Naima- a Talk English learner from Bolton

Naima  is a learner on a Talk English Course in Bolton. She is 26 years old and comes from Bangladesh. Naima came to live in the UK 8 years ago when she got married. She now lives with her husband and son. Naima attended primary school in Bangladesh. She wants to improve her speaking confidence […]

Naima  is a learner on a Talk English Course in Bolton. She is 26 years old and comes from Bangladesh. Naima came to live in the UK 8 years ago when she got married. She now lives with her husband and son. Naima attended primary school in Bangladesh. She wants to improve her speaking confidence and be able to help her child at school.

Naima doesn’t feel confident speaking in English and has little opportunity to do so. Naima ‘loves’ her tutor Barbara. “I am very happy because the teacher is very nice.” She feels comfortable coming to class because it’s very close to her house and it’s in a familiar place.  Her son is at the school where the Talk English Course runs and she doesn’t have to worry about getting to and from the class in time to pick him up.  Her volunteer teacher Barbara is the only native speaker she talks to on a regular basis.  She feels she is making progress with her speaking and is happy that she can understand what Barbara is saying.  Often she struggles to understand native speakers. She feels that this is because her English isn’t good enough.  Listening to and talking with Barbara gives her confidence. She is very happy that she has the opportunity to practise writing and have her attempts marked by the teacher.  She always wants to do homework.

Naima enjoys coming and talking to other women.  She didn’t know many of them before despite having children in the same school.  Now she enjoys seeing them and saying hello. The group are going to Rivington Pike in a few weeks and she is very much looking forward to this. She says she hasn’t visited many places locally as her husband is always working.  Any trips usually involve visiting family or a community member.  She is looking forward to going for a walk and having a picnic! She’d like to get a job in a factory where her sister works. She is keen to work too but she is restricted to school hours.  Naima is keen to keep on studying English.