Sharing interfaith perspectives in the ESOL classroom

This week is Interfaith Week, which focuses on fostering a better understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs, and recognising the contributions of everyone to our communities.

Blackburn-based Christian charity Re:Source shares their experience of running English classes for people who speak other first languages and bring their multi faith perspectives to the classroom.

Re:Source is one of the partners in the Council’s Learning English Together programme for ESOL learning (English for Speakers of Other Languages).

Funded through Blackburn with Darwen’s Our Community, Our Future social integration programme, Learning English Together co-ordinates the range of ESOL classes taking place in the borough – from formal classroom sessions to conversation clubs and social mixing activities with a language learning focus.

Sue Farinha is Re:Source’s ESOL project lead. She said:

We feel excited about the mixing of cultures that takes place, particularly in our international group. Diversity brings mutual respect and understanding as students learn about each other’s lives.

We recently had a visit from a local nurse who said how lovely it was to see that whatever the culture, we all share similar values, wanting the best for our families and connecting to the community.

ESOL learner Samira, who came to Blackburn from Azerbaijan, said:

I love our class and I love our students because each of us is different and it is very interesting to learn something about each culture, about each country. It’s very interesting for me.

Since the start of the Learning English Together programme in 2019, there’s been an increase in people registering for ESOL classes.

There are currently close to 1,000 students studying ESOL in Blackburn with Darwen, in classes delivered by the partners in the ESOL Hub – Re:Source, Blackburn with Darwen Adult Learning, Blackburn College, ARC, DARE and Al Hayat Languages.

Over 70 different ESOL classes running across the borough help people from other countries to improve their English language skills.

Re:Source’s Sue Farinha will give a presentation to the Our Community, Our Future board meeting this week, about their experiences of engaging with ethnic minority communities from a faith perspective.

Council Leader Coun Mohammed Khan CBE is the Chair of the Our Community, Our Future board. He commented:

Having poor or no English language skills can prevent people from making the most of everything that Blackburn with Darwen has to offer.

Helping residents to improve their English language skills is one of our social integration goals. Building people’s confidence to get involved in local life, by helping them develop the language skills to access healthcare, support their children’s education, find work and so on, can give people from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths more opportunities to mix – an important way to realise that, wherever we come from, we’re not so different after all.

To find out more about ESOL classes taking place in different venues across Blackburn with Darwen, visit the Learning English Together website – www.learnenglishbwd.org.uk.

Find out more about Interfaith Week activities at www.interfaithweek.org.