Learning Unlimited EIF projects Integration for ESOL Judy Kirsh EIF Projects Co-ordinator Learning Unlimited www.learningunlimited.co

Supporting integration – what can make a difference? This workshop will look at key project themes: empowerment, self-esteem, knowledge and skills and confidence. We will explore approaches such as: training and supporting ESOL learners to become befrienders supporting ESOL learners in finding and taking up volunteering opportunities enabling ESOL learners to take a proactive role in organising and running events supporting ESOL learners to become writers, researchers and film-makers. Brief intro to session (3 mins)

Discussion What opportunities do you currently provide for your ESOL learners outside the classroom? What are the advantages of encouraging learners to become involved in something outside the classroom? 5 mins to discuss and feedback

LU EIF projects Welcome to the UK Active Citizenship and English Parents’ Integration through Partnership (5 mins) 3 recent projects – explain briefly Support integration of non EU women Common approaches to all of them that they’re strengths based and aim to empower the women and build self-esteem and confidence by encouraging their active participation in a range of activities, at or away from their centres. - All had direct ESOL teaching, support from volunteer befrienders, events, trips and an underpinning commitment to build bridges between the classroom and the local community, organisations, service providers.

Opportunities ESOL learners as befrienders ESOL learners as volunteers ESOL learners as writers, researchers and film-makers 10 – 15 mins Other common elements to all the projects was to provide opportunities for learners to get involved in something outside the classroom – varied to meet their different needs and interests. Benefits in terms of language skills as well as self-esteem and confidence was astonishing. Surprised us as well as themselves – what they were capable of. Discovered new interests, made new friends. Describe each one briefly. As well as training local volunteers to be befrienders, significant number of former ESOL learners wanted the opportunity and had huge amount to contribute. Shared, common life experiences of moving & settling in UK, barriers, challenges, opportunities etc. ACE project introduced explicit focus on volunteering to support learners into employment and work experience. Important to have the support of local volunteering agencies and the centres we worked with – work with them as well as ESOL tutors. Volunteering integrated into curriculum. Centre based volunteering and off-centre volunteering. Give egs …… Supported fundraising events, e.g. world AIDS day, LGBT event, int womens day, organising safety at home event, helped to meet and greet at other events. BS – helped with AGM. Off-site successes: Kenwood House guide, children’s centre support worker, mother-tongue Saturday schools, charity shops, teaching IT, ….. Some volunteering opps led to actual jobs, incl teaching Bengali at SOAS. Literacy project (ACE) – show readers produced as a result of collaborations between befrienders, learners and LU team. Explain activities on website, book launch, books in British Library and BBC, other libraries have ordered them. Put them on tables, ask participants to stand up and move round. Find one they could use with their learners. 5 mins Practitioner researchers (ACE IoE) – trained as researchers and supported by IoE to investigate the impact of befriending on ESOL learners. Findings contributed to final impact assessment report. Produced a report. Participatory film makers (WttUK & PIP) – teacher was experienced participatory teacher and wanted to ensure lessons reflected real concerns. PIP learners concerned about imminent closure of local children’s centre so as well as work in class, they started attending and participating in public meetings, sending tweets, made a participatory video about the importance of the centre to them and their children, and they organised film screenings with Q and A which they facilitiated. Attended by members of the public, local councillors. They issued press releases and as a result of this a few were invited to make a presentation to the Haringey Council cabinet meeting and they were interviewed on Breakfast TV.

Bringing the inside in and building bridges from the classroom Show video clip (5 mins) www.learningunlimited.co/projects/parents-integration-through-partnership#films

Organising an event In your groups, choose a theme for an event which your class is going to organise: ‘Safety at home’, ‘999’ or ‘Citizenship’ What preparation would your learners need to do (a) in the classroom (b) with the centre and (c) with the service providers? Make a plan to share with the whole group Talk through the safety at home event – show pictures etc. 20 mins Feedback/sharing 10 mins

Looking ahead Spend a few minutes reflecting on this workshop Any questions? What could you do at your organisation to provide opportunities for ESOL learners which go beyond the classroom? 10 mins

To find out more about LU’s projects, please contact Karen Dudley, Judy Kirsh, Julia McGerty or Ian Foster at Learning Unlimited karen.dudley@learningunlimited.co judith.kirsh@learningunlimited.co julia.mcgerty@learningunlimited.co ian.foster@learningunlimited.co www.learningunlimited.co 020 7911 5567 9

Website links Welcome to the UK http://www.learningunlimited.co/projects/previous-projects/wttuk Active Citizenship and English http://www.learningunlimited.co/projects/ace Parents’ Integration through Partnership http://www.learningunlimited.co/projects/parents-integration-through-partnership