Cafe Style English at Paddock Community Trust

Every Thursday, Paddock Community Trust host a popular Talk English Cafe at Paddock Village Hall in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.  People learning English can drop in to the building to practise their English over a hot drink, supported by volunteer teachers and friends.  On our visit last week, we spoke to learners and volunteers to find out […]

Every Thursday, Paddock Community Trust host a popular Talk English Cafe at Paddock Village Hall in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.  People learning English can drop in to the building to practise their English over a hot drink, supported by volunteer teachers and friends.  On our visit last week, we spoke to learners and volunteers to find out more about it.

Alojzy started volunteering with Paddock Community Trust after doing a computer course with them.  Volunteering once a week at the centre gets him out of the house to help other people with their English and fits around his other commitments at home, including caring for his grandchildren and gardening.

‘It got me meeting lots of different people who I would normally not have met and I feel I’m helping them with their alphabet, speaking English, learning English, generally.’

Alojzy has helped a number of different learners since he started volunteering, helping them to understand and speak English, as well as how to access important services, such as healthcare, which he has found really satisfying:

‘If anybody has some time and a little bit of energy to put into it- it’s wonderfully rewarding. I know I go back home quite elated at the end of the day- quite happily tired too!’

Khalid has been supporting Binyamin to improve his English for 9 months.  Originally from Pakistan, Binyamin speaks Punjabi and shares his first language with his Talk English Friend Khalid.  Khalid started volunteering as he is looking for work, and he hopes to one day become a professional teacher.

Over the past few months, Khalid has supported Binyamin to learn to read and write simple words, as well as speak English.  Binyamin was keen to show us what he has learned and what he can now do as a result of Khalid’s support.

‘I’ve taught a lot of students but he is my special student, because he didn’t know one single word in English when we started.’

Khalid has found volunteering rewarding in many ways:

‘I’m happy because he’s learning English… it’s good for me as I’m looking to teach English myself I passed my level 1 English and Maths as well, so i’m looking to do a higher level.’

If you would like to find out more about learning English or helping others to in Kirklees, visit the Kirklees homepage.