Language scheme helps multicultural kids
A new company is being launched which has developed from existing tuition for children and young people and a Saturday Polish School in Berwick.
A NEW enterprise to help migrant children learn English was launched in Berwick on Friday.
A NEW enterprise to help migrant children learn English was launched in Berwick on Friday.
The launch of ‘Mohr Language Support (MLS)’ was attended by the Civic Party, Sir Alan Beith, the Polish Consul General in Edinburgh, Tomasz Trafas, and Mayor of Berwick, Coun John Robertson.
The mayor emphasised Berwick has been a welcoming town to the migrants from Europe who have recently arrived in our area in great numbers. Dr Beata Kohlbek, CEO of MLS, outlined the current picture of migration in the EU, pointing out: “10 percent of migrants coming to the UK are under the age of 15. They do not have a choice in coming here as they have to follow their parents and families. Most of these children and young people arrive without much English. It is our responsibility to help with intensive long-term English lessons if we want to allow them to get a good education.”
Dr Kohlbek set up MLS as a result of a four-year project working with Polish children. The idea was to give the Polish community a place to learn in their first language, so that the children would not lose their native culture.
In recent years, the project started to run EAL lessons for children of all migrant backgrounds who were not fluent in English and now has a view to becoming a charity later this year.
The Polish Consul was supportive of the idea of strengthening links with migrants’ home countries, and mixing with other people from their home country who also live in the UK. “The best way forward for these children is not only through integration and education, but through learning to value their heritage and growing into bilingual, happy individuals,” he said.
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Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 5 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 15 C
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Wind direction: South west
