This month, meet Sarah, an ESOL Conversation Club volunteer who supports adult learners from refugee backgrounds each week while training to become a teacher.
“I feel like I am making change in other people’s lives.”
“In one of our Conversation Club sessions, where adults practise their English, we were teaching body parts. One of our elderly students had been coming for a while but rarely spoke in English. Another student guessed the wrong word for chin. And then she spoke up and corrected them. That was really surprising for us. She knew the word all along, but she did not have the confidence before. That moment showed me that whatever we are doing, we are making progress slowly and gradually.
The aim of the session is to engage students in conversation and give them confidence to speak, even if their English is broken. Many of them arrive unsure of themselves. One student once told me she comes to class because here she can open up and she is not under pressure. That meant a lot to me.
I have been volunteering at KLS since January 2025. When I joined, I was studying towards my CELTA qualification. While volunteering, I completed my CELTA and progressed into a Certificate in Education and Training. This is my first long-term voluntary teaching role and I have really enjoyed it.
We have students from different countries and different levels of English. Many struggle with pronunciation, so I model words and ask them to repeat after me. I also introduced role play because students said they struggle to book GP appointments. I would be the receptionist and they would be the patient. First we model it, then they practise one-to-one. We received good feedback and they asked to continue with more situations, like speaking to their children’s teachers.
I added short listening clips at the end of sessions. Even if they do not understand everything, I can see small improvements.
When something I suggest works well, it makes me feel motivated. It gives me confidence to bring new ideas.
I come from a similar background to many of the students. I understand the struggle of adjusting to a new country and learning how things work. I feel like I am giving back to the community, and KLS is helping me to do that.
There are funny moments too. Sometimes students pronounce a word in a completely different way. It is not their fault, it is part of learning. I have to model it properly and stay encouraging so they do not feel embarrassed.
Volunteering here has helped me realise that teaching is something I really want to pursue. It has helped me gain skills and confidence, and it has helped me make an informed decision about my future.
This is a place where you can learn and teach at your own pace. You do not just give, you gain as well.”