Teaching Migrants and Refugees bridge

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 27/04/2017 - 13:58

In my work as a volunteer with English Language Partners I have often thought how easy it should be to combine my skills and teach bridge to those who do not have English as their first language.
I am helping the Papatoetoe Bridge Club this year - and Ayako (from the Cambridge Club) and I were interviewed on Monday. The result is the article below which I hope you enjoy.

Teaching bridge to migrants and refugeesTeaching bridge to migrants and refugees

I have gone into the Cambridge and Papatoetoe English Language classes to teach students there minibridge and hope to go into the Nelson class next month. My goal is to set up a class for migrants and refugees at the Resettlement Centre out near Claudelands in Hamilton.

The students so far have been able to understand minibridge within 15 minutes, and often quicker than those with English as their native language! Ranging from a monk from Laos to Afghanistan, Chile, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Korea, Philippines and more ... they have all come together across a card table. The feeder language they need of, "Hello - how are you? How's your week been?" repeated around the room is exactly the practice they need to improve their language skills. Bridge clubs want new members - and all it takes is patience, kindness and gentle encouragement from existing members to welcome those without a strong command of English into our clubs. Such members bring many of our clubs great richness as we learn of different cultures and habits and faraway lands and it is one of the great joys of our game. It is not one-way - they may be learning English, but we are learning tolerance of other cultures and customs. If my project is successful, I hope to filter new members into the Hamilton Club at their Friday morning sessions. I know how friendly and approachable that group is and will look forward to seeing them extend the warm hand of friendship to some of our newest New Zealanders. If you would like to help with teaching at the Resettlement Centre and support this programme, please get in touch.