While COVID 19 has brought its share of challenges, Education Coordinator for the Women in the Highlands Project: Harriet Tay, outlines a number of benefits that have materialised from the delivery of virtual learning
Highland has welcomed Syrian families across four different areas in recent years. English acquisition is essential to developing the Syrians’ social and economic integration, underpinning their ability to access services, take part in community life and find work. WEA Highland have a robust programme of ESOL delivery, addressing ESOL for Everyday life, ESOL for Employment and ESOL for Health and Wellbeing.
Our ESOL for Resettlement and integration Project builds a programme of lessons and activities that supports our learners’ integration into their communities as active citizens. The activities focus on culture, employability, and social integration. Each learner who takes part has a language assessment and individual learning plan to ensure that provision is tailored to meet their needs and achieve their outcomes.
Sessions include
•ESOL for Everyday
Survival English
ESOL for Shopping
ESOL for schools
ESOL for Emergency Services
Digital skills
•ESOL for Employment or HE/FE
Confidence and motivation
Building a CV
Job Readiness
Job search skills
Preparing for Work
Dealing with Work Situations
Academic requirements
•ESOL for Health and Wellbeing
Cooking group
Walking group
Cycling group
Men's health
Women's health
Confidence and Motivation
Self Care
•Supporting Integration
Guest speakers
Community events
Coffee mornings
Building peer mentors
Engaging with schools
The programme employs a full time ESOL Education Co-ordinator who is responsible for
•Recruitment, training and mentoring of tutors and volunteers in the planning and delivery of ESOL and wider integration activities such as coffee mornings other community and family events
•Working with the tutoring team to develop and share learning resources/language packages
•Coordination of the assessment, verification and administration of accredited SQA and other appropriate awards
•Monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance processes including termly reviews; quantitative data; class observations and reporting for local/strategic groups; Home Office and COSLA.
•Supporting the DWP and other key agencies with associated language skills/knowledge
•Engagement with employers and development of supported work placement programme/paid work trials with mentoring/support
•Engaging with partners to find suitable volunteering opportunities in local communities
•Supporting college progression via visits, preparation for college interviews/tests and ongoing support for those already attending college.
•Participating in local delivery and strategic group meetings