Coventry Learns: Learner Impact 2026 - summary report

Reza

Reza is currently living in the UK on a Graduate Dependant Visa. He is unemployed and actively seeking work, particularly in roles such as warehouse operative or delivery driver. He is attending an Entry 2/3 ESOL class at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.

By attending ESOL classes, Reza is developing his English skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, and gaining confidence in everyday communication. He has made new friends and enjoys being part of the class community. Before joining, he spent much of his time at home, but now feels encouraged to go out, meet people, and participate more in his community, which has had a positive impact on his wellbeing. In Iran, Reza worked as an AirAsia Manager at the airport and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering. Once his English improves, he hopes to return to a similar role in the UK.

Since arriving, he has found communication challenges to be a barrier to employment and daily interactions. He often relies on his wife for support, especially when communicating at his daughter’s school. His goal is to become independent, find work, and support his family, helping to build a better life in the UK.

Hua

Hua did not enjoy maths at school and does not feel she made full use of the educational opportunities in the past. She currently volunteers as a teacher with a Chinese language school alongside a paid job as a cleaner. Her career goals are to work in schools as a teacher, and so she feels strongly motivated to stretch herself to fully understand the GCSE Mathematics specification.

She also hopes to use the logical and problem-solving techniques she develops in her maths studies to help her develop more as a teacher and offer more effective teaching to her potential students. Hua is very grateful for the opportunity to improve on her grade and access the career progression opportunities that this will grant her.

Fatma

When she arrived in 2022, Fatma felt her English was a very low level and was not confident to speak on her own, leaving most of the communication to her husband. While attending her online class last year she felt she really improved her communication skills and she really enjoyed all the speaking and listening activities she did in class with her classmates.

As a result, she felt a lot more confident to speak to other people outside of the classroom and to understand them. Her progress in her communication skills meant she went on to achieve her Level 1 Speaking and Listening City and Guilds qualification in July 2025. It also meant she was more confident to apply for a Carers role which she now does for 3 days a week.

Fatma is very happy that her Speaking and Listening skills have improved enough for her to apply for this role and to enable her to do something she enjoys which is helping people, especially the elderly. She also feels that having this role will “make me to improve my language more”.