Testimonials
What some of the many happy participants have to say about our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Personal Development courses.
We asked some of our participants "if one of your friends ask you to tell them one benefit of attending the course what would say?" These are some of their responses:
"I like the course because I learn more with others and improve my English"
"In this course we have crèche, no men just women learning and improving together"
"It is good place, good teacher and its most practical than college"
"This course is good for learn English and helpful. Good place to learn and good group"
"I recommend this course. Very good place, very good tutor"
"I will tell my friends that this place is very good and that they will learn a lot of new things. Content of the course is very useful and relevant to day to day life"
"I will recommend women centre for learning, very good place and all people are very friendly and I make lots of friends. Teacher is very very good"
Good afternoon, dear ladies and gentlemen. My name is Antonina Tarasenko. I came from Latvia. I have been a student of TJ Training for more than 2 years and I have really enjoyed learning English and other courses with this organisation and in my class. I already achieved my Entry 3 and I am on a doorstep to pass my level 1 and level 2. What do I want to say? To be a foreigner in any country is not easy. Every immigrant wants to be closer to the people of the country where they live and integrate into the local life. To respect the customs and traditions of England for us is an evident fact. The main key to this is knowledge of English Language. For me knowing the language makes my day to day life much easier. Where ever I am, whatever I do, I feel confident. My self-esteem grew up. My friend Kristina and I are engaged in further learning creative writing at the moment. We are doing very well and the credit goes to TJ Training and the excellent training we received in our course with English been the main thing. We have a very good teacher at TJ Training Justina Oraka. Needless to say that knowledge of English Language helps people to find a proper job, make our range of communication wider. Knowledge of language is power and I would like to say a big thank you on behalf of all students to you Justina and your organisation TJ Training for sharing that power with us and also I would like to encourage everyone to join English Class at TJ Training with Justina class and if you are not going to be lazy, you will speak English in no time. In all the courses there English is across all of the courses.
There is a little thank you (flowers) from all of us for your patient and for being a great teacher. Thank you all for your attention and Good afternoon
Hello Everyone, Welcome to our celebration of achievement. I am Sajida Begum Koli. I want to share a little bit about my experience since I started my courses at TJ Training. I know that to be able to live day to day life in the UK I have to learn English and keep my culture so I started learning English with TJ Training Consultancy. Before coming to the class, I could not speak English now after 3 years I can understand and speak English. I have passed my Entry 2 Reading and writing and also I passed Literacy Level 1 after two attempts. I am very happy with the opportunity I have to learn English with TJ Training. It has helped me to improve my confidence and skills. My English has helped me to do other courses like Health and Social Care at Bishop Burton College, suicide awareness and Health and Safety at HANA and with TJ Training. It has also
helped me do voluntary work in TJ Training and Dove House Hospice. Most important thing my English has helped me to get my indefinite leave to remain in this country. It has helped many people in our class in this way too. Now I am preparing for my Speaking & Listening Entry 3 to be able to get my British Citizenship. We learn about Active citizenship in our class. All of us in this class are happy to learn English here and I have many friends here in this class. Our teacher is the best. She is very friendly, intelligent and understands us and we understand her very well when she is speaking unlike teachers in college. She is very good qualified and has a lot of knowledge in teaching English. She encourages people with her smiling face. I was able to do all these because of her encouragement and I am ambitious person. I do encourage everybody I know to come and learn with us because it will help you integrate properly in the community. We need more classes, more support and more money to help us. Now I have a baby boy. When my son grows up, I will look for a good job. Thank you for listening to me patiently. Have a good day.
I have come to this school for some time and I don’t get tired of coming. The classes give me happiness and a lot of joy when I learn together with others I meet in this class from different countries. In my country, I didn’t go to school at all. This is my first school and I enjoy it very much. It gives me something to do since my husband died. I met so many people. I made so many friends. I learn English. I learned so much about health, about work, about English grammar, about day to day life about numbers, about talking to people in school, hospital, GP, Dentist, in shops, writing letter everything not shy woman any more. I help people in the class because I am there long. I have from this class got certificates in reading, writing, speaking; I do many things with no interpreter. The certificate is my joy because I didn’t go to school before in my life. I go to different places to learn but no place is good like this my class even college so I stay here only. College not very good for us because teacher fast speaking and not understand and expensive. This school is free because teacher gets money from organisation to help us. My teacher is very very good in teaching and helping with other problems she explain things very well. She brings people to help in class call volunteers. These teachers are also very good. Our teacher is very friendly and good heart and respect and help with all our problem and teaching. Everybody in class misses and like her. The class is big class all the time. We laugh and we learn. My children are proud of what I learn from my English class.
This class has helped my confidence and my life has changed.
