Mizanur Rahman - ESOL level 2 student

I have been a student at Wolverton for the last 3 years. When I first came to this country I didn't speak English hardly at all. One of my friends encouraged me to do the courses. I have been given a language I can communicate with and I am very grateful to the staff and teachers. They are very friendly and encouraged me to come back again and again. I am continuing because of them. I want to do a level 4 course in Photography and have been accepted on to the course. I now have so many friends because I can speak English and communicate with people.

Stephen Gee - Skills for Life student

I wanted to learn English and Maths to put on my CV and to help me get a job as I didn't have either of them.

It was different at school where everything was aural. There were no signers and I had to learn to lip read it was very difficult. As an adult there was an interpreter in class so I could understand and also 1-1 sessions.  I'm surprised by how many new words I have learnt. 

I now have my Maths at level 2 and my Certificate for Counselling. If I hadn't had the support I wouldn't have done that. It's very important for deaf people to have the support and if the service was cut they wouldn't be able to join classes. I have my level 1 in English and I am now working towards my level 2 which I hope I will get as well.

It's been good here at the Centre. It's small and friendly and even though I am the only deaf person here everyone is very friendly and I have made new friends even though I am quite shy. In a bigger department it would have been more difficult.