Keep our English Classes (ESOL)

Wellington City Council have decided to stop funding the ESOL classes at Aro Valley Community Centre 2018 and we need your help!

We run a FREE English as a second language class to all people and are the only group in Wellington providing one regardless of VISA status.

There are currently over 30 participants who attend classes three times a week. The classes are predominantly women who gain confidence and proficiency in English, often leading to work.

There is a highly skilled and dedicated teacher who challenges the students and teaches NZ culture and empowerment through her lessons.

The classes encourage immigrants and refugees to make friends in our community and promotes diversity and acceptance of all cultures.

This class has been running for decades and it needs your help to continue while further funding options are identified.

Thanks for supporting this awesome little community!

You're making a difference in your community.

From a current student:

July the 22nd. It was my 81st day in New Zealand. At that time, I worked all week as usual. Although I came to New Zealand so as to learn English and experience Middle Earth from the Lord of the Rings, I could not afford to go to an English institute or travel any places because I had to work and earn money for living expenses and the remaining student loans in Korea. The tuition fee was very expensive; I could not make any local friends—probably because of lack of self-confidence from the fact that I could not speak English fluently; and some of free English lessons that several institutions offered were all for only permanent residents or citizens. Real life was so different from what I imagined and dreamt that I was totally depressed and discouraged. I doubted myself and thought about going back to Korea. My life was no more than monotonous and gray days. Then, at the Wellington City Library, I saw a booklet about ESOL class at Aro Valley Community Centre. That night I lay awake for hours thinking about my objectives of staying here.

The next morning, July the 23rd, I attended the class for the first time and met a nice teacher and classmates who were come from diverse countries. All of them welcomed me with beaming smiles. I was warmly received in the class. I learned different cultures and thoughts as well as new expressions, grammar, speaking and listening through two sessions a week. The class became my own joy and made me feel alive. I am quite sure of other classmates feeling the same as mine.

This class might be deemed small or nothing for others, but it has offered a huge delight of learning, courage to live in unfamiliar place, and opportunity to start their lives over, accepting anyone regardless of age, nationality, ethnicity, or how rich they are. I will really appreciate it if we can continue our sessions in the next term.