions or changes.
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