First, I want to say thank you for the opportunity to be here, sharing with you this moment. I know that the journey has not been easy for all of us who came to this lovely country without the English language. We have had a lot of challenges. Sometimes I feel like an alien, because although this is my own planet, this is a totally different world for us. However, our English class has allowed us to have a lot of experiences and meet people who have helped us along this journey. Every single day we are working to improve our English, but also, we are becoming better persons with the help of people like my teacher, Justina Oraka and her organization TJ Training. Thank you Justina for your patience and dedication. You are the best teacher in Hull. Actually, I want to say thanks to Hull, this beautiful city that received me and my family with open arms. It has been an amazing experience. Also, I want to say thank you to my inspiration, the person who guides me every day, even when she is not next to me, she is always with me, my Mum. Thank you very much Mum I am glad you are here today to share this moment with me. I wish to say thank you to my family, for supporting me and give me the strength and love to continue my journey every day. Thank you to other families here today for doing the same. Finally, I want to encourage all of you to continue preparing yourselves, every day, not only to learn the English language and culture, but also to become better persons and help the others, just like Justina does to us. And to the authorities, please keep supporting these programs, we need it. At the same time, I think Hull needs us; because if we work together, we can become a one real and prosperous community for us all. Please, help us so we can help Hull to be not only the city of culture, but also the very best city in the world, because there is no place like Hull. Thank you very much.
My name is Renata Baginska. I am from Poland. Before I started coming to learn with TJ Training, I spoke very little English. I am very proud to be here today to receive my Entry 3 certificate in Reading & Writing. I passed my Entry 2 last year. My Language and communication Skills have helped to be a confident woman that I am today. It has given me the skills and confident to start my business as a Zumba teacher. I went to a one day course in Leeds. It was not an easy course. If I did not take my learning of English seriously with TJ training, I would not pass the difficult exam. Also I will not be confident to go and do it. This is what I always wanted to do. Thank you to my teacher who gave me English Lessons, the support and encouragement. Most important, the class was free. I will encourage everybody I know and also all here today, all friends and family to come to our class. If you want to live in this country and you are from a country that doesn’t speak English, It is important that you can read, write and speak English to live day to day life. This is one of the reasons to learn ESOL skills to be able to live day to day life and be independent with no interpreter. Our class is fun, we laugh, we learn a lot and it is not stressful. Come and be part of our English class. Before I finish, everybody come and join my Zumba class. It is very interesting andexciting. It is fun. It is on Anlaby Road every Tuesday and Friday.
Hello everybody welcome to our award celebration. My name is Khaleda Akhtar from Bangladesh. I am happy today to receive my certificate. It is a big achievement for me. In Bangladesh I was a primary school teacher. I wanted to do higher education but I couldn't. Now I have got a chance to do it and do something for the community. Before I started my English (ESOL) class my English wasn't so good. Now I have improved so much. Today I am getting my certificate for my entry level 2 and 3. This is a big success for me. I have enjoyed learning English with people from different countries and we always have fun with our teacher Justina. She makes learning very interesting for us. Thank you for coming to celebrate with us.
My name is Liga and I am from Latvia. I am so thankful that I have this great opportunity to study here at TJ Training & Consultancy and get English lessons. People really must appreciate the chance to get this type of education for free and after wards, build their future. I had my good times and bad times as well. Long time I was in hospital suffering from cancer, but even when I was there I was thinking about studying my English and wanted to return faster to come to class again which made me recover fast I think and I am thankful for my understanding tutor and nice classmates. Big thanks to Kristine Krastina that showed me this English class and gave me support when I needed it, and big thanks to my teacher that she was so nice and helped me in so many ways to achieve the English I know today and be able to be here to receive my certificate. I have also progressed to do PTLLS level 3 and passed. A very big thank you to Justina and her organisation TJ Training for showing me good way and guiding me. I am happy now volunteering for this wonderful organisation as tutor support in the English class. I am hoping to continue to learn and improve my English and one day I want to become an assessor and do assessor’s course at college.
Thank you everyone!
My name is Khadija and I come from Italy. I came from Italy about 3 years ago. When I first came, I did not know a word in English; I only spoke Italian and Arabic. I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable with people.
One day my aunt took me to TJ Training and Consultancy at Mitchell community centre off Beverly road. My first day in class was memorable because everyone spoke little English except myself, so I looked so confused and I did not understand what they were talking about. I remember that the teacher, Justina, seeing the expression on my face told me "don’t worry you will be like theme soon". And she was right. From that day I never stopped to come to class, I improved my English, I started to be comfortable with people and I started to live my daily life without problems. Thanks to TJ Training & Consultancy for giving me and many others like me the possibility to learn and improve our language. Specially thank to Justina because she is not just our teacher but a friend and a mentor for us. She tries every day to help us in every way possible and make us feel comfortable in class. I advise all people who come from abroad to here in UK to take the advantage of this course to help them to integrate in the country where they have chosen to live. Finally I would like to say thank you TJ training and consultancy and thank you Justina for everything that you did and you are still doing for us.
