City of Glasgow College – External review 24 August 2012
Sector-leading practice
Languages Café
Through an imaginative and effective partnership with St Mungo Museum of
Religious Art and Life in Glasgow, the college is enhancing the experience of
learners studying on programmes in English for Speakers of other Languages
(ESOL). This has involved the development of a Languages Café hosted by the
museum, in which ESOL learners meet every month to enhance their English
language skills and socialise with each other.
The project began on an informal basis in 2009 when teaching staff worked with
ESOL learners on projects which aimed to help them understand Glasgow’s history
and culture. As a result of the discussions which took place within these projects,
teaching staff identified that vulnerable, often isolated learners benefited greatly from
opportunities to talk together and share experience.
Monthly Saturday coffee meetings in the museum café were initiated in March 2011.
They rapidly became a regular event which is proving very popular with ESOL
learners and increasingly, their families. The project has developed considerably
since then and sessions often involve music events or exercise classes. Museum
staff deliver cultural heritage learning and citizenship activities at each meeting for
adults and children which reflect well aspects of Curriculum for Excellence. As
participating numbers increase, learner suggestions have resulted in a range of other
activities being introduced. There is a strong sense of community and belonging
within the café, with noticeable benefits for learners in terms of language
development, confidence building and integration with city life.
With very effective support from teaching and museum staff, ESOL learners now
take an active role in managing certain aspects of the project such as planning and
promoting the events. Through their positive interaction with the museum, a few
learners are being trained to act as guides for Glasgow museums.