A town ceremony has celebrated the achievements of Loughborough College students representing around 20 languages between them.
The Shree Ram Centre in Loughborough hosted the event for students on the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses, with guests including the Mayor of Charnwood, Councilor Pauline Ranson.
Loughborough College ESOL students are from countries including Poland, China, Albania, Romania, Japan, Thailand, Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Uganda, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Russia, Spain and Italy and amongst 75 certificates presented by the Mayor and Loughborough College Director of Business Development Gemma Knott, in recognition of students’ hard work in completing their courses, were ten special awards.
Cristina Raduta received a special award for her positive attitude to study. “Cristina joined our course this year, having never studied ESOL before, and has been an inspiration to her group, offering support to anyone struggling with their studies and advising her peers on different approaches they could take in order to succeed. Not only this, but Cristina has an exemplary attitude to study which has led to her taking extra work to do at home and rarely missing a lesson,” said Bev Gray, who leads ESOL for the College.
Rajinder Kaur was the recipient of an award for outstanding achievement. “Rajinder started with us as an E1 ESOL student, very timid and with a dream of gaining her British citizenship. She has progressed to E2, has worked hard on her English and recently achieved her goal of gaining a British passport.
“Many of our ESOL students face significant obstacles and challenges but they have all worked incredibly hard this year. Our celebration reflects the pride Loughborough College, the students and the wider community take in our learners' achievements.”
In addition to the Loughborough College ESOL special presentations for Cristina and Rajinder were awards for Zsuzsanna Vincze for helping and supporting other students; Zinaida Karnilovich for most improved student; Jolanta Gierik for excellent improvement in speaking; Nusrat Nasreen for positive attitude to study; Asma Begum for trying very hard; Khanum Shelazi for determination with spelling; Najmin Chowdhury for working hard and Christina Olaru for outstanding attendance.
Pictured: (from left) Loughborough College Director of Business Development Gemma Knott, ESOL students Zinaida Karnilovich, Jolanta Gierek, Nusrat Nasreen, Asma Begum, Zsuzsanna Vincze, Najmin Chowdury, Kharum Shelazi, Cristina Raduta, Amna Nassar, Rajinder Kaur and Cristina Olaru with Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Christine Harris