ESOL Learners Create Recipes Of Reflection

Enterprising college learners have created a recipe book inspired by memories of their home countries.

Level 1 ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners created the project to coincide with National Refugee Week in June.

The cookbook includes a wide range of recipes from around the world and learners created it to celebrate different cultures and diversity as part of the Coventry Welcomes 2021 UK City of Culture initiative.

The Coventry Welcomes event took place from June 14 to June 20 and explored the lives of those seeking sanctuary and those who have welcomed them through the generations.

Coventry College’s ESOL programme provision caters for learners from all corners of the globe who want to learn English as a second language.

ESOL Tutor Rizma Moti said: “As part of the project learners have been talking about dishes they have memories of from back home and that they remember their country by.

“They have remembered the dishes they have grown up with, recipes that have been tried and tested and those which have been passed down through the generations.

“They brought back some quite sad memories for some of the learners, particularly those who have had to flee their countries, but they were willing to share their experiences.

“Some of the learners also produced a presentation and made videos about their recipes.”

Work from the project will be displayed in the College’s North building and there are also plans to publish the recipe book.

Dan Howe, who runs the ESOL programme, said: “Learners have been working extremely hard on this project and the results are simply stunning.

“The recipe book includes a wide variety of dishes, each with their own story.

“It has been wonderful to see learners working together and sharing their experiences.”