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English Language Partners New Zealand (ELP) is an organisation which works with migrants and refugees who have come to New Zealand and helps them to settle and become part of our culture while still retaining their own identity. On a regional basis, among its activities are Volunteer Tutor Training, English for Employees, English for Migrants, Work Talk, one to one Home Tutors and much more.

In the Waikato, the organisation has been introduced to the wonderful world of Bridge by New Zealand Board member, Jane Stearns. Jane is an ELP volunteer and home tutor helping migrants integrate into New Zealand society. Naturally, she is passionate about Bridge. Read below about her efforts to introduce and reintroduce (yes, many migrants used to play Bridge) migrants and refugees to Bridge in this article from the Winter issue of the ELP Waikato Newsletter. .

BRIDGING THE GAP
"Jane Stearns, one of our Cambridge volunteers, has created an opportunity for our ELP learners to learn English and help them integrate into NZ society. Jane is a home tutor who is also a keen Bridge player. To play Bridge, you need to be able to count to 40. When working with migrants and refugees Jane noticed that, even with very limited vocabulary, students often knew numbers and understood counting money and working out change. So Jane wrote a short booklet called “Card Words” to give students the very basic vocabulary needed around cards, such as the four suits and the names of the picture cards (Ace, King, Queen and Jack). This means students who have played the game before or who have played a similar style of game in their home country would know some of the vocabulary they need to go to a Bridge club and or have lessons.
Firstly, Jane visited the Cambridge ELP group to meet the students and their tutor Emalene. She found there were three students who could already play Bridge and others able to learn. Within 15 minutes she had a group of 10, including Emalene, playing a simple game of mini-Bridge. There was healthy competitiveness and the class had a lot of fun and laughter playing together.
Next, Jane visited the ELP group in Papatoetoe. There she did the same exercise with students. At the Papatoetoe Bridge Club they produced lesson information in several languages. There has been much fun teaching six beginner ESOL learners and even one ELP home tutor.
Frank from the Cambridge class has already become a member of the Cambridge Bridge Club. He said he has found the members of the club very welcoming and friendly to him. He had not played the game for 30 years since learning in China. Although he was nervous at first, he has found his skills coming back to him. He felt that the Club members have been patient and supportive.

                       

Jane and new Cambridge Club member, Frank              Learning Bridge at Papatoetoe

Most importantly, he is getting an opportunity to practise his English and improve his “small talk”. When playing cards at a club, you spend around 12 minutes with your partner and two other players. There are general greetings on arrival, with a “Hello, How are you?” followed by time for a chat at the end before moving onto the next hand. So conversations about the weather, children, what is happening in the week are repeated 10 times around the room. Jane has observed Frank on his way around the Bridge room and has seen first-hand how this repetition of familiar conversations has brought him confidence and helped him with his learning.
Ayako from the ELP class in Cambridge joined the Bridge club several years ago. Apart from improving her English, and improving her Bridge, she found a place to make new friends and gained a new social life and support network with Kiwis in her local community.
The interaction between an ELP student and a group of club members is a two-way street and, while the student gains valuable practice at English and grows in confidence, those they meet and talk to are learning too. It is all about playing Bridge; there are no barriers or preconceived ideas and, across the card table, players get an opportunity to learn a little about a different culture, and gain a new perspective and insight into others’ lives and backgrounds.
Now Jane’s goal is to set up a class at the Resettlement Centre in Hamilton to teach students the basics of the game so they can join a local Bridge club and play cards there.
New Zealand Bridge are supporting the project and the Waikato Bays Region have funded production of 50 booklets to help promote the project. "

The "new Kiwis" get a chance to improve their English, learn and play the game and meet lots of new people. Meanwhile, our bridge community benefits and grows. Everyone gains.

Well done, Jane. Maybe others would like to do what Jane is doing. If you are interested, she would love to talk to you about it. Contact her on janelawrence50@hotmail.com or on 021 134 5560.

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