the belfast programme

ArthurMcKeown2015

Welcome to this presentation about the BELFAST Programme. My name is Arthur McKeown. I work as a Volunteer at the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre.In the next 30 minutes I want to provide some information about the programme we have developed to help Build English Language For A Successful Transition – the BELFAST Programme for adult foreign nationals - and how it can help them to move into employability: jobs, better jobs and promotion in the workplace.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

A starting point:All organisations, regardless of the sector within which they carry out their activities, need to be aware of changes going on in the wider environment.Consider how Kodak, long established as a leader in photography, failed to notice the Fujitsu’s development of digital cameras; this failure had a catastrophic effect on their business.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

Consideralsohowtheflagflyingairlines-AIitalia,BriFshAirways,LuGhansa–havebeenchallengedbythearrivaloflow-costairlinessuchasRyanairandeasyJet,whoprovideano-frillsserviceatverycompeFFveprices.

SotootherearedisrupFonsandchangestakingplaceintheworldoflanguageteaching.

InthispresentaFonIwanttoidenFfysomeofthechanges,innovaFonsandopportuniFesthatareemergingintheworldofEnglishlanguageteachingandhowthesecanhelpustoprovideaninnovaFvebusinessmodeltohelpforeignnaFonalswhoneedEnglishlanguageskillsfortheiremployabilityinIreland.

WhatisdescribedhereisnotatradiFonallanguageschool;rather,itisaninnovaFvebusinessmodelthathelpsmatureadultswhoareready,willingandabletotakeconsiderableresponsibilityfortheirownautonomouslearningtomakeuseofPersonalLearningPlans,meetupsandresourcesprovidedinaSACboxsothattheycanbecomemoresuccessfulwhenusingEnglish-andsoarebeTerabletoentertheworkforce.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

IusethisslidetoprovideanintroducFontowhatfollows.MyaimistodescribeandthendebateanddiscussamodelthathasprovedtobesuccessfulinhelpingtoenhanceemployabilityintheBelfastarea,basedonworkpreviouslydoneinCountyCavan.IwanttodescribetheBELFASTProgramme,whereitisatpresentandsomeopFonsweareidenFfyingforfurtherdevelopment.BytheFmeyouhavelistenedtothispresentaFon,Ihopeyouwillbeabletomakeawell-informeddecisionaboutopFonsthatareappropriateforaddressingissuesinhelpingforeignnaFonalsinyourareatoacquiretheEnglishlanguageskillsthatwillimprovetheiremployability.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

InthenextcoupleofslidesIwanttodescribewheretheideafortheBELFASTProgrammeoriginated.

OneeveningsomemonthsagoInoFcedthissignoutsideachurchontheWoodstockRoadinBelfast–freeEnglishclassesforanhourandahalfperweek.

SoonaGerwardsIbecameawarethatembraceni.orgprovidesaregularlyrefreshedlistofsimilarfreeEnglishclassesavailableinBelfastandbeyond.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

SoonaGerwards,inDublin,Isawthisdisplayofhighlyreputableself-studymaterialinEason,O’ConnellStreet.

ThesebooksarewriTenbyRaymondMurphyandhavebeenusedbylearnersofEnglishforoverthreedecades.

Theimportantfeatureisthattheyaredesignedforselfstudyandareavailableatelementary,intermediateandadvancedlevels–suitableforaverybroadrangeoflearnersofEnglishwhowanttocheckandimprovetheaccuracyandfluencywithwhichtheyuseimportantareasofEnglishgrammar.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

