On the Fast Track:  learner > volunteer > qualified ECE employee in 18 months.

Ardua came to Aotearoa New Zealand from Samoa in November 2015, with her husband and four children. Although Ardua was at a pre-intermediate level of English language use, her long term goal of studying Nursing or Early Childhood Education meant her Kiwi English and confidence using English needed development. As such, Taeaomanino Trust referred Ardua to English Language Partners in Porirua.

Over 6 months, Ardua worked very hard, attending 8 hours of English Language Groups per week and Work Talk for one month, whilst also befriending our team of staff and other learners so

as to practise her English. Aruda also volunteering in our ESOL Literacy Mums n Tots class, helping the Playgroup Assistant, and the mothers and children from Syria, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand absolutely adored Ardua with her gentle and kind nature.

With all of this immersion in English, Ardua progressed rapidly to an upper intermediate level, and her confidence using English with others soared.  From this position, Ardua was accepted onto the Open Polytechnics National Certificate in Early Childhood Education & Care being run through Whanau Manaaki Kindergartens in Porirua. Ardua graduated with flying colours in June 2017, and began working from home.

At the beginning of 2018, when we needed to employ a new Playgroup Assistant, Ardua was offered the position and accepted it. Our staff, learners and their children have been delighted to have Ardua back, with the mothers relaxing and learning more English due to knowing their children are fine in the background. Ardua offers a very professional service, assisting mothers in looking after their children, and providing those children with safe and educational activities appropriate for their age.

In early 2018, we nominated Ardua for a Volunteer Connect Award in recognition of her being a migrant that had volunteered in the community for some time, and also in how she utilised that volunteer work as a platform for further education and employment in the field of her dreams. Ardua is pictured here after having received her award.

Interested in learning English with English Language Partners? Get in touch with your nearest centre today!