Glasgow ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Forum was created in 1998 by ESOL practitioners with the aim to identify and promote examples of good practice and to enable discussion and support for those working in the field. Glasgow ESOL Forum sees Scotland as a place where non-native English speakers have the language skills and confidence to live fulfilling lives.
Their small but expert team provide accessible and relevant ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learning opportunities for adults, supporting integration, employability and personal development, supporting ESOL practitioners and learners to have their views heard.
I was approached by their Volunteer Tutor Project manager in mid-2020 and commissioned to help collate several of their resource documents and case studies – which formerly existed in a variety of documents and file formats – and pull them altogether into a single, user-friendly document. We settled on an A4 landscape toolkit, to be used digitally primarily, but with the option to do a small print run in the future when Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and face-to-face meetings were able to recommence.
The aim of the toolkit was to present how volunteers make a huge contribution to people learning English in Scotland and beyond and celebrate how ESOL tutors use their skills to teach individuals or groups; support class teachers; help in conversation cafes and many other roles. The resulting Framework for Good Practice in Working with Volunteers in ESOL aids organisations to reflect on their practice to ensure a positive volunteering experience for learners, volunteers and projects.
The final 64 page document is now available as a free download via the Glasgow ESOL website, where more details of their fantastic work can also be found.
