ESOL students celebrate their success with award ceremony at Hackney Empire
More than 100 Hackney residents celebrated as they received certificates for completing English language courses run by the Council at Hackney Empire last week.
The Speaker of Hackney, Cllr Clare Potter, attended the event to present the awards and congratulate course graduates for achieving an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification, which is run by the Council’s Adult Learning Trust.
Over the past academic year hundreds of residents attended 25 English ESOL courses, which ran throughout the borough.
Hackney Learning Trust’s Adult Education team work closely with schools, children’s centres and community organisations to provide accessible venues to host classes and encourage residents with limited language skills to come forward.
Congratulations to all the students and teachers involved in the course. I’m delighted that Hackney Learning Trust has once again helped Hackney residents learn English who may not have otherwise been able to.
Learning to speak English means so much more than just understanding the language. It allows everyone to take part in the civic, economic and cultural life of this fantastic, diverse borough.
Elssye Santos, originally from Brazil won ‘learner of the year’ for her ESOL Entry Level 2 qualification at Shoreditch Park School.
ESOL classes have changed my life. I can now go and see my doctor and speak to my children’s teachers. ESOL teachers are truly fantastic!
We would like to congratulate all ESOL learners in Hackney on their achievements this year.
ESOL classes provide an invaluable opportunity not only to develop language skills, but also to help integration and a sense of belonging in Hackney.
To join an ESOL class, potential students need to attend an ESOL advice session, where an adviser will check their level of English before helping them find a class which will best suit their needs.Advice sessions take place regularly at five venues across Hackney.
For more information call 020 8820 7043, email esol@learningtrust.co.uk or visit www.learningtrust.co.uk/esol.