European Day of Languages: migrant and refugee English students celebrate importance of English language classes at City Hall
- ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) students from across London will attend a large, outdoor English class on European Day of Languages
- The class will be outside City Hall, because ESOL must be a key component of Sadiq Khan’s award winning ‘London is Open’ campaign.
Students and teachers from English for Action, an ESOL charity in London, have organised the event to demonstrate the importance of English classes for London. Attendees will participate in a large outdoor English class (over 100 students and children) with fun activities and banner making.
The event is one of the over 400 events that are taking place on European Day of Languages, a day celebrated across 45 participating countries involving millions of people.
Aims of the day are to promote lifelong language learning and linguistic diversity, something extremely relevant in London, a city where over 300 languages are spoken.
‘Access to English classes is vital for the city, it allows people to participate fully in London life. We want to work with the Mayor to make ESOL a key part of his ‘London is Open’ campaign.’
Jess Walker, ESOL teacher, English for Action
‘The ability to speak English is fundamental to participating to life in the UK and many of us need free ESOL classes because we don’t have the means to fund private lessons, so ESOL is the route to living a full dignified life here, allowing us to contribute to life in this city.
Jenny Nieto Navarro, Student, English for Action
Notes to Editors
Photo and interview opportunities will be available from 12.00 noon by City Hall, by Caffe Fratelli
For more information, and requests for interviews contact:
Jess Walker jess@efalondon.org/ 07546 253608/ English for Action
Background information about European Day of Languages
