Since re-launching last September, we have had about 28 international people make contact and come along to our ESOL classes, with new enquiries most months.
These are the countries they are from: Poland, Colombia, Venezuela, Spain, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Syria, China, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Nepal, Turkey, Hong Kong and South Korea!
We currently have about 16 who are regularly attending each week and it is an absolute pleasure to work with and get to know them.
People with limited English often struggle to communicate and may find it difficult to integrate into their local community. The ESOL classes are a wonderful opportunity to build friendships and bless and encourage our students. We are also able to invite them to wider events that the church runs and have had several people come along to the Bonfire evening and children’s fun days.
We would value your prayer support:
For our team who work hard every week setting up, teaching, supporting, befriending and clearing away.
We occasionally have opportunities to offer to pray for people’s situations. Please pray for our sensitivity to not miss these and for students to be open.
For our students – that they will learn English well and also encounter Christian love and friendship within our building.
For ongoing opportunities to invite them to wider church events.
For provision of more qualified teachers to join the team.
So, looking ahead, we need to be able to expand our team – particularly with qualified teachers, able to teach on either a regular or occasional basis. Ideally you would need to have a qualification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages such as the CELTA or Cert TESOL (or similar.) Or maybe it is something you are interested in training to do! We would also be interested in hearing from you if you are qualified in teaching a foreign language and able to apply these skills to teaching English. (If anyone just wants to visit our classes to find out more about what goes on, please also get in touch.)
Please contact Louise Moore if you are able to help out at all or would like any further information.
Gateway Church Ashford | 01233 638866 | office@gatewaychurchashford.co.uk
www.gatewaychurchashford.co.uk/giveagift | The Riverside Centre, Clockhouse, Ashford, Kent, TN23 4YN