NowIwanttogoonetodealwiththenatureoftheneedforEnglishlanguageamongforeignnaFonalsinlocalcommuniFesinIreland.IalsowanttosayaliTlebitaboutmyownstoryandthecontribuFonthatIthinkIcanmakeinthisarea,describingsomeoftheprojectsinwhichIhavebeeninvolvedinthepast.Iwanttotellyouabouttheformat,contentandprocessesbeingusedinthecurrentdeliveryoftheBelfastprogramme.AmajorpartofthispresentaFonrecognisesthevalueofcontribuFonsmadebyarangeofdifferentvolunteers,whobringnotonlyteachingandfacilitaFonskillsbutalsoawiderangeofotherqualificaFons,networksandexperiencethathasprovedtobeinvaluableasweworktogethertodeviseanddeveloptheelementsintheBELFASTProgramme.InthefinalsecFonIwanttoopenuptheFmewespendtogetherforsomediscussionandacFonplanningthatcanbeconsideredintheparFcularareaswhereindividualsworkandareabletoperceiveaneedforsomesortofversionofthisBELFASTProgramme.Myfinalpointhereisthatanythingweconsiderneedstobesimpleandsufficientforitspurpose,andwemustbewaryofoverengineeringanysoluFonsthatmayemerge.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

InthenextthreeslidesIwillsaysomethingabouttheperceivedneedsofmigrantsandforeignnaFonals,referringbrieflytoathinktankreportfromayearagoandamorerecentarFcleinTheEconomistmagazine.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

ThedemographicprofileofthepeopleofIrelandhaschangedalotinthelastdecadeandahalf.IrelandisnowhomeforpeoplelikeAnnafromLithuania,wholivesinCavantown,andMaryMafromChinawhorunsherownshopinBallyamesduff.Morerecently,peoplefromSomalia,SudanandelsewhereinAfricaandAsiahavecometoIreland.Noneofthesepeopleishereforanextendedholiday;theywanttomakeasuccessfultransiFonforthemselvesandtheirfamilieshereinIreland.InresponsetothechallengesandopportuniFespresented,wehavedevelopedtheBELFASTProgramme–BuildingEnglishLanguageForASuccessfulTransiFon.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

InAugust2014,whilewatchingtheBBCNewsnightprogramme,IbecameawareofathinktankdocumentproducedbyDemos.ItprovidedareviewofpolicyrelaFngtotheprovisionofEnglishforSpeakersofOtherLanguages(ESOL)andthepotenFalimpactofasignificantreducFoninfundinginEnglandtoprovidelanguageprogrammesandcoursesformigrants.ThethreekeypointsfromthisdocumentthathadanimpactonourthinkingasweseektodeveloptheBELFASTProgrammeare:•  ImprovingcommunicaFonskillsinEnglishcanhelptounlockmigrantcapability,so

thattheycanentertheworkforce,paytaxesandcontributemoretotheirlocalcommunityastheyarebeTerabletomakeuseofqualificaFons,skills,knowledge,experienceandcontactsthattheyhave.

•  ImprovedcommunicaFonskillsinEnglishcanalsohelptoincreasesocialcohesion

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TheBELFASTProgramme

TheEconomistmagazineinlateAugust2015describedsomeoftheharrowingexperiencesmigrantswerehavingastheysoughttocrosstheMediterraneanandgetintoEurope.ThemagazinecommendedtheideathatEuropeshouldbemorewelcoming,ontheunderstandingthatinslowFmemanyoftheindividualswouldbeabletoentertheworkforceandgraduallyintegratewiththelocalcommuniFeswheretheyseTled.SuchapolicywouldhaveconsiderablebenefitforthelocaleconomiesthatwereabletointegratesuchpeopleintotheircommuniFes.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

InowwanttosaysomethingbrieflyaboutmyownbackgroundinTEFLTeachingEnglishasaForeignLanguage,toexplainsomeoftheperspecFvesandprocessesbeingadoptedintheBELFASTProgramme,andaboutotherassetsthathaveledtothevolunteeringworkbeingdonebymyselfandothersattheBelfastUnemployedResourceCentre.TheimagehereisofsomeoftheladieswhoaTendedBeginnerEnglishlanguageclassesintheschoolIwasdirectorinTripoli,Libyaforfouryearsfrom1979to1983.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

TheBELFASTProgramme

ArthurMcKeown2015

Iusethisslidetosummarisethe15yearsIspentinteachingEnglishasaforeignlanguage.

IworkedfortwoyearsteachingpharmaceuFcalEnglishinSweden;IworkedforthreeyearswithfiremeninKuwait;andIwasforfouryearsdirectorofalargelanguageschoolinTripoli,Libya.

