Improve your English skills with free Talk English courses

Taught by experienced and qualified tutors, and supported by trained volunteers, members of the Rochdale community can learn English through free online courses, provided via Zoom.

Talk English is a Rochdale Council run initiative under the Work and Skills Team in Economic Affairs, and funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which supports people with little or no English to improve their English language acquisition and support integration.

A course for beginners, the Talk English sessions aim to improve your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and lessons are arranged after an assessment with each applicant.

Since 2015, volunteers have engaged a total of 2,552 learners at classes, plus 30 learners online via Zoom during lockdown (from April to July 2020).

Talk English has also delivered 236 classes and provided one-to-one support for 197 learners; at least half of these learners have benefited from a variety of innovative activities.

The project attracts volunteers from all different backgrounds and, as a result of volunteering, some of them have moved into paid employment as tutors. Some learners have also become volunteers on the project with many progressing onto further training and employment.

Saira Banu, Talk English Project Coordinator, said: “We have trained and supported over 300 volunteers to deliver these courses and, last year alone, 29 volunteers have gained a teaching qualification and 12 have gained employment as a teacher.

“If you live in Rochdale and want to learn basic English, we are here to help. We run free courses for beginners to help you master speaking, listening, reading, and writing and we also run Talk English activities to help you meet new people.”

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for a thriving economy at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Our Talk English team do a wonderful job and despite the challenges presented by Covid, they haven’t skipped a beat, continuing to deliver this important service for our residents.

“These fantastic sessions provide students with an opportunity to engage with the wider community, as well as upskilling them so they have better access to vital training and jobs.”

If you want to join a class or are interested in volunteering to teach English, contact the following:

Saira Banu – Project Coordinator
Tel: 01706 925106
Email: saira.banu@rochdale.gov.uk

Ruhena Begum – Project Coordinator
Tel: 01706 925111
Email: ruhena.begum@rochdale.gov.uk

You can also send your name, address, and telephone number to the Talk English Facebook page.

For regular updates on Talk English classes: www.facebook.com/groups/RochdaleTalkEnglish