My name is Yasmina. I come from Bangladesh. I came from Bangladesh just over 1 year ago.
When I came, I could not speak a word of English or write or read in English; but I could speak, read and write in my own language Bangali. During my first class I was very shy and afraid not able to talk and look at people. I couldn’t respond to any of the questions
from my teacher. I came to UK to join my Husband who is British because he was born here but his parents were born in Bangladesh.
My husband introduced me to a Bangladeshi family. I make friend with the wife. I go to their house every day. She said to me I go to English class you can come with me and I said I can. One day, she takes me to TJ Training and Consultancy in Mitchell Community
Centre near where we live. I was happy because it is near where I live. She lives near me too so we go together to class.
My first day in class I cannot forget it because everyone spoke little English except me, so I looked so confused and I did not understand what they were taking about. I remember that the teacher, Justina, seeing my face said to me "don’t worry you will be like them soon if you are serious to learn’’. I take my learning serious from that day as she said to me. Justina encouraged me. All the other students encourage me. I was happy student from the support I got. From that day I never stopped to come to class, I started learning with others. I start to pick up little by little. I star to improve week by week. I started to be comfortable with people and my shy started to go slow and slow. I started to go to shops with my friend and go out more and meeting people and I try to speak to other people even if I don’t know what I am saying I try. My daily life improved. My confidence slowly improved. I became happy. In the class people started saying how I am improving and encourage me. My teacher praised me all the time and support me with reading, writing and speaking and listening. I make progress all the time. I am happy. I know I am fast with learning even when I live in Bangladesh. I try to achieve something every week. In my mind, I know I want to learn English because I want to be a nurse. I told my teacher this so she can help me more. My teacher Justina say to me if I continue seriously like I am doing, I will go far. I believe her. I never miss any class. I come early to class all the time and I listen and watch other students and I learn. I am very happy with what I achieve in my reading, writing, speaking and listening because I practice with my homework and I listen to my teacher and I ask question when I don’t understand.
My English class is my second family. It gives me place to belong. I look forward to going to class to learn and meet people. It gives me new friends. When my mother died, in the end of June 2021 my teacher and all people in class show me love and support. I liked the celebration get together on the last day of class. Everybody bring food to share from different countries. Our teacher Justina brought many food and drinks. I was very happy to see everybody very happy too. I like this English class. Very nice place to be.
Thanks to TJ Training and Consultancy for giving me and many others like me the chance to learn and improve our language. Specially thanks to Justina because she is not just our encouraging teacher but a friend and a mentor for us. She tries every time to help us
in every way possible and make us feel comfortable in class. I will say to all people who come from other counties to come here and take the advantage of this ESOL class to help them to integrate in the country where they have chosen to live.
Finally, I would like to say thank you TJ training and consultancy, HLC for the money to allow free course, thank you Justina for everything that you did and you are still doing for us. Thank you to my friends and volunteers that support me with the ideas.
Hello everyone,
My name is Ramona, I am from Romania , I am 35 years old , I am married and I have a 4 year old son. I work as a Locum pharmacist in a few community pharmacies. I came to UK almost two years ago because I wanted a better life for me and my family. It was not easy at the beginning, my English was not very good, I started to learn English six months before I came to UK and had to adapt very quick otherwise I could not get a job. So for this I needed to improve my English very fast, so I asked a friend who told me about ESOL classes at TJ Training & Consultancy with a very good tutor Justina. So I phone to know about the classes. After this, I went to meet with Justina and I started to attend her classes once a week at the beginning and then twice a week, which helped a lot . After a few months my English was improved thanks to Justina who told me that she thinks I am ready to do exam, so she enrolled me and I did my exam and I pass Level 2 Literacy exam.
My advice is for everyone who comes in UK and does not know English the best thing to do is to attend this ESOL classes, work hard and enjoy it like I did. The classes will help you a lot in living day to day life in UK, get a job and interact with people. But you have to take your learning and study serious. It will not be easy but you work hard at it you will succeed. Thank you again Justina for all your help and support. I was getting pressure from my work about my language skills but you removed that pressure and for me turned it to success with your classes. I was also doing voluntary work for TJ Training to help improve with my language skills. That was very enjoyable experience. If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask me. I'lll help you if I can. Any photos from today I will like to have them please either by e-mail, or I can pop in and I will copy them. Have a great day
This class is useful for me. Before I stay at home doing nothing. Now I learn English and I can speak not shy. My friend told me about the class. She said it is only women and I started at women Centre. I am Muslim that is why I like this class. My husband and family like it for me to be learning here. My teacher is very good and helps us. She understands us and we understand her. This is important for me and the other people in my class. Women Centre has crèche nowhere else has.
