Twice a week, a group of mostly retirees gathers at our Wellington Centre to learn English.

What brings them together is a shared goal: improving their English for everyday life—and staying connected.

Learning English for life and connection

This group is part of our English Language Groups (ELG) programme, which focuses on practical English for daily life and work. These classes support people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to settle, connect, and succeed in their communities. Learners help shape the content of each course, and our teachers tailor lessons to meet their needs—whether that’s improving pronunciation, building conversation skills, or navigating everyday situations.

Sakim and David are two of our regular learners. Sakim has been learning with us since 2016 and says the classes have made a real difference:

“ELP classes are very important for me, because after I have these classes, my English is better than before. I can make friends. I get special lessons about real-life situations like seeing the doctor and nurse, and I learn a lot from the teachers. I really like ELP and all the teachers are very kind and helpful. I'm very lucky that I have ELP classes.”

David agrees:

“I like these English courses because they have improved my English proficiency—both in listening and speaking. I think you're never too old to learn.”

More than just a class

Learners in this group come from Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Russia, Peru, Samoa, and Colombia. Their reasons for joining vary, but most are focused on building confidence and communication skills for everyday life—talking to doctors, understanding public services, or simply having conversations.

Jenny Truong teaches the class, and recent topics have included:

• Describing symptoms clearly when visiting a doctor or nurse.
• Discussing etiquette across cultures, which sparked lively and personal conversations.
• Using narrative language to talk about life experiences and share memories.

Morning tea is a highlight, and it’s not just about the biscuits. One learner regularly asks for help with his phone—so tech support has become part of the routine! It’s a great reminder of the many ways we support learners with digital literacy, even when it’s not on the lesson plan.

Combating isolation through learning

For many older migrants, social isolation can be a real challenge—especially when language barriers make it harder to connect with neighbours, access services, or join community activities. Our classes like this offer more than just language learning. They provide a warm, welcoming space to build friendships, share stories, and feel part of a community.

In 2024, we supported 1,194 learners over the age of 65, including 24 over the age of 85. Our oldest learner was 94 years old.

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