A project to train asylum seekers to teach English to beginners was started by ASIRT in September last year. We would like to thank our volunteer Ms Margaret Okole, an Assistant Editor, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, for preparing and running this course.

The project provides an opportunity for asylum seekers with relevant language and work experience to develop and use their skills while waiting for their claims to be determined (i.e. the trainee teachers). It also aims to reach some of the most vulnerable asylum seekers who are not eligible to join any of the mainstream college courses.

This project is now being supported by the Red Cross, which has undertaken to fund bus passes for both teachers and students for a twelve week beginners’ course, as well as providing some amount for teaching materials.. As for the earlier sessions, the BH UK Network has agreed to let us use their premises free of charge, without which this project could hardly happen.

A group of nine trainee teachers completed the theoretical part of this course – Stages 1 and 2, and observed classes in various venues including the Refugee Council and Brushstrokes.
They are now poised to start teaching English to adult asylum seekers with no or very little English. We aim to run a 12 week course in essential English, starting on in June. This would cater for up to 20 students in two groups: those with no knowledge of English and those with limited knowledge, and would consist of one 2-hour session per week.

At present, various categories of asylum seekers are barred from attending mainstream English classes: those who have been in the UK for less than six months; those whose claim has been refused, but who cannot be returned to their country of origin; and those who are not receiving Section 4 support. Even those who are on Section 4 support and should be entitled to attend classes often find it difficult to be accepted by a college. Many find it extremely hard to survive the initial period in this country due to lack of English – inability to communicate their needs or to understand information.

We believe that attending English classes at the beginning of their stay would not only make life more tolerable for asylum seekers, providing a key to understanding public information and an opportunity to interact with others, but would enhance their employability once they get status. On receiving a positive decision asylum seekers’ support is terminated, they must leave their accommodation and begin the search for work. If they have not learned to communicate in English by this stage, they will be unlikely to find any.

At the same time, some asylum seekers speak and write English to a high standard and have previous teaching experience in their home countries. While their claims are in progress they are precluded from working, sometimes for years, and suffer from the lack of opportunity to practice their skills. This project provides an opportunity for such teachers to engage in work experience, which will likewise stand them in good stead once they gain status and begin the search for work. Even in the case where such a person is refused, the fact of having been engaged in teaching in this country should help them find employment when they return home.

We envisage that trainees who have successfully delivered this course as a group effort will then be in a position to move on to teaching groups on an individual basis, thus reaching many more students.

If you would like to get involved, support the project or require additional information please contact Edin Hromadzic on 0121-772-6700 or by sending an e-mail, edin@asirt.org.uk.

Leaflet
Registration form
Map