Anila's inspiring WEA learner story

Skills for Work

From learner to tutor

Anila became a WEA tutor after herself joining an arts and crafts WEA class shortly after she arrived in the UK. Anila offers support and care for her students, helping them with English and digital skills.

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“My journey with WEA started around ten years ago when I was someone who had newly moved to the UK. It was a new country, new people, new culture. I had a lot to learn!” Anila remembers.

“One day I saw an advert in the local newspaper for a WEA crafts class. It was actually the tutor who not only supported me, but recognised the potential I have in teaching. The opportunity came and I took it and here I am today, working as a tutor with the WEA. I want to give the same kind of support to those people who are looking for it.”

Anila was nominated for the award by one of her learners, Diane, who explained how Anila has supported the entire class through a Level 1 qualification: “The class speak several languages and not all the learners spoke much English. Anila got all the class talking to each other and made a point of getting us to remember each other’s names.”

Anila standing outside of the community centre

Anila also helped the class use WEA’s digital learning platform Canvas to submit their assignments: “Anila has been brilliant in guiding us. We range from tech-savvy to no idea what a smartphone is, and Anila has been tech support and IT tutor to us all on top of teaching the course.”

“One particular learner had real confidence issues,” Diane said. “Anila helped her come on incredibly in the subject, and in her confidence in class, and in her own abilities.”

“They find it is easy to approach me and ask a question which may not be related to what is being taught in the class,” Anila says of her learners. “It could be something they are dealing with in their personal life. You will see me doing spellings for learners in the class, or doing pronunciation, or saying what is the correct word for a certain term. Some of my learners say I have an answer for everything!”

Video transcript: Anila
Hello my name is Anila, I am tutor at WEA and I am the winner of the Learner Support Award.

My journey with WEA started around 10 years ago. I was someone who newly moved to UK, it was a new country. new people, new culture. I had a lot to learn and then just one day I saw an advert in the local newspaper that the tutor is looking for learners for their craft class. It was actually the tutor who not only supported me but also recognised that the potential I have in teaching

Then the opportunity came and I took it and here I am today working as a tutor with WEA.

I want to give the same kind of support to those people who are looking for it they find it as easy for them to approach me and ask a question which might not be related to what is being taught in the class. It could be towards something they are dealing with in their personal life as well.

You will see me doing spellings for students in the class or doing a pronunciation how to pronounce a certain word or what is the correct word for the certain term and as some of my learner has said that I have answer for everything!

It was a complete surprise was not expecting at all because for me when I learned it comes to you and tell you how happy they feel what they've achieved is quite satisfying itself but then being recognised by WEA is very very pleasantly surprising and I'm so proud.