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ESOL Enews, Issue 2 - February 2009
Welcome to Scotland's ESOL Enews. If you would like to share information about local ESOL activities or events, or resources you have used or developed, please contact us. Contributions should be brief (100 words maximum, to include contact details for further information). If this Enews has been forwarded to you, please register here to receive your own copy.
Latest National News
National ESOL Strategy Discussion Day on Development Proposals
The National ESOL Panel will be holding an event on 29th May 2009 at Stirling Management Centre to discuss the preliminary recommendations from its three Working Parties - Professional Development, Curriculum Framework and Funding Principles. This will be a chance for ESOL practitioners and managers from Community Learning and Development Partnerships, colleges and the voluntary sector to influence the final recommendations which the Working Parties will present to the National Panel in the autumn. Further information will be issued nearer the time.
The Best Start: literacies learning and ESOL for families
Learning Connections, Lifelong Learning Directorate, Scottish Government are hosting a conference on 4th March 2009 at the Hilton Hotel, William Street, Glasgow to raise the profile of literacies learning and ESOL for families in Scotland. The event will also provide an opportunity for participants to consider how family learning contributes to government policies and agendas. The conference is aimed at individuals who are involved in developing strategy locally and nationally within Community Learning and Development Partnerships, Adult Literacy and Numeracy Partnerships, Scotland's colleges and voluntary organisations. Speakers will include Dr Tom Sticht, international educational consultant. To book a place please complete this online booking form.
UK Border Agency - European Integration Fund - call for bids
The European Integration Fund is aimed at legally newly-arrived migrants (i.e. within the last 5 years) who are not asylum seekers/refugees, EU or EEA nationals and who have not come to the UK under visa categories such as students. Areas to be considered under the fund include ESOL courses that are intended to help legal migrants to become fully functional in UK society, as well as innovative projects that support the efforts made by the UK in enabling third country nationals of different social, cultural, religious, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds to fulfil the conditions for permanent residence in the UK.
Bids are welcomed from local authorities, colleges and other learning providers. For more information on the fund, interested organisations/individuals should register on Bravo solutions. Once you have registered, click on the link for "ITTs open to all suppliers" on the home page. The reference number is ITT_30182.
Latest Local News
Celebrations in North Ayrshire
25 ESOL learners in North Ayrshire attended the very successful end of year event to celebrate their achievements. A Festive Quiz gave them a chance to test their tutors' knowledge of other cultures.Young and old alike enjoyed mini workshops on popular Christmas songs and a treasure hunt activity about 'Christmas around the World'. The event finished with a hands-on workshop on mulled wine-making which was attended by record numbers! Further information is available from Orsi Dunn on 0800 180 4134.
New ESOL initial assessment, advice and placement service in South East Glasgow
Glasgow's South East Community Planning Partnership has formed an ESOL Providers Network to implement a standardised approach to ESOL initial assessment, advice and placement across the South East Glasgow area. This service will give learners immediate access to high quality advice and information regarding their own ESOL level and relevant learning provision in their area. Using this information, learners will be empowered to independently access provision and make their own informed decisions regarding their learning pathway. Up until the creation of this new service, providers had only offered initial assessment for the purpose of placing learners on an ESOL course and, because demand exceeded supply, learners had faced waits of up to several months for initial assessment to take place and to receive advice on ESOL provision in the area. For more information contact Robin Ashton, SE Glasgow CPP ESOL Network Coordinator, Langside College, 50 Prospecthill Road, Glasgow, G42 9LB.
Learning and Teaching
ESOL into Hospitality
ESOL into Hospitality, delivered by Glasgow Metropolitan College in conjunction with Radisson and Crowne Plaza, aims to equip Glasgow hotel staff whose first language is not English with the linguistic skills to develop a career in the hospitality sector. Glasgow hotels are heavily dependant on those whose first language is not English and it is essential that such individuals are given the support to reach their potential and develop in the industry.
Designed and evaluated in consultation with the hotels and managed by a college project co-ordinator, ESOL into Hospitality has been resourced through DEEP (Funding Council) and a Scottish Government grant to support the expansion of ESOL provision. In addition to reducing staff turnover, the project contributes to the up-skilling of workers in key sectors of the Scottish economy. The project is now in its second year and continues to be a great success. Further information is available from Fiona Balloch on 0141 566 1659.
