“Learners are becoming more confident and involved within the community”

Since April 2014, Sparth Community Centre has been running Talk English Courses for residents. The community centre is close to the centre of Rochdale and provides a range of services and facilities for the community, including a nursery, luncheon club, homework club and play areas. The centre also hosts area forums, councillor surgeries and GM Police […]

Since April 2014, Sparth Community Centre has been running Talk English Courses for residents.

The community centre is close to the centre of Rochdale and provides a range of services and facilities for the community, including a nursery, luncheon club, homework club and play areas. The centre also hosts area forums, councillor surgeries and GM Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings.

The Talk English course at Sparth Community Centre is led by Jamila, a volunteer teacher, alongside Sue, Samrana and most recently Misbah.  Kenny, the centre manager , told us :

Jamila has put a lot of effort and thought into the way she works and structures the sessions. She makes the learning fun and interesting so the learners do not realise they are being tested. Jamila has supported the learners to go to planned visits, activities and information sessions away from the Community Centre, including a trip to Touchstones Museum, a recycling event at Broadfield Park and a trip to Manchester on the train. The sessions are always well attended and the learners are eager to attend because of the quality of the learning opportunities offered by Jamila. I have no doubt that without Jamila’s enthusiasm and passion to teach the Talk English sessions would not be as successful as they are.

As a community centre we have found it difficult in the past to attract and encourage the Asian women of the area to be a part of consultation on issues affecting the area. Through, Jamila’s efforts this is no longer the case and the women are now confident enough to be a part of any consultations the centre is undertaking. I hope the Talk English sessions continue as the learners have got the passion to continue their learning and become more confident and involved within the community, which is all due to Jamila.

Jamila, the volunteer teacher at Sparth Community Centre told us how much she enjoyed teaching the class:

I really love teaching the ladies, it gives me great pleasure to see them succeed and they love learning so much that they have dedicated their time to me on Thursdays and are always looking forward to the sessions.

Since starting the class at Sparth Community Centre, I have had several support tutors who have assisted me in the classroom and supported individual learners who were struggling.  It has been nice to have their company and educate them on my experiences as an ESOL teacher. The support tutors are friendly and play a valuable role in the Talk English Project and I am very grateful for their help

If you live in Rochdale (or one of the other Talk English areas) and want to help others learn English, get in touch!