Elaine Williamson
I have worked in post-compulsory and adult education for just over twenty years, having returned as a mature student myself in my mid-twenties and having recognised at that point, the crucial role that access to education plays for adults by providing opportunities to many learners who may not have followed the traditional route.
I spent several years working as an academic librarian and following that, as a middle-manager, before undertaking teacher education with any ‘seriousness’ and making the decision to move into teaching full-time twelve years ago.
Initially I taught IT (in which I maintain a strong interest) followed by a brief spell in adult literacy, before finding what I believe to be my true vocation – teaching ESOL – about eight years ago. I am immensely passionate and proud of the professional work that ESOL educators do and their dedication to their learners. In England this year ESOL has faced the possibility – and in some cases the reality – of large cuts in funding to the sector which provides essential English language education of migrants. Having been
involved with the national Action for ESOL campaign which sought to reverse the government policies, I discovered that my eight years of teaching ESOL, somewhat shamefully, identified me as quite a ‘youngster’ amongst many who have dedicated a lifetime to defending the education and the rights of migrants in their new country of settlement – despite my age and my increasing number of grey hairs!
Having worked with Bev as a committee member for the last few years, I am looking forward with excitement to the new challenge of jointly co-ordinating the ESOL SIG with Caroline. Bev’s commitment and enthusiasm are an inspiration to both of us and I hope that Caroline and I will be able to build on all Bev’s hard work and achievements to date. Being based in England and Germany, I am sure we will offer quite different perspectives on ESOL education. However we are very aware that there is also much educational work of a similar nature that is happening globally; and as a committee we look forward to continuing to make further contact with SIG members internationally to share experiences about migrant language education, hear about good practice and very importantly, to celebrate and support the very valuable work that we all do!
I think that we are experiencing very interesting times in ESOL as governments respond with ongoing policy initiatives to increased and more diverse global migration, but also times where we as educators will see the richness and rewards of the varied nature of learners in our classrooms. There will also be some challenges for us around how we respond to the range of learner needs, interests and their everyday lives. I know as a SIG we will have much to discuss in the future and I look forward with excitement to working with and getting to know everyone in the IATEFL ESOL group.
Caroline Okerika
I began teaching ESOL in London some years ago and, like Elaine, I found it to be my true vocation in life. Whilst teaching I became particularly interested in teaching Citizenship and completed a master’s degree. In fact, I believe I was the first teacher in an FE college to obtain the DCSF Certificate of the Teaching of Citizenship.
I have also been involved as a committee member for some while now, albeit working behind the scenes, and I hope that I will be able to do justice to all the hard work that Bev has done.
I now work at an FE college in north Germany teaching ESOL. I suppose some would argue that teaching English to speakers of other languages in a foreign country is more like teaching EFL, but I would have to disagree as English is used as a second language here. For many learners in our college German is not their first language, so not only do learners need to learn German, they also need to learn English as well. In fact many companies based in Germany operate an English only policy in the workplace, so being able to speak English well is often crucial for a person’s career.
As Elaine has already mentioned there is much going on around the world in terms of ESOL teaching and it is with this in mind that we hope to broaden our SIG reach to incorporate the diversity of ESOL teachers and learners worldwide.