SincereturningtoBelfastin1990withmyfamilyIhavehadconsiderableexperience,workingfortheOpenUniversityandtheUniversityofUlster,inteachingnaFvespeakermanagersandaspiringmanagersonarangeofprogrammesfromcerFficatetoMasterslevel,withparFcipantsfromsmall,mediumandlargeorganisaFonsintheprivate,publicandnot-for-profitsectors.

IalsohavehadaconsiderableamountofinterestintheuseofonlineresourcestocomplementteachinginwhichIhavebeeninvolved.InthelastcoupleofyearsIhavemadeeffecFveuseofsomeMOOCs–massiveopenonlinecourses-thatareavailableforfreefromsomeofthemostpresFgiousuniversiFesandcollegesaroundtheworld.

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MyparFcularinterestinrecentyearshasbeenthevocabularyofdifferentareasofmanagement,leadingtothepublicaFonofProfessionalEnglishinUseManagementwhichIco-authoredwithRosWright.

AllofthishashadabeneficialeffectonthedevelopmentofresourcesthatcanbeconsideredforuseinvariouselementsoftheBELFASTProgramme.

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In2014ImetTimO’Malley,whowasworkingattheBelfastUnemployedResourceCentre.HewasastudentinoneoftheprogrammestowhichIcontributedintheUniversityofUlster.Iusedasacasestudy,andexemplarforthemoduleassignment,examplesdrawnfromworkIwasdoingfortheUniversityinprovidingEnglishforEmployabilityinCavan.TimandafewofhisstudybuddiesgangeduponmeaGertheclasstochallengemewiththeopportunityofpracFsingwhatIhadbeenpreaching.TheyaskedifImightbewillingandabletoprovideasimilarEnglishforEmployabilityopFonclosertohomeiftheycouldidenFfyagroupofpotenFalparFcipantsandanynecessaryresourcesinBelfast.Iacceptedthechallengewithenthusiasm,gotsomesupportandendorsementfrommylinemanagertorunapilotinDonegallStreet–andtheBELFASTProgrammewasofftoaflyingstart!

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TheBELFASTProgramme

ThenextthreeslidesgiveaflavourofsomeofthedevelopmentsintheBELFASTProgrammeandwheretheremaybeopportuniFesforfurtherwork.MuchofwhathasbeendoneisrootedintheteachingIhadbeendoingintheUniversityofUlsterand,inparFcular,inmyinterestindigitaldisrupFon–howtheInternet,socialmediaandtherangeoftoolsavailableonlinecanreconfigurethewaysinwhichdifferentorganisaFonsrespondtotheneedsoftheircustomersandotherstakeholders.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

Aboutfiveyearsago,aspartoftheporkolioofcoursesinwhichIwasinvolvedfortheUniversityofUlster,IcontributedtoacerFficateinmanagementpracFce,mainlyformanagersintheconstrucFonindustry.DympnaMcCarron,thenmanageroftheCavanInnovaFonandTechnologyCentre,gottoknowaboutmybackgroundinEnglishlanguageteachingandduringoneofmyvisitstoCavanaskedifwemightbeabletodoanythingfortheforeignnaFonalsinandaroundthetown.Thisledtotheprovision,sixFmesoverthenextfewyears,oftheCambridgeBusinessEnglishCerFficate.ParFcipantscamefrommanydifferentcountries:forexample,PaulafromBrazilgotajobandnowasupervisoryjobatthesandpaperfactoryinCootehill;GosiafromPolandIsworkingattheSlieveRussellHotelinBallyconnell;AlexfromLithuaniaisworkinginAldiontheDublinRoad;andEwa,alsofromPoland,hashadpromoFoninherworkinrecepFonattheRadissonBluHoteljustoutsidethetown.TheUniversityofUlsterhashadthebenefitofsuchprogrammesasaresultofthe‘pipeline’created,wherebysomeparFcipantsintheEnglishforEmployabilityprogrammehavethengoneontocompletesuccessfullytheCerFficateinManagementPracFceandtheAdvancedDiplomainManagementPracFce;andthereisasubstanFalgroupnowseekingtoenrolfortheBScinManagementPracFceofferedbytheUniversity.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

