Basic
Education in Community Languages
The Language Scheme
Bolton Royd Adult Education Centre
Bradford College
Manningham Lane
Bradford West Yorkshire BD8 7BB
Person in charge of project: Naeema B Hann
Bradford College has been running an ESOL Programme for twenty-five years, which has an annual turnover of 2,000 students. However, it was found that some female students found it hard to access or progress, due to low levels of literacy in their spoken language. The college also runs the only Access to Bilingual Employment (ABLE) programme in the United Kingdom, with its own tailor-made accreditation.
The objectives of the project are to provide access to ESOL for adults who are not literate, or have inadequate literacy, in their spoken language; to provide support in Asian languages, at Pre-entry and Entry levels, for accredited bilingual courses; and to meet the demands of the local community.
Judges' comments
The panel was impressed by the inclusive approach of this project towards languages and language learning, linking competence in the mother tongue to competence in English. The project offers, through language learning, a first step into the 'learning society' referred to in the European White Paper.
The staff manage
to provide many unquantifiable opportunities for building confidence and
self esteem in the students. They have produced many excellent materials
in a field where suitable materials are very scarce, if not totally missing.
Documentation and success criteria are rigorous and professional.
