Age 16-18
ESOL students from New City College’s Tower Hamlets campus have taken their language learning beyond the classroom this term, partnering with the world-renowned Courtauld Gallery for an inspiring project that blended art, creativity and personal expression.
The initiative, titled Speaking about Art, brought together twelve 16- to 18-year-olds studying ESOL Entry Level 1. For many, it was their first year learning English – but that didn’t stop them from stepping confidently into one of the UK’s most prestigious art galleries.
There, students explored treasures from The Courtauld’s collection and were guided in developing visual analysis skills, descriptive language and public-speaking confidence.
Working closely with Courtauld educators, the group selected artworks that resonated with them and prepared short presentations, which they proudly delivered to their class. One student reflected on the impact of the experience, saying: “I learned how to describe the picture. Now I enjoy that.”
Their learning journey didn’t stop there. The students returned to the gallery for a second visit, this time focusing on the paintings of Vincent van Gogh and contemporary artist Rachel Jones. Inspired by themes of colour, abstraction and emotional mark-making, they created their own expressive artworks responding to what they saw. Their reflections and creative outcomes have been brought together in an online exhibition, hosted by The Courtauld.
Sarah Carne, Programme Manager for Gallery Learning at The Courtauld, praised the students’ enthusiasm and shared a link to the exhibition, which showcases the young artists’ voices and perspectives through video.
Watch the exhibition below:
