Bracknell primary school parents improve their English

Parents of children at Crown Wood Primary School in Bracknell have been improving their English by attending an English for Speakers of other languages (ESOL) course run by Bracknell & Wokingham College.

The course, at Crown Wood Primary School, is run at times and at a location that is convenient to parents who have English as a second language. It focuses on topics they might need in their everyday lives - learning about the school timetable and rules, parents' evening, calling the school about absences, filling in forms, preparing to work as well as general conversation.

Mina Chana, who has been an English & IT lecturer at Bracknell & Wokingham College for over eight years, runs the ESOL for parents course: “The course is designed specifically for parents of the school who want to improve their English. We want to help the parents to communicate better in society and give them the chance to be part of the community as well as improving their English in everyday life.”

Gabriela Blaton, a 31 year old parent originally from Romania, who now lives in Bracknell said: “I heard about the course through other parents at the school and thought why not. I wanted to improve my English and the course is really helping. I eventually want to go to university to study Environmental Physics but this course has been so good that I want to go back to Bracknell & Wokingham College after this course to do another English course.”