Eighteen college students have become the first teens in Lancashire to qualify as volunteer ESOL teachers as part of a nationwide language initiative.

The Nelson and Colne College students, all aged between 16 and 19, will teach conversational English to Muslim women in Pendle, Burnley and Accrington as part of the national Talk English project.

The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, helps improve community integration by helping those with poor English improve their language skills.

The newly qualified volunteers took a five-week course, and will now teach classes of up to 20 in size, joining around 30 others who are also currently teaching English in the region.

“It will be great experience,” said A-level student Morgan Hughes. “It’s nice to be able to teach something as simple as English and I think it will be incredibly humbling to watch people grow.”

Amanda Melton, the principal of NCC, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to go out into the real world, support people and help improve their English skills.

“Our students will become a lot more confident through this brilliant first chance to teach and it will be a really empowering experience for them.”

 

Main photo: Community service: Proud volunteers