About ESOL Café
ESOL Café was started at Chesterton Community College by Sarah Adams in 2013, and it ran successfully until the start of the pandemic. Sarah developed ESOL Café over the years, and added classes depending on learners' requirements. She also arranged many social activities. Sarah was joined by a group of volunteers who helped in the classes so that learners benefitted from smaller groups, and often one-to-one tuition. Many students from around the world have passed through ESOL Café, some staying several years, others just a term, and we have enjoyed meeting them all.
Unfortunately Covid put an end to all the classes in March 2020, and it also coincided with Sarah deciding to move away from the area and focus more on her online teaching. However, several of the previous volunteers have started up ESOL Café again. There were 7 sessions during October and November 2021, then we stopped again when covid infections rose. Before Easter we met for coffee for a few weeks at The Locker Cafe in town, and since Easter have now started with the summer programme. We gave much thought on how the sessions could run safely, and it seems the 2 hour sessions on Tuesday mornings are going well. We have found a new venue - St Laurence's Church, Milton Road, Cambridge - where there is a large well-ventilated meeting room opening out onto a garden area with 3 double doors. We are mindful of our responsibility for a safe environment with all Covid precautions possible - see more on the Covid page.
The volunteers are grateful to Sarah for her help and advice in continuing with ESOL Café, including her generous donation of many resources and materials.
Unfortunately Covid put an end to all the classes in March 2020, and it also coincided with Sarah deciding to move away from the area and focus more on her online teaching. However, several of the previous volunteers have started up ESOL Café again. There were 7 sessions during October and November 2021, then we stopped again when covid infections rose. Before Easter we met for coffee for a few weeks at The Locker Cafe in town, and since Easter have now started with the summer programme. We gave much thought on how the sessions could run safely, and it seems the 2 hour sessions on Tuesday mornings are going well. We have found a new venue - St Laurence's Church, Milton Road, Cambridge - where there is a large well-ventilated meeting room opening out onto a garden area with 3 double doors. We are mindful of our responsibility for a safe environment with all Covid precautions possible - see more on the Covid page.
The volunteers are grateful to Sarah for her help and advice in continuing with ESOL Café, including her generous donation of many resources and materials.
