The courses are run from September to June, and lessons go from 10:30 to 12:30 and 2:00 to 4:00, from Monday to Friday. Nevertheless, places are available throughout the year, when pupils find work and he or she cannot attend lessons anymore. Therefore, a waiting list is in place. Last year the biggest contingent came from Poland, with 102 students, followed by Somalia, Hungary, Sudan, Afghanistan, Congo, Slovakia, Lithuania and Iran. Students from seventy-six different countries attended lessons.   
  The Centre offers English lessons at six different levels, from beginners to advanced, and their teachers all work on a voluntary basis. Despite not being paid, there is no trouble finding volunteers to teach, and currently there are forty-five of them willing to give a few hours every week; they include certified English teachers, starting or in leave of absence, UCC students and nuns from the Sisters of Mercy and other convents. As Sister Celestine Forrest, director and founder, tells us, "This service is all done to provide hospitality and care to foreigners seeking for a better life in Ireland. If they don't have the language, they won't be able to integrate properly."  The Centre receives little funding: most of it comes from other religious organisations, plus a state contribution for their social (not educational) work. This is mostly spent in the running of the offices, still owned by the convent of Sisters of Mercy but now open to the public.”   

   The Welcome English Language Centre is situated at Convent Place, Proby's Quay, Cork, between
St. Finbarre's Cathedral and the South River Lee.
For more information, phone 0214316537
or visit www.welcomeenglish.com.  

Student stories:  

Ahmed, 24 years old, Afghanistan  "I have been for 2 years in Ireland. When I arrived I couldn't speak English and now I can at least understand work interviews. I'd like to stay in Ireland to complete my education; I couldn't get a proper one because of the war in my country."  

Beata, 37 years old, Poland  "Some friends told me about the Centre when I came here last January. When I went to school, only Russian was taught, so I came with no English. I have a degree in Human Nutrition/Agriculture in Poland, but I'd like to learn good English to find a related job in Ireland". Her friend Iolanta, also from Poland, agrees; she currently works in a kitchen but she's a qualified nurse and wants to become one once her English is strong enough.