WhatwearedoinginBelfastissomewhatdifferentfromwhatwasprovidedinCountyCavan:•  WeareprovidingaseparateprogrammeforBeginnersandAblsoluteBeginners

•  WearenotpreparingparFcipantsforanyformofexaminaFon*Whatweofferisnotaccredited–thoughthisisofcourseemergingasanimportantopFonasweseektoconsolidatewhathasbeendonesofarandconsiderhowwemaybeabletoprovidea‘pipeline’intovocaFonaltrainingandcoursesin

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TheBELFASTProgramme

OpportuniFesarealsoemergingtodisseminatethepracFcesfollowedinthedeliveryoftheBELFASTProgrammeinotherplaces.Forexample,asimilargroupisnowrunninginMagherafelt.AndthroughcontactsofvariousVolunteerstheremaybeopportuniFesinthenearfuturetostartgroupsinBallymenaandEnniskillen.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

InthenextsecFonIwanttogoontodescribeinmoredetailthethreeprincipalelementsprovidedbytheBELFASTProgramme:*WhatwearedoingtohelppeopletoimprovetheiraccuracyandfluencyinusingEnglishgrammarandvocabularyforgeneralpurposes*Whatwearedoingtohelppeoplewiththespecialistlanguage,especiallyvocabulary,thatrelatestojobsforwhichtheymaybeabletoapplyinpar=cularsectors:forexample,hospitality,construcFon,nursing.*WhatwearedoingtohelpforeignnaFonalsunderstandthejob-hun=ngprocessinBelfastandbeyond,sothattheyunderstandmediathroughwhichtheymayhearaboutavailablejobopportuniFes,requirementsforapplicaFonformsandCVandhowtheymightbestrespondtoquesFonstheyarelikelytobeaskedataninterview.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

WemakesubstanFaluseoftwoinstrumentsthatcanhelpindividualstoimprovetheirgrammarandvocabularyinEnglish.Essen&alGrammarinUsebyRaymondMurphyisavailableforautonomouslearningandselfstudy.InparFcular,itcontainsasubstanFalstudyguideasanappendix,whicheachindividualcanusetodiagnoseareasofweaknessintheirgrammarandthenmakeuseoftherelatedunitsinthebooktoreviseandpracFsethemostrelevantareasofgrammar.Booksinthisseriesarealsoavailableatintermediateandadvancedlevels.EnglishVocabularyinUsebyMichaelMcCarthyandFelicityO’Delladoptsasimilarapproachinhelpingindividualstoacquireandusevocabularyforarangeofgeneraltopics;forexample,thevocabularyneededtotalkaboutfood,fashionandarangeofdifferentsports.Again,booksinthisseriesarealsoavailableatintermediateandadvancedlevels.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

AsubstanFalcatalogueofaTracFveand‘Learnerfriendly’materialisavailabletohelpindividualswiththeparFcularlanguage,especiallyvocabulary,requiredfordifferentsectorsinwhichtheyaremaybeseekingemployment.Forexample,nursing,construcFonandengineering,hospitalityandtourism,bankingandfinance.AttheBelfastUnemployedResourceCentrewecansomeFmesidenFfyfacilitatorsandvolunteerswiththenecessaryskills,backgroundandcredibilitytohelpindividualforeignnaFonalsworkwithothersonsuchmaterial.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

ThethirdelementintheBELFASTProgrammeisthehelpthatcanbeprovidedforforeignnaFonalssothattheycanunderstandthejob-hunFngprocessinBelfast.Anyonegroupusingthismaterialmayincludeindividualswhoareseekingjobsindifferentsectorsoftheeconomy.Theymayneverthelessneedtobeawareofhowtheycanunderstandkeystagesinthejob-hunFngprocess.ThiscanprovideaconsiderableamountofmoFvaFonandpeersupport.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

ThenextthreeslidescommentontheprocessesusedinthedeliveryoftheBELFASTProgramme.*MeetupsareusedtoprovideopportuniFesforstructuredpracFceoforalEnglishandcanprovideaconsiderableamountofmoFvaFonasLearnersmakeprogressthroughthesystemtowardsemployability.*PersonalLearningPlansprovideeachindividual,abovethelevelofBeginner,withaprogrammeofworkforselfstudyandautonomouslearningforeachfourweeksandcanbeusedtomeasureprogress.*SACboxesareouraTemptatmakingEnglishlanguagelearningpracFcematerialavailableinconvenientlocaFonsforusebyparFcipantsontheBELFASTProgramme.

