POLICE ESOL Cover - Cities of Migration

IntroductionThese materials were developed as part of a course stimulated by a request from the South WalesConstabulary to visit ESOL classes with a view to improving relations with asylum seekers in Cardiff.Teachers at The Parade ESOL Service welcomed the idea but felt that in order to make the visit successful:• Students should be taught some police-specific English language. This should help improvecommunication between the students and the police officer.• Students should learn about the role of the police in UK society. This would help to raise theirconfidence in the police and should overcome any fears they have.By helping students develop the language needed to establish a dialogue with the visiting police officer, theteachers hoped to empower them to follow their own agenda rather than that of the ESOL staff or the visitor.At that time the police were concerned to establish a dialogue to deal with four main issues:• Leaving children alone at home or in parks, sometimes under the supervision of other slightly olderchildren.• Domestic violence.• Driving without documents.• Racial harassment.IssuesA number of issues would need to be addressed before proceeding with the project.Teacher resistanceInitially the ESOL teachers were reluctant because they felt that ‘controversial’ issues concerning culturaldifferences should be avoided at all costs. For instance, parents do their best for their children accordingto their own cultural norms. They may be accustomed to neighbours watching out for children, who roamat will, and be unaware of potential risks. Knowledge of UK culture and society would allow them to adaptaccordingly.Lack of appropriate ESOL materialThe absence of appropriate material was an obvious problem. To rectify this material was produced incollaboration with the police. This presented a good opportunity for specialist input to ensure accuracy ofcontent in terms of terminology and information, for example the likely punishment for a specific crime.The material produced forms the basis of this book.5