Over 100 students from around the world making friends at Hartlepool College

Here at Hartlepool College we have been helping more than 100 students from around the world establish a new life in the UK. Since bringing back English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes in September, the College is proud to have supported people from various countries to develop confidence and friendships on Teesside.

Numbers have soared since ESOL, within the English, Maths, Professional and Creative Studies (EMPCS) school at the College, was first relaunched and there were around initially 60 enrolled. In January an extra member of staff, Rebecca Walker, was taken on to work alongside ESOL lecturer Chris Godson. Now there are 110 students with plans to expand further in the months ahead.  

Chris, who taught English in Asia and the Czech Republic for six years, said: “We try to build a community of practice. It is not just a way to stay in touch, it is a way to support each other. “It is not only a way to speak English but also a way to build relationships at the same time. That initial seed has now become a friendship group. If you move to a new country, having a group of like-minded people going through similar problems creates that support network. They are no longer alone, considering their backgrounds, with some horrific scenarios, and they are safe now, rebuilding their lives. It’s nice to hear stories about how one student from Sudan might be taking another student’s children to school because she can drive and they didn’t know each other before.”

There are also students from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iraq, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Kurdistan, Palestine, Poland, Syria, Thailand, and Yemen on the ESOL course.

Kuwaiti-born Abdullah said: “The course has helped me because my teacher is good. He doesn’t just teach grammar, he speaks to us about everything. We learn a lot of new words and how to speak to people in the street.”

Yosef, from Eritrea, said: “Sometimes I can feel lonely so this course is really helpful. I like our teacher, he is very nice, and we have good classmates and staff to help us gain good knowledge.”

And Asmaa, from Yemen, said: “The people in Hartlepool are kind and it is a quiet town with a nice beach and many trees. The course helps me talk to people so when I go to the doctor I can explain what I feel.”

It is not only students benefitting from ESOL at Hartlepool College.

Maria Archbold, Head of EMPCS, said: “Chris’ s job is not only to work with the candidate but to help them integrate. Wider college staff have welcomed the students into the college community and are keen to support them in achieving vocationally relevant qualifications in the future. Jonathon Fletcher from the school is offering an opportunity for students to develop their digital skills in bespoke sessions outside of ESOL lessons. We want the wider community to be able to signpost those new to the UK to the College for support, to develop their sense of community around an ability to use English as an additional language.”

Following the success of ESOL at Hartlepool College, the intention is to keep increasing the numbers in a bid to help society as a whole.

Stacey Carberry, Deputy Head of the School, said: “Students have ended up having more than an education, they have great relationships with student support staff. They can go to them for help, support, including for any struggles such as money, family or bereavement. We now have more than 100 students across three different levels from all different kinds of backgrounds. It was a year ago when I was asked to run ESOL again and it has quickly grown to what it is now. We interviewed 150 people for English classes over the course of a few months and now Chris and Rebecca deliver Pre-entry, Entry 1, and Entry 2 classes. We took on another 50 students at the start of the year and we will only keep growing.”