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Meetups,basedlooselyonthemodelatwww.meetup.com,areintendedtoprovideopportuniFesforindividualstopracFsethelisteningandspeakingskillstheyareacquiringandenhancingthroughtheprivatestudytheydoofEnglishgrammarandvocabulary,plusotherelementsidenFfiedintheirindividualPersonalLearningPlan.Eachmeetuplastsfortwohours,includinga10minutebreakinthemiddle:•  ThebriefWelcomesandintroduc=onsstageisintendedtoprovideacomfortableenvironment,

especiallyforanyindividualswhoareaTendingforthefirstFme.•  TheLanguagepointnormallytakesabout10minutesandisintendedtoprovideabriefexerciseto

refresh,revieworreviseanimportantareaingrammarorvocabulary;thisisoGenavaluablestarFngpointfornewVolunteerswhoareabletopracFseintroducingalanguagepointandhelpingLearnerstoimprovetheaccuracyandfluencywithwhichtheyuseitwhencommunicaFnginEnglish.

•  TalkAboutsareintendedtoprovideindividualswithopportuniFestospeakwithoneortwootherpeople(supported,wherenecessary,byoneofthevolunteerteachersorfacilitators)ongeneraltopicssuchasfootball,foodorfashion.SuchinteracFonslastforabout10minutes;aGer10minuteseachindividualchangestheirpartnerandtalksonadifferenttopictoadifferentperson.TopicshavebeenchosenthatareofinteresttoadultlearnersofEnglishand,wherepossible,mayoGenhavevalueinhelpingthemtounderstandhowtogetbenefitfromlivinginBelfast;forexample,guidanceongeqngthebestvalueoutofamobilephonecontract,openingabankaccount,dealingwithhousingorotheraccommodaFonissues.

•  TheBreakhasanimportantroletoplayinthesocialisingofthegroup.IndividualsareacFvelyencouragedtomakecontactwithpeopletheyhavenotmetbeforeandwithwhomtheydonotsharealanguageincommon,sothat,evenoveracupofcoffeeorsimilar,theyhavetocommunicateinEnglish.

•  TheSpecialInterestGroupsprovide45minutesoffocusondifferentareasoflanguage;forexample,agrammarclinic,aseriesofacFviFesonreadingskills,asessiononmakingeffecFveuseofappsandonlineresources.TheyarenormallyledbyVolunteerswithaparFcularinterestinthetopic.

•  TheConclusionisabriefsessioninwhichallthoseaTendingcometogetheragain.BeforepeopleleaveopportuniFesaretakentomakepeopleawareofforthcomingeventsinthewidercommunitythatmaybeofinteresttothem;forexample,eventsrelatedtoHallowe’en,thelocalChristmasmarketsorStPatrick’sDay.

EveryoneisencouragedtomakeuseofasimpleTakeAwaySheettorecordanynewlanguage,grammarpoints,expressionsorvocabularythattheyencounterduringthesession.

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PersonalLearningPlanslieattheheartofwhatisprovidedintheBELFASTProgramme.Eachindividual,assumingtheyarenotaBeginner(forwhichadifferentserviceisprovided),isgivenanopportunitytogetaplanofworkthatcanguidetheirselfstudyandautonomouslearningovereachfour-weekperiod.

•  Adiagnos=cgrammarandlanguagetestisusedtoprovideastarFngpoint,sothattheycanidenFfyareasofgrammarandvocabularyonwhichtheycanfocustheiraTenFonduringthefour-weekperiod.

