An online book club for ESOL learners

Abstract

Abstract In the spring of 2021, I started an online book for ESOL learners studying in an adult education college in London. Over the course of four weeks, 12 intermediate to upper intermediate learners read the story ‘Suffragette’, adapted from the film of the same name, meeting weekly online to discuss the story and its themes. The result was a greatly beneficial experience for the learners. They were able to engage with an extensive text on a much deeper level than is generally possible during normal classroom hours, leading to a variety of positive outcomes: the building of new vocabulary, the development of speaking and reading skills, the opportunity to create an online community during a time of social isolation, and a chance to explore some of the significant themes the story contains, in an accessible way.