Community Learning – Conversation Club Volunteer
“I feel like I am making change in other people’s lives.”
In one of the Conversation Club sessions, where adults practise their English, the group was working on body parts. One elderly student had been coming for a while but rarely spoke in English. Another student guessed the wrong word for chin. She spoke up and corrected them. She knew the word all along – she just hadn’t had the confidence before.
Sarah has been volunteering at Katherine Low Settlement since January 2025. She joined while studying for her CELTA qualification and has since progressed into a Certificate in Education and Training. The Conversation Club is her first long-term voluntary teaching role.
The sessions focus on giving students confidence to speak, even if their English is unpolished. Many arrive unsure of themselves. One student told Sarah she comes because here she can open up without pressure.
Sarah introduced role play after students said they struggled to book GP appointments. She’d be the receptionist, they’d be the patient. They modelled it first, then practised one-to-one. It worked well enough that students asked to keep going – speaking to their children’s teachers, navigating other everyday situations.
She also added short listening clips at the end of sessions. Small additions, but she could see the difference.
“When something I suggest works well, it makes me feel motivated. It gives me confidence to bring new ideas.”
Sarah comes from a similar background to many of the students. She understands the adjustment of arriving in a new country and working out how things function. Volunteering has helped her see that teaching is what she wants to pursue.
“This is a place where you can learn and teach at your own pace. You do not just give, you gain as well.”