•  IndiscussionwithasuitablyexperiencedVolunteer,acFviFesareidenFfiedthatcanhelpwiththedevelopmentofrelevantlanguageandcommunica=onskills.Forexample,podcastsandsimilarcanbeusedtoenhancelisteningskills;shortpassages,withrelevantrelatedexercisesandacFviFes,canbeusedtoenhancereadingskills;otherindividualsmaybeencouragedtocompleteaseriesofshortexercisesandacFviFestoenhancetheirabilitytouseamonolingualEnglishdicFonary(ratherthandependontheinstanttranslaFonfacilityavailableontheirmobiledevice).

•  Whereappropriate,somesectorspecificac=vi=escanbeusedtohelpanindividualacquirethelanguagethattheyneedtohaveiftheyaretogetajob,orbeTerjoborpromoFon,inthesectorwheretheywishtowork.

TheirPersonalLearningPlanisreviewedanddiscussedwitheachindividualLearnerbyasuitablyexperiencedVolunteerattheendofeachfourweekperiodandarevisedPlanforthenextfourweekperiodiscreated.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

ASACboxisacompendiumofresourcesforselfstudythatanindividualcanuseinalocalcoffeeshop,communitycentreorchurchhall.ItspurposeistoreduceordoawaywiththeneedforindividualLearnerstospendmoneyonexpensivebooksandrelatedresourcesastheyseektoimprovetheircommunicaFonskillsinEnglish.Typically,suchresourcesinclude:•  BooksforgrammarandvocabularypracFce•  ResourcesforthedevelopmentofdicFonaryskills•  AcFviFesandexercisesthatcanhelpindividualstodevelopreadingskills.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

TheBELFASTProgrammeencouragesLearnerstomakeappropriateuseofappsandonlineresourcesthatcanbeaccessedonamobiledeviceortelephone,generallyatnoorlowcost.

InformaFonandguidanceisgiventoidenFfyparFcularresourcesthatcanbeofvaluetodifferentlearnerswithdifferentneeds,sothateachindividualcangetthebenefitofresourcesthathaveinthepastonlybeenavailablethroughasophisFcatedlanguagelab.

InparFcular,wehavebeenabletomakeconsiderableuseofWhatsApptobuildavirtualcommunityofEnglishlanguagelearnersinBelfast.

WearealsoseekingtodomoretodevelopTwiTer,FacebookandsimilarresourcesforthebenefitofourLearners.

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ThelastmajorpartofmypresentaFondealswithhowwehavebeenabletoidenFfy,recruitandmanageateamofVolunteerswhocansupporttheworkdonethroughtheBELFASTProgramme.•  IwilldescribesomeoftheorganisaFonswithwhomwehavebeenabletodevelop

effecFveworkingrelaFonships.

•  IwillalsodescribethenatureofthecontribuFonsmadebyindividualvolunteersastheygrowinconfidencewithintheorganisaFon.

•  Finally,IwanttomakesomeobservaFonsonhowthisprocesshashelpedtobuildcapacitylocally,naFonallyandinternaFonallyasweseektogiveindividualVolunteersopportuniFestodevelop,bothasEnglishlanguageteachersandinotherareas.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

TheBELFASTProgrammehasdependedforitssuccesstodateontheenthusiasmandcommitmentofateamofVolunteerswhohavebeenabletocontributeinmanydifferentways.InternaFonalHouseBelfastandtheTEFLAcademyprovidedifferenttypesofiniFalteachertrainingforaspiringEnglishteachersinBelfast.WehavebeenabletoestablisheffecFveworkingrelaFonshipwithbothorganisaFons,sothatindividualswhocompletethetrainingcoursescangetfurtherpracFcalteachingexperiencebyvolunteeringwithusandcan,inthisway,becomepartofacommunityoflike-mindedindividualswhoshareaninterestintheTeachingofEnglishasaForeignLanguage.•  AGertheiniFalenquirybythepotenFalVolunteer,ashortbriefingisprovidedon

thenatureofouracFviFesandanopportunityistakentoidenFfyareasofparFcularinteresttoapotenFalVolunteer.

•  TheyareinvitedtoobservetheprocessesatworkatameetupandthenencouragedtoconsiderhowtheycancontributeelementsofaclassorSpecialInterestGroup.

•  AstheygrowinconfidencetheycanbeencouragedgivenopportuniFestotakeresponsibilityforresponsibilityforleadingagroup.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

VolunteerscanprovidesupportfortheBELFASTProgrammeinotherways,fromfacilitaFngmeetupsorthedeliveryofslotsofvariousduraFoninthedifferentgroups.Differentindividualsintherecentpasthavebeenabletocontribute:•  BrochuresandflyersthatcanbeusedtopromoteouracFviFes•  ManagementoftheuseoftheSACboxesinthelocalcommunity•  ThedevelopmentofourTwiTerpresenceandotherusesofsocialmedia,

especiallyhelpingustomakelinkswithotherFacebookcommuniFesinBelfastwhoshareourinterests.

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TheBELFASTProgramme

VolunteerswhohaveworkedontheBELFASTProgrammeinrecentmonthsarenowworkingfullyemployedasEnglishlanguageteachersonthreedifferentconFnents:

•  UrsulaisteachingBusinessEnglishinJapan

•  AaronisworkingatacommunitycollegeinSweden

•  StephenandJulieareworkinginalanguageschoolinMexico

•  Alan,AndrewandDanielareworkingatlanguageschoolsintodifferentpartsofSpain.

Wehopethatthismapwillgetpopulatedfurther,asmoreofourVolunteersseekandfindemploymentasEnglishlanguageteachersaroundtheworld.

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ThepurposeofthisslideistoprovideaparFcipaFveacFvityinwhichsmallgroupscanthinkabouthowanyofthelessonslearnedthroughthedesign,documentaFonanddeliveryoftheBELFASTProgrammetodatemightprovideabasisforusefulacFvityinotherareasofthecountry,especiallyacFonthatcanenhancetheemployabilityofforeignnaFonalswithwhomindividualsandorganisaFonscomeincontact.

•  WhatcanbeprovidedasemployabilityenhancingprogrammesandacFviFes?•  Howmighttheybefunded?•  Howmighttheybepromoted?•  WhatopFonsaretherefordelivery,eitherface-to-faceorenhancedbytheuseof

appropriatetechnology?•  WhoarelikelytobethebeneficiarygroupsandwhatcharacterisFcsdotheyhave?•  Whatisalreadyprovidedbylocalcolleges,privatelanguageschoolsorother

organisaFonsInthelocalarea?•  WhatcanbeidenFfiedastheuniquesellingpointthatwillaTractbothLearners

andVolunteerstogetinvolvedinanyservicesthatareprovided?•  ArethereanyspecificpointsforacFonthatcanbeidenFfiedandtaken?

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TheBELFASTProgramme

AsIseektomovetowardsaconclusion,ImenFonthatwehaveinplacedraGprocedurestodescribehowwedeliver•  Meetups•  SACboxes•  PersonalLearningPlans.

Thesecanbemadeavailableiftheyarelikelytobeofinterest.

•  WehavealsodevelopedacompendiumofAGENDASthatcanbeusedforuseinthemeetups;again,thesecanbemadeavailabletoanyonewhoisinterested.

Finally,ImenFonthatwedohaveourownacFonplanfordevelopment;butthisisveryflexibleandhastoaccommodateoccasionalopportuniFessuchasthatpresentedbythearrival,atshortnoFce,oftwoITVolunteersfromSienainItalywhocametoBelfastfor4weeksinJulyandcontributedtothedevelopmentofouruseofsocialmedia.

AspartofourownacFonplanfordevelopmentwewouldverymuchwelcomeanopportunitytoworkwithothergroupselsewhereinIrelandwhoshareourcommitmentandinterestinmakingadifferencetotheemployabilityofforeignnaFonals.

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AsIconclude,IchallengeyouwiththeopportunitytothinkabouthowtheBELFASTProgrammemaybeabletohelpyouwithanyopportuniFestoenhanceemployabilityinyourregion.

Thankyou.

AnyquesFons?

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TheBELFASTProgramme