ESOL Reading Group - Introduction���

 

Following on from the ESOL Reading Group set up at Manor House library earlier in the year, I have now set up another at the Brockley Rise Centre. The group was established on 20 November 2007. From a Library Service point of view it ties in with our commitments to the Skills for Life programme. The group will meet once a month to discuss books chosen from the �First Choice� and �Skills for Life� sections. Sufficient copies of the books are sourced by reservations from other branches. The first meeting will be held at the Brockley Rise Centre on the 15th January 2008 and the book under discussion will be �Before Night Falls� by Keith Gray.

 

Discussions are run along similar lines as any other adult reading group but as group members are learners of English, there are obviously extra challenges involved. The class tutor will be present and this will help students to develop confidence to express their views and opinions. It will also be my responsibility to nurture trust and confidence in the group by supporting and encouraging the students.

 

The group is comprised of 12 students from Africa, Asia and Europe.�

 

Since establishing the group at Manor House I have received a number of e-mails from other librarians throughout the UK who wanted advice on setting up ESOL Reading Groups of their own. The Manor House Reading Group also became a case study run by Yusuf Patel, SfL (Skills for Life) Development Worker, East London LSC Region. The results were circulated to heads of service in other London authorities.��

 

Feedback from students and tutors has been very encouraging. Students in the Manor House group have told me how the group has given them confidence to read more and also helped to overcome some reservations about discussing thoughts and opinions in a second language. The tutor at the Manor House group has also been hugely impressed with how the group has benefited students.�

 

I am currently setting up 3 more ESOL Reading Groups at the Kirkdale Centre in Sydenham. The Manor House Reading Group is being continued by staff at Blackheath Library. There are also plans to establish other groups by Lewisham librarians in other centres.�

 

 

 

 

����������������������� ����������������������� Ralph Winkler

����������������������� ����������������������� Librarian

����������������������� ����������������������� Lewisham Libraries

 

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