ESOL - A Lesson to be Learnt?
7/10/2009
ESOL - what do these letters mean to you? Unless you are involved in training or education I doubt if you know. Let me enlighten you. To some they mean the world, life itself, the reason for surviving, putting food in your mouth and money in the bank. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) - those six little words are forever in the thoughts of Migrant workers in the UK.
There was a time when workers from other countries entered the UK, their only support came in the form of an interpreter. This was a cheap option to gain cheap labour, to boost the British economy.
Next step came in the guise of converting all guide leaflets and some paperwork to languages understood by migrant workers, the creation of such a conversion caused (yes you guessed it) lots of money to run this clever plan. Then a bright and clever idea was actioned. Lets teach English to our friends and create an understanding of information for all. Hooray! Common sense at last.
ESOL was sanctioned, funding was sought and found and people learnt. A generation of migrant workers carried on to live their lives and tell the tale. What a bright idea ESOL is and what a help it's been to all it's touched.
My life as a trade union worker has had many disguises but I've always come in close contact with people who had problems with their English. Most soon master it, but it is hard for an adult to do. I learnt the easy way to speak it as a child at school (some say I never got it right as nobody understands a true Londoner) .
We are back at step one, as funding has stopped for ESOL. Where can hardworking people, willing to learn, go from here? Should it still be funded? After this mess is ESOL a lesson to be learnt.
Barry Marks
URTU ULF Project Worker
