New Career Opportunities: ESOL Q&A with Oleksandra Vulchyn

I came to the UK three years ago. I have two sons aged 9 and 13.

When I first arrived in the UK, I could not speak English and found it very difficult to communicate in everyday situations. For example, I could not understand people in shops, at schools or on public transport. I also found it difficult to complete official forms and documents by myself. Fortunately, my older son had a good level of English and he helped me understand many things and communicate when it was necessary.

I clearly understood that learning English was essential for my life in the UK and for finding a job. That is why I decided to study an ESOL course at Stafford College. I wanted to communicate with local people in my community, help my children with their homework and find a job.

In the Ukraine, I worked in the insurance industry for 19 years, mainly in underwriting, risk assessment and re-insurance and I wanted to get back into a similar position here, but once my English was stronger.

I was really looking forward to my first day at college. I felt excited and a little nervous, but mostly happy to start something new. I really like the college building as it is modern and comfortable. The admin staff were very welcoming and friendly and they helped all of the ESOL students with everything and guided us around college. I enjoyed seeing the library for the first time where students can study, read books and prepare for their lessons in a quiet and comfortable place.

My tutor is wonderful, very intelligent, patient and supportive. She helps all students and always explains things clearly. Her lessons are very interesting and engaging, so it is easier to learn English. She encourages us to speak more, practice new words and improve our grammar. Thanks to her support, I feel more confident when I use English.

I have met many new friends from different countries while studying at NSCG. It is very interesting to learn about different cultures and experiences. I have also found a few good friends here and our group is very friendly and cheerful. We enjoy spending time together,

My journey to finding a job in the UK has been quite challenging and it took some time as my English was quite limited. I now have better English skills and I have now got a job at Staffordshire County Council in the Insurance Services Team which has given me the opportunity to apply my previous experience while gaining the experience with a UK employer.

Yes I would. I believe that with motivations and practice, anyone can achieve good results.