English conversation classes

Woy Woy Presbyterian Church has set up a committee to offer English conversation classes on site from Tuesday, August 6, in response to a community need and expression of interest.

The free classes are designed to assist people who have recently emigrated to Australia, and particularly to the Peninsula, to practice their English skills, understand Australian society and culture and build friendships.

Training has been provided by Judy Rowlands, an English as a second language consultant, who has prepared a number of Presbyterian Churches to offer assistance.

"In Christian thinking, God has been generous to humankind.

"He made it possible for us to know him and to communicate with him so that we are not left as outsiders," said Committee coordinator Mr Gordon Goodman.

"It is appropriate that we share a taste of this generosity with others."

A number of people have already signed up with their birth country or ancestry including Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, the Philippines, South Africa, New Zealand, the USA and Britain.

One of the latest enrolments is Ming Li, who migrated to Australia from Northern China with her husband in 2004, and was unable to speak English.

This became an issue when her husband required heart surgery and suffered a series of health problems as Ming was unable to contact an ambulance which resulted in the pair walking to Gosford Hospital from Woy Woy.

"We couldn't talk to the doctors, I was scared and upset," Ming said, through her daughter's translation.

Ming, who has begun to study English at Gosford TAFE, said she was looking forward to practicing and applying her English studies in the conversation classes.

Enrolment for the classes will take place on Tuesday, August 6, from 9:15am to 12pm, with classes continuing on a weekly basis during school terms.

The classes are open to people from all religious and cultural backgrounds.

Media Release, 17 July 2013

Judith Bartholomeusz, Woy Woy Presbyterian Church