Story: Margaret Gibson, ESOL Tutor
After working very hard during the spring and summer terms 2012, two Adult ESOL classes took their Trinity speaking and listening exams at Entry Level Three and Level One in June.
Most of them were quite nervous on the day but they kept their composure and did an excellent job of really impressing the examiner with their skills and knowledge.
It was a nail biting couple of months, waiting with anticipation until finally the results were out. The results were announced in August and I was extremely proud and pleased to be able to call each learner in turn to let them know that they had passed their exam.
I was very excited and I know they were too as everybody had passed. All their hard work and dedication had paid off.
Usha Blackham (family learning development worker) and I decided that we wanted to hold a special awards ceremony at Whiteways School once we returned for the autumn term so that we could congratulate and show well deserved recognition to the learners and to enable them to share their success and celebrate with friends and family.
I would like to say how important these classes are to the learners. Over the 7 years that I have been teaching ESOL at Whiteways there have been many success stories leading students on to gain employment as well as developing confidence to join other courses and to take part in community activities which they wouldn’t have done before they came to class.
ESOL classes in the community allow learners to gain independence, help their children with school work and they provide a vital link for learners into the wider community.
Finally I would like to say a big thank you to Whiteways School and particularly to Usha Blackham (family learning development worker) for her on-going support and for organising our awards ceremony which took place on Wednesday 10 October 2012.
A delicious finger buffet was provided by the school catering team and two lovely cakes were provided by members of the Family Learning cake decorating class.
I would also like to thanks Karen Redfern, parent chair of Governors at Whiteways, who presented the certificates.
