For students learning English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), college is about more than developing language skills. It’s about building confidence, meeting new people, discovering new interests and feeling part of the community around them.
That’s exactly what a group of ESOL students from EKC Folkestone College have been experiencing through a series of artistic workshops with Creative Folkestone.
The partnership began after ESOL tutor Tetiana Ostapchuk took her students on a Folkestone Triennial Walk in September. Inspired by the artwork they discovered around the town, Tatiana wanted to give her students more opportunities to explore creativity while connecting with their local community.
“I absolutely loved the artwork around the town,” Tetiana explains. “Since then, I tried to get in touch with Creative Folkestone to start a sort of cooperation.
“Tania (the Learning Officer at Creative Folkestone) was so kind that she visited us, we brainstormed and came up with several ideas, and this is one of the results of that meeting.”
Learning beyond the classroom
The students have now taken part in two workshops at Creative Folkestone, with the first session focusing on brainstorming and developing ideas through mood boards and drawings.
During their latest session, students explored drawing, painting and printmaking, creating their own artwork inspired by subjects and objects that interested them.
For some students, it was their first experience of printmaking.
“I’ve been doing Art, and this is new for us,” said ESOL student Tsegawbeza Gebrekirstos.
“We’ve been learning how to draw and how to paint. I’ve never done printmaking before, this is the first time.”
For fellow student Karim Mahmoud, the opportunity to get creative was a chance to combine his love of art with another interest.
“I did a picture of Big Ben,” he said.
“I like London. I like the colours.”
The finished artwork is an important part of the experience, but the benefits of the workshops extend far beyond what students create on the page.
Building English skills, confidence and friendships
For ESOL students, opportunities to practise English in real-world situations can be just as valuable as classroom learning.
During the workshops, students listen to instructions, ask questions, discuss their ideas and work alongside classmates from different countries and backgrounds, which gives them a natural opportunity to communicate in English.
Tetiana explains: “They improve their English language comprehension because they listen to the explanations and instructions, how to do something, and then team-building skills as well, because they have to work together and communicate.”
With students coming from a range of countries and backgrounds, English can often be the common language that allows them to connect with one another.
“This is such a perfect space where they can speak freely and enjoy,” Tetiana adds.
The sessions are also helping students develop confidence in trying something new.
Tania McCormack, Learning Officer at Creative Folkestone, has seen this first-hand.
“I always think it gives them the space to be creative,” she says.
“I think they’ve all gained confidence through this session.”
She was particularly impressed by how engaged the students were, adding that there were “a lot of smiles” and “a lot of great work” throughout the workshop.
There was also a real sense of pride as students photographed and filmed their finished work displayed around the space.
“It’s lovely the students are videoing and filming their own work,” Tania says.
“There’s obviously a pride in seeing their work up on the wall.”
Connecting with the Folkestone community
Experiences like this also give students the opportunity to discover more about the place they are studying in and how they can become part of the wider community.
Creative Folkestone is a charity organisation, which has given Tetiana the opportunity to introduce her students to conversations around volunteering, charities and the different ways people can contribute to their local community.
“It’s a way to show them how to fit into this community as well,” Tetiana explains.
“We have been speaking a lot about charities, volunteering and different ways they can contribute and pay back to society and to the community.”
For students who may be new to Folkestone, these experiences can be an important way of getting to know the area, meeting people and discovering opportunities beyond college.
More creative opportunities ahead
The workshops are currently being run as a pilot, but there are plans to build on the partnership next term with a longer four-session project.
Tania hopes the students will be able to explore different creative processes, including printmaking, portraits and storytelling, with the exciting possibility of bringing their work together into a book at the end of the project.
It’s another example of how studying at EKC Folkestone College can provide opportunities to learn outside the traditional classroom, helping students develop skills, confidence and experiences that support them both in their education and beyond.
Most importantly, the students are enjoying themselves along the way.
“I am quite artistic. I like art,” Tsegawbeza says.
“The most is painting. I have loved it.”
Karim agrees: “Everything is good here. I love the people here at College, I love my friends and my teacher.”
For ESOL students, experiences like these aren’t simply an opportunity to try something new. They are a chance to express themselves, practise their English, build confidence, make connections and become part of the community they are now calling home.
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