Active Communities project brings sport to the ESOL classroom

Volunteers from Herts Welcomes Refugees deliver ESOL lessons in Dacorum and wanted to run some sessions where students learnt vocabulary related to sport and physical activity such as hit, bat, ball, kick, pass, dribble, throw and catch.

Once the group had grasped the basics, they were given the opportunity to use the equipment with each other, and were then tasked with practicing their numbers by counting up how many hits in each rally, and who could get the most!

Following the session, the equipment was taken to the nearest Contingency Hotel, where many of the group are based, so that they can access it away from the ESOL setting with their friends and family, enabling them to continue to practise their English whilst being active.

One of the Herts Welcomes Refugees volunteers commented:

“Being able to use the equipment alongside their learning was a fantastic way for the students to develop language skills, as having the physical resources together with the practical application is, in my opinion, the best way of learning…such a successful venture and I thank you so much for all your help - it makes so much difference.”