Adult Learners' Forum for Aberdeenshire

Our Adult Learning Stories

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  Learner B's Story

  about 11 hours ago

  Learner B self-referred to Community Learning and Development for ESOL support based on their need to improve their language and numeracy skills. They had some English language skills already, but written and verbal communication was very challenging for them. We were able to establish with learner B that they needed to improve their language skills to enable them to find and maintain employment, to financially support their family after fleeing the war in Ukraine.

  Learner B’s first experience of ESOL provision was with our Multiply ESOL Literacies classes, joining in April 2024. The classes supported the learner to revisit the... Continue reading
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  Learner A's Story

  about 11 hours ago

  Referred to the Community Learning and Development Service through the Aberdeenshire Resettlement Scheme, Learner A arrived in Aberdeenshire in 2021 from Afghanistan. Community Learning and Development were quickly able to establish with the learner, that they would require support with learning English for the first time. Although literate in their first language, their native language does not use roman script which adds another layer of complexity when learning English. They were very self-conscious of the limits of their language skills, so keen to engage in classes and progress their learning.

  Joining the multiply ESOL Literacies classes in 2023 allowed this... Continue reading
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  Kim's Story

  about 14 hours ago

  I received an official email on my iPad, asking me to click the link and fill in the form attached. I had never written or sent an email, and whatever a link was I had no idea. A few days later after relating this to someone I knew, I was informed of a computer class that I could join, and so my journey through the internet began.

  Ashleigh soon got to realise how little i knew, and through her gentle guidance my fear of my iPad and the internet began to ease. We were taught how to write and respond... Continue reading
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  Douglas's story

  about 1 month ago
  

  I feel a lot more confident than I did. I am now part of the IT generation. I can now give things a go. It makes life easier than it was.

  I have learned:

  • To go online
  • Set up Gmail Account and email address account and password
  • I have learned the basics from Linda (volunteer Adult Learner Tutor)
  • I can log into my own Chromebook device
  • I understand the different apps
  • I can make my own documents
  • I use the computers in the library
  • I have used computers in other libraries too, using my username and password
  • I can search... Continue reading
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  Kelly’s story

  about 1 month ago

  I started learning when I moved to a place I could get help with my learning. I came because the Employability Support Team suggested it but I keep coming because I’m getting the learning I should have got as a child.

  I couldn’t manage school then. It was too much for me to take in at that age. I feel more confident now and the main thing that has helped is having one-to-one sessions. It’s more relaxed and not so regimented and I also need not to be too distracted by other people or noise when I’m learning. I feel... Continue reading
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  Charlie's Story

  over 1 year ago
  

  After losing my mum in 2022, I found myself struggling to figure out how to manage living on my own for the first time. After getting in contact with Aberdeenshire's MHIWS (Mental Health Improvement and Wellbeing Service), among other social work services I was referred to the Community Learning and Development service to help with gaining skills that would help me become more employable.
  
  So far I've taken courses in Numeracy and Communications, as well as taking the Power Tools workshop earlier in the year. Not only have these courses helped me refresh skills I had almost forgotten, they have... Continue reading
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  Lee's Story

  over 1 year ago

  I have recently completed an SQA level 4 in Communications. The course has been of huge benefit to me. I did not get much of an education at school, so now I am learning, and it is so much better, and it is fun. I got a good qualification for going forward in life.

  Through my learning, my writing has improved so much, and I am so much more confident and ready to go further. I am now looking at the next steps and plan to do more SQA Awards in Numeracy and Working with Others.

  Learning has helped me... Continue reading
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  Duncan's Story

  over 1 year ago
  

  I got involved in ALFA at the beginning as I have been involved in Adult learning since 2012, learning about computers and literacies and numeracy. There was a great CLD team in Alford at the time, but now we have no-one based on CLD in the community which is a shame.

  My learning with CLD has helped me to achieve in life and recently I was elected on to the local Community Council and am now a Community Councillor.

  I would say to anyone thinking, there is no right or wrong path in life. Take on adult learning and it... Continue reading
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  William's Story

  over 1 year ago
  

  I returned to learning as an adult because I felt inadequate when it came to English and IT skills. Having an Alexa gave me the confidence to find out more about it.

  I have taken part in lots of learning and have completed SQA Communications Level 2, ICT level 2 and 3 and recently joined the Adult Learners Forum for Aberdeenshire.

  I left school with no qualifications, barely able to read and spelling was just a no, no. These programmes have given me an insight into the things I missed at school, being dyslexic and having to sit at the... Continue reading
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  Natalie's Story

  over 1 year ago
  

  Community Learning has given me so many things, confidence and a recognition for my volunteering, and awareness of the existing skills that I have already.

  My latest CLD learning achievement was an adult achievement award. It has really helped me to understand what kind of learner I am, and the diverse ways of learning. This has helped me within my ceramics, to pass on my skills to other people, and hold workshops. I have previously done a volunteering skills award, Steps Course, ICT, and numeracy SQA courses.

  My learning has helped me to learn quicker and has helped me to... Continue reading