Speaking, Listening, Belonging

Learning a second language presents a challenge for anyone. That challenge is even greater for learners whose native alphabets bear no resemblance to the Roman alphabet. The Roman alphabet is the foundation of English, Welsh, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. But not Mandarin, Korean, Japanese or Arabic. Arabic speakers learning English must navigate not only a new alphabet but a writing system that needs to be read from right to left. Asylum seekers and refugees who make this country their home and set out to absorb its language and culture deserve our respect. 

They also deserve our support, and with the UiD Speaking and Listening Project, they’re getting it. 

The UK Home Office has confirmed that a Secure English Language Test (SELT) must be passed at level B1 for migrants seeking settlement, citizenship or specific visas such as Health & Care Worker or Skilled Worker visas. SELT B1 is a practical speaking and listening exam. It puts people in real-world situations, asks them to interact in interview-style conversations and demonstrate their understanding of the everyday language and culture of the place they’ve made their home. 

From this Spring, Unity in Diversity is supporting asylum seekers and refugees wishing to pass SELT B1 by: 

1. Offering free tuition specifically geared towards the exam

2. Sharing free practice materials and sample exam tests 

3. Paying the exam fee

This project is made possible by the grant funding of our partners at Community Foundation Wales, and by the selfless commitment of UiD volunteers. We have many years’ experience of formal and informal language tuition at our Swansea drop-in sessions. At every session, we’re struck by the commitment and aptitude of our English language learners. For most British people, language learning is something we’re forced to do for a few short years at school. After that it’s a closed book that we never bother opening again. And of course we don’t have to open it. Our native language is spoken and understood by over a billion people worldwide, and for most of us that includes everyone we’ll ever apply for a job with, everyone we’ll ever send a letter or a text or an email to, everyone we’ll ever need friendship from, everyone we’ll ever love. 

Imagine if it were different. Imagine being in an environment where the only way to navigate the basics of day-to-day life were to become an expert user of thousands of unfamiliar words, arranging them in an order and structure completely unlike anything you’d experienced before.

If you walk a mile in those shoes, or even a few yards, perhaps you’ll share our admiration for UiD’s language learners and understand why the Speaking and Listening Project means so much to us. If you know an asylum seeker or refugee who would benefit from UiD’s support with SELT B1, contact us today at unityswansea@gmail.com.