The Transformative Effect of Language Education at EKC Training Thanet Centre

The ability to communicate with those around us is vital in any community. For students in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programmes, learning English is a gateway to independence.  

Nora, ESOL lecturer at EKC Training Thanet Centre in Margate, spoke to us about her love for her students and how she sees them grow in confidence with each lesson they attend. 

“You get to see people grow in confidence step by step. This is the beauty of my job. They’ll come in and say, ‘I went to the doctor’s office by myself, without a family member to help.’ I think that is the power of an ESOL course. We don’t just teach grammar and the language; we teach life in the UK and how to adapt,” she said. 

Inclusive and Safe Spaces 

Any language barrier is intimidating, and it takes a welcoming classroom setting to feel comfortable practicing a new language. 

“ESOL is a silent ambassador of inclusivity. It’s the place and comfort of safety for people who feel very vulnerable. They come here on their own initiative, or the Job Centre might recommend them, or they hear about it from their friends,” Nora commented. 

“I think you have to be a very good listener, so pay attention to what they are telling you. They get very excited when they get to tell you about their home, about their culture, the festivals, the food. They forget all of the grammar but they also forget the fear of speaking because they get excited to talk about it. They teach me a lot.” 

The EKC Training Thanet Centre aims to build an environment that adapts to varying adult schedules and religious and cultural customs. 

Teaching Though Barriers 

How do you teach English when the learner doesn’t understand English and the teacher cannot speak the learner’s language? The EKC Training Thanet Centre ESOL courses have a mixture of nationalities in each class and finds ways to teach each student. 

“Teaching English in English is quite bizarre for some people. There’s a process where we as teachers turn into actors and clowns and use lots of body language. We use videos and visuals to help them understand what it something means before we let them grab a dictionary and just translate it. The way we teach, we hope that they remember it longer and the word or phrase is cemented in their brain,” said Nora. 

ESOL and Building Community  

Nora teaches a range of classes each day, one of them consisting of a group of four women in their 70s. They have studied the English language together and have now all joined a local choir together. Other students have met learners at the Centre outside of their ESOL class, which has helped them feel brave enough to join the Employability course offered. The EKC Training Thanet Centre encourages all students, including ESOL students to take the next step. 

“All of my colleagues here go above and beyond to help the students find their path; to find how to take the next step, whether that’s employability, computer skills, etc. I see how students find their own little communities here. One course quite often leads to another course. EKC Training does a good job here to empower people,” said Nora. 

Find out more about the adult courses offered at EKC Training Thanet Centre here.