ESOL and Social Care
The care sector is viewed by refugees, asylum seekers and members of the black and ethnic minority communities as an accessible first step on the UK employment ladder, but the social care sector in Glasgow is currently experiencing recruitment problems and staff shortages. To help address these issues, Glasgow Metropolitan College has partnered with The Bridges Programme Ltd to develop an ESOL and Social Care course which provides vocationally relevant ESOL training, together with specific employability skills and work placements in the social care sector in Glasgow.
The programme of successive 90 hour courses, each delivered over 6 weeks, aims to provide meaningful work experience and skills to access sustainable jobs at the appropriate level. Further information is available from Fiona Balloch on 0141 566 1659.
ESOL Practitioner Network
The ESOL Network is meeting in Edinburgh on 17th February to discuss workplace ESOL. The notes and presentations from the meeting will be available on the 'ESOL practitioner network' page of this website shortly after that. If you would like to join, or find out more about the network, please e-mail Jackie Borge.
Professional Development
ESOL for work - launch events
The SQA is holding four free launch events for the ESOL for Work qualifications at SCQF Levels 4 and 5. The aim of the events is to provide an overview of the ESOL for Work qualifications and participants will have the opportunity to examine candidate evidence and relate this to the Unit specifications and assessments. Events will be held on:
4th Februrary - Edinburgh
6th February - Inverness
10th February - Glasgow
12th February - Dumfries
For further information and to register for the event please contact sqaevents@sqa.org.uk or 0845 279 1000.
Delivering the PDA: Introduction to Tutoring ESOL in Dumfries & Galloway
Dumfries & Galloway College, in partnership with the Community Learning and Development Team in Dumfries & Galloway Council, are developing a course in the recently launched PDA: Introduction to Tutoring ESOL. This two unit course will go some way to standardising ESOL tutoring throughout the south-west of Scotland and thus improve the service. It will also encourage people to take that first step towards tutoring ESOL and the PDA can act as a stepping stone to a CELTA course which may be delivered locally. Once materials have been developed, we would be happy to share them with our ESOL colleagues around the country.
Further information is available from Paul Ironmonger, ESOL Co-ordinator, Dumfries & Galloway College, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4FD on 01387 734190.
Practitioner seminars: family literacies learning and ESOL - Dr Tom Sticht
Learning Connections are pleased to announce that Dr Tom Sticht, international educational consultant, will deliver two seminars for literacies practitioners and ESOL practitioners on:
Monday 2nd March in Glasgow - this event will start with lunch at 12.30pm and finish at 4.00 pm - Glasgow seminar
Tuesday 3rd March in Edinburgh - this event will start at 10.00am and finish with lunch at 1.00pm - Edinburgh seminar
After Dr Sticht's presentation 'Toward a Multiple Life Cycles Education Policy' there will be opportunities to discuss his ideas and share experience with family learning practitioners. If you would like to attend one of the seminars please complete the relevant booking form at the above links by 9th February.
Professional Development for ESOL practitioners in Scotland - notification of survey
SQA is currently undertaking a scoping study, commissioned by the Scottish Government, which will help provide data on the professional development needs of current and future adult ESOL practitioners in Scotland. This research builds on the work done in 2007 which preceded the development of the PDA: Introduction to Tutoring ESOL. An online survey of ESOL practitioners and managers will go live on Thursday the 5th February. Details and links to the survey will be posted on the SQA and ESOL Scotland websites. Focus groups will take place towards the end of February. The survey and focus groups aim to:
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* find out more about Scotland's ESOL workforce and the work they do
* assess the training and professional development needs of the ESOL workforce
* find out the ESOL workforce's thoughts on existing qualifications and training, and
* get their opinions on a proposed new ESOL teaching qualification.
If you would like to take part in a focus group to discuss SQA's proposed new ESOL qualification, please contact Jennifer Macdougall.
ESOL Website
The national ESOL website provides information on ESOL courses currently available across Scotland and on professional development opportunities for ESOL practitioners. It also features resources for practitioners and learners and links to a range of guidance and support for ESOL learners. You can also find further information on how Scotland's Community Learning and Development Partnerships and Scotland's colleges are supporting the national ESOL strategy. If you would like to put course details on the website, please contact Isabel Russell.
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