ESOL students at Barnfield College recently took part in the SEMICC – South East Midlands Inter-College Competitions at Cambridge Regional College.
Comprised of students from the Entry 3 ESOL under 19 class, they competed against groups from seven other colleges, including Level 2 adult learners. Participants were asked what are the opportunities and challenges of moving to the UK? The teams set about creating a group presentation to attempt to answer this question based on their own experiences.
The aim of this event was to develop the participants’ abilities in speaking & listening, collaboration, presenting, teamwork and digital skills. On the day of the competition, participants were also issued with an extra task that they had no prior knowledge of, which tested their ability to adapt as they had to make last-minute additions to their presentations.
The students embraced the challenges of this competition with great enthusiasm, acting as great ambassadors for the college.
One college participant said it was a “great experience for students to have the opportunity to go to a new place and meet new people.”
Francesca Marzola, an ESOL tutor at Barnfield, shared her observations of the learners who took part by saying: “The standout moments for me were watching them work together so well. They worked well as a team, and all got on with the task from the beginning. I thought they showed their maturity and responsibility. They were punctual. Their behaviour throughout the day was impeccable.” Francesca also believes it is vital for ESOL students to take part in events such as these “because it’s important to hear their voices. They spoke from the heart and it’s important to be reminded of the journey they have been through to get to this point. They all have a story to share.”
Caroline Cooper, Head of School for ESOL, echoed Francesca’s observations by stating: “This was an amazing opportunity for our students and has built confidence, developed collaboration and communication skills and given them a real sense of achievement.”
If you feel inspired by the story of our ESOL students developing their English skills to improve their prospects in the UK, then an ESOL course might be for you.
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