International Welcome is a free and friendly English class for people of all nationalities who want to improve their language skills. Those who attend are helped by local English-speaking volunteers.
The sessions take place every week during the school term, on a Friday afternoon. Each session is a relaxed and informal social time, which includes an English language and culture class led by a qualified teacher.
People with any level of ability in spoken English can attend – from complete beginner to more advanced.
All the details are below. Just turn up as our guest, and we look forward to welcoming you!
When and where is the free English class?
International Welcome is held every Friday during the school term, at:
The Barn, Christ Church, Northcourt Rd, Abingdon, OX14 1PL
The dates of the sessions for the current term are shown on the poster.
Each session starts at 1:00pm, with 30 minutes of social time for meeting people and chatting. Refreshments are provided free of charge.
At 1:30pm, our English language and culture class starts. This lasts for one hour, until 2:30pm.
The class includes English conversation, worksheets, exercises, vocabulary, and grammar – all on topics that are helpful for people who are new to the English way of life.
It’s a very relaxed and informal class, and a lot of fun! Some parts of the class take place in one large group (usually around 40-45 people), and some parts take place in small groups (of around 4-6 people each). Every small group has at least one volunteer English-speaker, to help guests understand the questions, exercises, and any new words.
At 2:30pm the class finishes and we pack away until the next Friday session. After the class, there is chance to speak with the teacher or volunteers about anything in the lesson – or to ask for local information about other support services in Abingdon.
current poster
Who runs the free English class?
International Welcome is jointly organised by Host Abingdon (a support group for refugees and asylum seekers) and Christ Church (a local church in Abingdon).
Christ Church provides a spacious meeting room, with all the necessary sound and projection facilities for the class. Host Abingdon provides advertising, website and email support, local information, and refreshments. The English-speaking volunteers provide all the teaching, help, and support for the language class. Some volunteers have links with Host Abingdon or Christ Church, others are members of the general Abingdon community.
The generosity of both of our parent organisations, and of the volunteer team, allows the English class to run at no cost to our guests. International Welcome also benefits from grant funding from Oxfordshire County Council and other local groups.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the English class really free?
Yes, it’s completely free! There is no charge to guests for any part of the session – the refreshments, the English class, and all the equipment and facilities.
What level of English do I need?
The International Welcome group is made up of guests with every level of English – from absolute beginner, to those who know a little, and those who know quite a lot! It’s the same class and content for everyone, and we all help each other to understand and make progress – however far along the learning journey we may be. For any who really struggle, we can sometimes provide separate one-to-one help, until new guests are ready to join the main class.
Do I need to attend every week?
The more often you attend, the more your English will improve – but there is no need to attend every session. We understand that many things can prevent guests from attending on any particular week (appointments, illness, family commitments, etc.), so just come when you are able to attend. Each lesson is helpful by itself, so it won’t be a problem if you have to miss a week.
Will there be other people from my country?
We have a wide range of nationalities at International Welcome. At any session we can have guests from China, Syria, Kurdistan, Eritrea, Ukraine, Spain, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Turkiye, Poland, Brazil, etc. So, there may be others there from your own country, but even if not – everyone is welcome!
Can I bring my child along?
We provide a separate play area in the room for pre-school children, with a range of toys and games. However, parents and carers remain responsible for their own children at all times. We usually have a volunteer to help to keep the children occupied, so it’s possible for parents to focus on the class as their children play – while always being on hand in case they are needed. We also welcome babies in buggies (awake or asleep!), but parents need to constantly supervise them.
Why are there no sessions during the school holidays?
It’s good for our volunteers to have a break from time to time, and we match this with the school holidays to give them an extra opportunity for family time. Also, we do not have facilities during the sessions to occupy older children who are on holiday from school. In the long school break in July/August, we usually arrange one or two family social events to bridge the gap until International Welcome starts again in September.
How can I keep in touch for questions or up-to-date information?
If you are happy for us to contact you from time to time, you can sign up to our email list by sending a request to You can also use this email address if you have any questions that are not covered on our web page.