adult learning news january 2011 - learnshetland.com

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AAdduulltt LLeeaarrnniinngg wwiisshheess aadduulltt lleeaarrnneerrss,, ttuuttoorrss aannddppaarrttnneerrss aa hhaappppyy aanndd ssuucccceessssffuull NNeeww YYeeaarr!!

2010 was a successful year for adult learners throughout Shetland with lots of challenge, achievement and enjoyment. Here’s a taste of last year’s work.

The ‘Learners Got Talent’ Conference was organised by learners from the North of Scotland and held in Nairn last year. It involved planning and leading workshops at the conference, which was attended by over 80 people. Five learners from Shetland were part of the organising group. As the icing on the cake, the project won Scotland’s LearningPartnership’s GGoooodd PPrraaccttiiccee AAwwaarrdd 22001100 fighting off tough competition from over 100 nominations to gain the award.

Shelley Hendren was part of the group presented with the “Good Practice” award by celebrity radio presenter, Grant Stott at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Shelley was also part of the Shetland group filming the conference. A report and DVD about the project have now been produced and distributed nationally to encourage learners to follow the North of Scotland’s lead.

Shelley said, “When I first came to Adult Learning I didn’t think that I would be helping to organise a conference, learning about filming or getting a national award in Edinburgh. The past year has been amazing! Coming to Adult Learning has made a big difference to my daughter and me. Now I can plan for the future.”

Life has changed for Shelley, a young mum, who was out of work and lacking confidence when she first came to Adult Learning to take part in an Employability course. Shelley now holds down a full time job and the future looks bright.

Adult Learning News January 2011

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LLLeeeaaarrrnnniiinnnggg EEEnnngggllliiissshhh isn’t easy, so making progress and gaining a certificate is a great reason for celebration. Over 80 learners from Shetland College and Adult Learning were presented with certificates by Convener Sandy Cluness to mark their achievements at a Celebration event in the Town Hall last November.

Pictured above from left are Vincenzo Ortisi, Britain’s most northerly ESOL Learner(whose tutor supports him through Skype), middle, the audience enjoys the event and on the right Workplace English learners.

.Workforce Development Award

Bobby Elphinstone and Drewie Manson from E & H Builders were presented with a Workforce Development Award in recognition of the support the firm has given its migrant workers to learn English over the past 2 years.

Below are a group of learners with tutors and the Director of Shetland College.


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English Family Learning

Learning about local culture and traditions are important for migrant families too. Adult Learning established a family learning group in 2010 because of the growing number of migrant families in Shetland. The group is mainly for under-fives and their parents and it meets every Tuesday afternoon at the Old Library Centre.

The group learns about local culture and traditions and parents take an active part in shaping the

programme. The group is pictured ‘at work’, and being visited by Santa.

Shetlanders, invited to the ESOL celebration, were delighted to see lots of young people and families. Parents received certificates for their achievements in English and it seemed right that children were also awarded certificates.

Here is one of the children from the family ESOL group being presented with her certificate (and advent calendar) by the College Director, George Smith.


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International Talent and Welcome PointThroughout the year we have created opportunities for people to share cultures and to get to know each other.

Welcome Point was established 2 years ago to help new migrants integrate into Shetland life. Staff help with paperwork, help people find out where to go for information and to brush up their English conversation. Welcome Point is open every Monday evening from 5 – 7 pm at the Old Library Centre (with breaks for school holidays).

The summer end of term party featured a play written and performed by ESOL learners. The comedy got loads of laughs. The group has gone on to produce a couple of short films and are planning on developing this work in the New Year.

The Christmas Party (right) featured songs in Thai, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, Polish and Hungarian. Tutors got involved by playing French bagpipes and banjo and singing karaoke. The evening was rounded off with ‘traditional’ Shetland games. Party-goers enjoyed lots of different national food supplied by learners. A memorable and international evening.

We are keen to nurture international talent and welcome the contribution that tutors who speak English as an additional language make to our programme. This year’s learners have benefited from language classes delivered by native speakers, from international cookery and international dance.

Let us know if you come from another country and could share your skills.


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Learners who gained SQACommunication, Numeracy and IT qualifications

Learners who gained Higher Geography and Philosophy qualifications

Learners who progressed to College courses and into work

English for Speakers of Other Languages learners awarded certificates to mark their achievements

The English ESOL class who wrote and performed a play and 2 films

Staff who gained post graduate qualifications in Adult Literacies and Community Learning and Development

The Options Group who helped organise a conference and gained a national award

Learners who now feel better prepared to help with their children’s homework

Shetland is that bit ‘smarter’ as a result of the knowledge and skills developed by adult learners over the past year. Here’s a sample of achievement from April – December 2010. Thanks to staff, tutors, partners and everyone who contributed to this success.

