STEP NI

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Training Information & Language Support Programme

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
 
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses
 
This course is designed to give basic knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary to non-English speakers. There is an opportunity to move through different levels as learners' confidence and familiarity with the English language improves.
 
  

Current course flier - click here

 

 LANGUAGE SUPPORT WORK

This programme engages with several sections of S.T.E.P.'s Migrant Support Project working closely with them in order to overcome language barriers and to implement different parts of the migrant project.

Networking with Organisations

A vital part of this programme is based on networking with all public organisations and NGOs such as the Social Security Agency, libraries, community centres which can collaborate and co-operate to implement and promote parts of the migrant project.
 
Networking with Migrant Workers

Working with volunteers from the migrant population is uppermost in the development of the programme. The input of individuals from the migrant population is crucial not only for skills and contribution brought in but also because they are the first links with the wider migrant population who are the final users of the different programmes and therefore, those who can determine the success of the project.

Multilingual documents for community inclusion

This includes the provision of written documents (compiled or sourced) in several languages concerning the main services available and relevant language support provision. Important issues and social activities accessible by non-English speakers or migrants are always promoted in target languages. All of this material is made available in all Migrant Support Centres.

Bilingual promotion material plays a very important role for the recruitment of learners among the migrant population. Posters and leaflets are available in all Migrant Centres, libraries, Social Security Agencies, community centres etc.

ESOL teachers

Part of Language Support project is dedicated to ESOL classes: recruitment of teachers of English from different countries, induction and supervision are also provided as part of this programme.Teachers of different nationalities are recruited, trained and supervised as far as their course programme is concerned.

A STEP teachers’ network ensure that good practices are shared and provides the ground for peers’ support group.The adaptation of the Citizenship ESOL material from England to Northern Ireland is an ongoing work shared among the teachers’ network.

Computer based learning

In order to address the needs of those individuals not able to attend tutor led English classes, S.T.E.P. has started a computer based learning programme through the medium of target languages. Relevant software has been purchased from several European countries and made available for learners of English in the Migrant Support Centres, a number of libraries and community centres. Instruction manuals have been compiled  and made available for an easy and independent learning process.

Compilation of documents for learning

In order to empower an independent learning process the language support programme has produced a series of documents, booklets and glossaries which is made available to all learners of English.
 
The ongoing work has produced so far:
 - An English Grammar  in Portuguese
 - Basic phrases in English for Lithuanian speakers
 - Tagalog English / English Tagalog Dictionary
 - Tetum English / English Tetum dictionary
 - Indonesian English / English Indonesian
 - Basic phrases Indonesian / English
 
An important tool created has been the listing of sources available on the Internet for  learners of English in Polish, Russian, Portuguese etc. These lists are made available to individuals and learners in English classes but also in IT rooms of libraries across Northern Ireland which are a vital centre of culture and learning for migrants.
 
To find out more about training for speakers of other languages and our language support programme - contact Emma Abernethy emma@stepni.org or call 028 87750 211.