In North-West London, Pilgrims teaches English to immigrants under the auspices of Working Links.

Here is an immigrant voice reflecting on six intensive weeks of English learning:

I have so much to tell but I couldn't, about Working Links group. They was wonderful, on teaching in few days, all pupils, who don'st speak good English. But with his tecnic impressioned all.
I hope so all is satisfid and greatful for this group and we wish same luck for new pupils for new course.
And finally, I would to say we never forget for greatest help in our life, brought natural light in our ayes, looking everyday like sun rising. They sacrifide for us; that was most important- this is humanity, helping each other.

The four texts that follow were written by people in the Pilgrims team who taught the person just quoted. They wrote the texts during an in-service training session. They were asked to write about a student they felt it had been an honour to teach.

DearUs,

I hope everyone is awake and functioning!

I'd like to tell you all about Purnima, a Gudjerati speaking lady in my last class.

As you probably know, Purnima is a very sick lady. She's been treated for cancer and other serious illnesses.

What really struck me was her warmth and loving. She really brought in a ray of sunshine to the class. Despite not feeling well she smiled and cracked a joke or two in class. Amazing.

She worked hard and came to every single class. She didn't claim disability benefit (even though she could have done) but preferred to work for 2 hours every day.

Her husband left her and her daughter – she doesn't know why –
He simply left one day and didn't come back. Now, imagine being sick and coming from a culture where the men provide everything and not being able to speak much English. I suppose I have to cut this letter short and in doing that I feel that I haven't been able to acknowledge the impact Purnima has had on me. She's an inspiration.

Guy

Dear Us,

I can't think of any one person in particular who has impacted me more than the others. The lives and stories of these people are so dramatic that each one has an impact.

My own parents fled Nazi Germany and were immigrants in a hostile environment in Kenya. My father was interned in South Africa for three years. The fact that the people we teach are refugees and have horrendous stories to tell, has made me realise what it must have been like for my parents.

For most of these people to be sitting in our classroom shows their courage, determination and wonderful human spirit. Each one is an inspiration and humbles me to reducing my small complaints and niggles to nothing.

Very best wishes, and love

Suzanne

Dear Us

There have been a few people I've felt honoured to be with in my classes in Wembley. I know that they've had experiences which I hope I'll never have. The student I'm going to mention though, is an Iraqi man called Mohammed. He's got enough problems here in England, and he has worries and concerns, but it's the way he's forgotten all this for a short period in the classroom, and provided entertainment for everyone – notably magic and massage – 2 skills he taught himself. On the last-but-one day, everyone was pitching in with their tricks, with all levels of success and bafflement.

Dave

Dear Us

As I look back over the three very different classes I have taught at Brent, faces and names come to mind and the impact of the entire experience so far. This includes all of you.
Two faces come to mind: first one closely followed by the other. The face and name that lingers is of Youness. Youness was a student in my first class and I imagine that Guy and Suzanne will remember him too, because he was a talkative contributor.

Youness had been a journalist, I think, among other things, while he lived in Iraq, which is where he is from. He had a good level of spoken and written English and of 3 or 4 other languages. At first I was daunted by the prospect of being his teacher, with next to no experience. However he was incredibly gracious and interested and interesting. Although I had to curtail much of his input at times.

I think I am running out of time for this letter, but I will tell you that he spoke to myself and the class about his torture at the hands of Saddam Hussein's men, and that he taught me my first Arabic (which is still all I know!)

I still think about him and wonder if he is doing okay.

Inshah Allah,

Rachel