To learners who have achieved their goals including:


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Returning to Learn?Did you know that over 100 learners have now completed Return to Learn courses in preparation for undertaking SVQ qualifications? The course has had a powerful impact on many of the participants. Find out more on the www.learnshetland.com website.

Improving Information

Many people have commented favourably on the new website www.learnshetland.comlaunched to provide information about community based learning throughout Shetland. Since August, over 400 people have booked courses through the website. We hope that we can build on this in 2011. Paper-based information will also continue to be distributed.

Graduate Placement

As part of the SIC Graduate Placement Programme, Jenna Leask has been revamping information leaflets to make sure that agencies and learners have the information that they need to make choices about learning. Look out for them in the New Year.

Jenna is also surveying agencies to find out what they know about current provision and where the gaps in information are. Not everyone knows about the targeted work we do such as Literacies, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Return to Learn programmes, Employability programmes, Family Learning work etc.

We try to encourage folk who are least likely to sign up for classes by working closely with partner agencies. Learning can, and does, change lives. Taking first steps back into learning can be daunting, but there’s loads of evidence from Shetland learners that learning can make a positive difference. Find out more by requesting a copy of ‘Delivering Change through Learning’ an Adult Learning publication, featuring the impacts on individual lives (available on www.learnshetland.com).


http://www.learnshetland.com



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Learning can keep your mind and body active and can be very enjoyable. Here’s a list of new courses about to happen. Sign up on the website www.learnshetland.com or give us a call on 01595 743888.

What Where When Time CostDesign Development

Baltasound JH School

19 Jan for 8 weeks

6.30 – 9 pm £40

Stitchin Kitchen 2 Centre for Creative Industries, Sellafirth

20 Jan for 5 weeks

6.30 – 8.30 £20

British Sign Language forBeginners

Brae High School 19 Jan for 6 weeks

7 - 8.30 pm £18

Creative Writing Anderson High School

6 Jan for 8 weeks

6.30 – 8.30 £32

Traditional Dance Anderson High School

6 Jan for 10 weeks

7 – 9 pm £40

Computer, Internet and e mail

Library Learning Centre

18 Jan for 10 weeks

6.30 – 8.30 £40

Getting the most from Google

Library Learning Centre

19 Jan 6.30 – 9.30 £6

German Improvers Islesburgh Community centre

20 Jan for 8 weeks

10 – 12 noon

£32

Intro to Drawing and Painting

Old Library Centre 22 Jan for 6 weeks

2 – 4 pm £24 + materials

German for Beginners

Islesburgh Community Centre

24 Jan for 8 weeks

10 – 12 noon

£32

Intro to Singing and Song Writing

Anderson High School

1 Feb for 6 weeks

6.30 – 8 pm £18

Oral History –recording narratives

Anderson High School

1 Feb for 4 weeks

7.30 – 9 pm £16

Cubase Anderson High School

15 Feb for 4 weeks

7 – 9 pm £16

Shakespeare on Screen

Walls Hall 16 Janfor 4 weeks

4 – 8.30 pm £36

Make a booking through www.learnshetland.come mail. [email protected] Telephone 01595 743888Concessions apply




mailto:[email protected]

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Have A Happy New Year!

Kung hé fat tsoi (Cantonese) Z novym rokom (Ukrainian) Sawatdii pimaï (Thai) Szczęśliwego nowego roku (Polish) laimīgu Jauno gadu (Latvian) Felice anno nuovo, buon anno (Italian) Boldog új évet (Hungarian) Ein gutes neues Jahr (German) Subho nababarsho (Bengali)

Thanks to Learners who have given permission to

show their pictures Tutors for all their hard work and

enthusiasm Millgaet Media for allowing us to use

pictures taken at the ESOL celebration Scottish Government for financial support Everyone we have worked with

over the past year. We look forward to working with you in

2011.

MMaakkiinngg aa ddiiffffeerreennccee ttoo lleeaarrnneerrss’’ lliivveess iinn SShheettllaannddAdult Learning, Shetland Islands Council, Old Library Centre,Lower Hillhead, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 OEL Tel 01595 743888

For news and information about community based Adult Learning in Shetland log on to www.learnshetland.com


adult learning news january 2011 - learnshetland.com

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