Snow didn't stop the hardy English language learners from celebrating their achievements at the Town Hall last Thursday evening. SIC Convenor, Sandy Cluness, and Director of Shetland College, George Smith, presented certificates to around 80 students of English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Mr Cluness welcomed everyone, remarking on the valuable contribution that migrants make to Shetland's economy and the importance of learning English to take an active part in Shetland life. Mr Smith paid tribute to the students for their hard work. He also thanked Adult Learning and College staff and family and friends for their support.
Highlights of the evening included:
- A special award made to E & H Building Contractors for the support given to their workforce to learn English.
- ESOL Awards for young English learners taking part in the Family ESOL group.
- A certificate for Britains most northerly ESOL Learner who lives in Unst and is supported to improve his English by a tutor from the South Mainland using SKYPE.
The audience of learners, tutors, friends and family went on to enjoy a couple of films that learners made about their experience of learning English, picture shows of Hungary and Lithuania and items in native languages - Spanish, German, Italian, Hungarian, Polish and Lithuanian.
The evening was rounded off by traditional fiddle music from Bernadette Porter and Jim Leask and by International food prepared by Shetland College and national dishes prepared by learners themselves.
