This month’s blog is concentrating on our pre-entry group and those who are new to English. They have navigated themselves to English class and are now attending regularly. Post Covid we are seeing cracks in communication and the right help and guidance being accessed for our asylum seekers. Although we do not provide this information directly, we are having to help them find their way through complicated and difficult systems. These are frustrating times for both the individuals and the tutor. Most learners have been in the class now for around a year with their teacher and have settled in fantastically. They have excellent attendance and high motivation to learn English. Our learners have had to learn how to register children in school, register with a doctor, deal with housing providers and where they can access support. This is when they do not speak much English.
Their teacher Sarah is extremely happy with the progress they have made. She has been concentrating on building their vocabulary, teaching them phonics to help them to start reading and helping them with handwriting.
Everyday life can sometimes dominate the lessons. Since September, three babies have been born which has seen two students leave on maternity leave and one leave and return. One has found a job while others have had to juggle college attendance and coming to Premier on Fridays. The earthquake in Turkey caused great distress amongst the students, especially our Turkish volunteer. There has been much concern for relatives that have fallen ill not to mention the health and family issues some students have had to deal with themselves. So a lot for our students to contend with before even sitting down to learn. Fortunately, it is a tight knit group and the students come together to support each other which can generate lots of opportunities to speak English on a social level. We have looked at what appropriate language to use when responding to good news and bad news and using “should” to give advice.
All in all a great group that we hope can continue.
