Welcoming migrants through conversational English
Certificates of achievement were recently presented to a group of English language learners at the SIPTU office in Galway.
Honorary President, Mary O’Sullivan, and Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, were guests at the event, held on 27th June, and both spoke about the union’s policy of welcoming and supporting refugees and people from all countries.
The gathering included learners, tutors, members of Galway District Council and SIPTU staff.
SIPTU welcomed members of the Ukrainian community in Galway along with their English language tutor, Olena Bratchenko, who also presented awards to her group of learners.
The union provides space in the Galway building for their weekly English language classes.
Conversational English classes have been running at the Galway SIPTU office since 2018 with the help of Fáilte Isteach, a community project that supports groups that provide such services across the country.
The Galway classes are attended by learners from all over the world and have been a great success. The aim of the classes is to make learners feel welcome here in Ireland through conversation in English and to empower them to communicate better in their workplaces and local communities.
Dorota Majcher, who is from Poland and works as a hospital cleaner, said: “I am very happy that I attended the classes. It helped me to improve my English. I speak more with my colleagues at work. I can send text messages and I understand more. It is great.”
Algerian, Mahmound Bouziane, who arrived in Galway only a few weeks ago, said: “I found everyone very friendly at the classes and I really appreciated my tutor’s patience.”
Olha Petrova fled the war in Ukraine along with her husband Oleksandr and has been living in Galway for over a year now.
She said: “I really enjoyed coming to the classes every Tuesday. I have made great friends from Ire- land, and I can practise English more. I am very grateful for that.”
The classes have been of great benefit not only for learners but also for their tutors.
SIPTU Organiser, Aneta Sobczak, is a co-ordinator and tutor for the classes. She said: “It is great opportunity for all of us — volunteers and learners alike — to get to know each other and hear our stories while learning and improving English.
“We learn about different cultures and talk about different topics, so it has been an amazing experience and I highly recommend it.”
It’s great to see their confidence growing and their vocabulary increasing week by week. Some of our learners have gone through a very difficult and challenging time in their lives.
We want them to feel welcome here and to use their new English language skills to connect with their neighbours, colleagues at work, and new friends within the Galway community.
President of Galway District Council, Pat Daly, who has been a volunteer tutor from the start, said he found the classes personally very rewarding.
“I have made great friends from Ukraine, Sudan and Spain and find the classes very enjoyable. I would encourage anyone who has a bit of free time to spare to participate.”
Free conversational English classes resume in September, 2023, and will take place every Tuesday during lunchtime and at 7.00 p.m.
