ESOL Students Celebrate European Day of Languages at London City Hall

Over 60 West London College students visited London City Hall for the ESOL Day of Action on the European Day of Languages. The students, all studying English for Speakers of Other Languages courses, participated in the large outdoor action to celebrate the diversity of languages in London. 

With national cuts to ESOL funding, West London College students were part of a multilingual mingle with students from further education colleges across the capital, to encourage the London Mayor’s Office to increase the funding available for ESOL courses and to raise awareness of the importance of lifelong language learning, diversity and intercultural understanding.

One activity involved the students describing how they felt about their ESOL class in one adjective, they also wrote that word in their language and asked other students to do the same in theirs. Many students came back with words written in 19 languages, to demonstrate the diversity of the attendees.  

Nicci Golland, ESOL teacher at West London College, said: “Participating in this action has helped our students feel part of a wider ESOL community outside of West London College. Many of our students come from marginalised communities so it is vital that their voices are heard.”

The event, organised by English for Action on European Day of Languages, promoted lifelong language learning, linguistic diversity and intercultural understanding and highlighted the importance of access to English classes especially in London where over 300 languages are spoken.