This class is very good for us. I am preparing for my Entry 2 speaking Exam for July. We learn many things for everyday life about living in the UK, about finding job, filling forms, grammar, speaking and listening. It is different experience to meet people of various cultures and country.
As well as the language I have got the chance of learning many other things from those people's life experience. Everybody in the class and the teacher we are like friends and I really enjoy it and we learn so much because of this. The centre is very good for women.
I have learned a lot, my skills have been enriched; I will definitely apply and use my new skill. Thank you for a brilliant course.
I was coming to learn English at Mitchell Community Centre and my tutor was telling us about the Voicebox Café project. It caught my attention and I thought that it would be very interesting and beneficial for me to participate. I didn’t know much about voting and women’s rights so, I thought that this will be a good opportunity to learn something new, integrate in to my local community and become stronger as a woman who can make her own decisions and express her views. So, I asked my tutor how to apply and where the Voicebox Café takes place. I also told my friends about it and that we can go together. Now, I can say that this was very good decision.
At first, I was a little bit worried because I never been to similar events before. I didn’t know what to expect or what we will be doing. When I first came to Voicebox Café, I saw how cosy it is and everyone was so friendly. I felt very welcomed and all the stress and worries went away. Our tutor Justina was very friendly and welcoming. I felt safe and accepted because we all were women from same age group and similar interests. I felt free to be myself and speak about things which are important to me. I liked the feeling to be understood and accepted. Also, it was interesting to listen to other women’s stories and join in to discussions with them regarding our experiences.
I am very glad that I had this chance to participate in the TJ Training Voice box Café Project because I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge, meet new people and build my confidence when it comes to voting and women’s rights. Before I didn’t know much about voting process, how to vote and why it is important. Also, I didn’t know who is entitled to vote or even how to vote. After participating in the Voice box Café project, I learnt more about my rights, how to apply for voting and which voting I am allowed to
participate as non-British citizen. Before I didn’t know that I can make so much difference in my local community just by participating in voting and expressing my opinion.
I thought that this is very good opportunity to learn something new and to meet new people. I am living in England few months and plan to live much longer so, I thought it would be great to learn more about British culture, rights and voting system in general. I think that foreigners who live in this country should know more about British rules and their own rights. I, as a woman, wanted to gain more confidence and educate myself on various topics regarding politics and voting. I know that I’ve done the right thing to join the TJ Training Voicebox Café and that I gained a lot of new information which will help me in my day to day life. I have started to read more newspapers and watch news programmes on TV.
After taking part in Voicebox Café, I have more interest in political processes and things which are happening around me. Also, I feel more confident in my own day to day life to speak about things which matters to me and to express my opinion more often. I have made new friends and now I discuss the topics which I didn’t discuss before. I feel more educated and connected to the community I live in. I take more interest in political and social events because before I didn’t realise how good is to be active and included in the community around me.
I didn’t know that I can make so much difference in my local community just by voting and expressing my opinion. I am glad that I participated in TJ Training Voicebox Café Project and gained new knowledge about things which are important to me, for example
democracy and my local community.
English is very important everywhere, doctors, hospital, bank, nursery, talking to teachers, shopping, work. Before coming to TJ Training, it was difficult, someone always has to help me but now I can do it on my own. Or I try It is not perfect but I try, and people understand most times.
What is great about TJ Training is that it is suitable for those with very low-level English. It really does start at the beginning and helps people build their confidence in all situations they will come across everyday.
I am happy to learn English. My son is in the crèche. I can go to places and speak myself no need for my husband coming. No stress thinking about language and about help. Before too much stress. Women centre is good. we can get tea and coffee. My English has improved confidence too. Everybody is happy to learn together and we come all the time not missing class to learn because our teacher is good. If we can have more class it will be good.
The best thing that happened to me is coming to learn English in the women centre. I put my sons in the crèche. My mental health has improved. I was so isolated. This class has helped me to find myself again and meet many good people, my helpful and encouraging supporting teacher; women centre staff is very kind to us and our children. I like learning English here better than anywhere else I went like college etc. Now we will do exam and get certificate.
I enjoyed the course. It is relevant, it met my expectation. A well delivered course.
Course is highly informative and relevant to everyday life. Brilliant course content and well deliver and facilitated
The course is taught with passion. You know your stuff. I have thoroughly enjoyed the course.
Thank you for an excellent course will definitely recommend it.
A very useful and practical course. Will definitely put to use all that is learnt
I got a lot out of the course. The course is pitched at the right level.
Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this course. It was participatory, delivered with passion, and gained a lot out of the course.
I enjoyed the course. It meets my expectation. Relevant thank you.
Thank you for an excellent course. I did not know what to expect when I enrolled on the course. The course exceeded my expectation.