Cameron - friend of Muslim women?

That is the other thing, and how will they get to know about it?

Jalima, you've prompted me to have a bit of a moan about the impact of the cuts on Sure Start and other family centres, some run by local authorities some by charities. Many of them provided space for health visitors and midwives to run various clinics. this meant there was an instant link to family centre groups and support services. My experience was this tended to increase attendance by groups of parents who weren't "referred" by social workers. Two of the centres I was involved with served deprived areas where there were relatively large Pakistani Muslim communities. You'd get young mums with no English attending the baby clinics, they'd be encouraged to attend groups or get their toddlers into the free nursery places available. The result of this was win win, especially as it meant a mix of people from the local community i.e. Pakistani, Polish, white British and the occasional black British parent. They also ran groups for dads, including single parents. Those centres would be ideal places for English language groups - oh yes they ran them…...

Anniebach I apologise for my comment about grumppa.

Jalima how the women will be found to let them know about classes will be a challenge and one that may eat into the £20 million. After the government cut the £400 million for Adult Education in 2012, most of the infrastructure was dismantled. Until then there would have been a network for lots of different groups in local community that would be used as a stepping stone for new initiatives. That's why I posted before about my concern that a lot of the money will be spent getting classes off the ground. It can be done, but not without spending money and trust me when I said £20 million sounds like a lot of money, but it's not with an initiative like this. Remember too it's a fund, so how the money will be released will be important. It might cost a lot more in one area to enable a small number of women to benefit from the money, than in an area with higher number of women.

The Welsh for give it a rest "roi cynnig gorffwys" please keep it for future reference.

Unnecessary and provocative Luckylegs.

Not as provocative as some posts though!

Wilma I don't think TEFL/CELTA teachers come cheap either.

Most of what we all write on GN is unnecessary. I don't think necessariness is a good measure for Gransnet forums

I don't find the phrase "give it a rest" provocative. It's usually used in response to provocation rather than it doing the provoking. That's how I see it anyhow.

As my friend's mother used to say to her (in her Yorkshire accent), 'oh, do give over Mary!'

Same thing really, but in Welsh

Jalima it depends on how they are employed. If they are picking up classes by the hour they will cost a lot. If they are employed like any other council employee, then that's cheaper. One potential difficulty will be the possibility that the women the money is aimed at won't speak any English. It's more common for students to have poor English and looking to improve.

Nothing to do with this thread but.....I find all sorts of things necessary that Mr R finds quite unnecessary (cake and perfume being just two of them.)
So, what one person finds unnecessary, another finds the opposite.?

Properly trained TEFL shouldn't have a problem beginning to teach someone with no English. However, I suspect that even women who ven't picked up very much English, even though living here for quite a while in some cases, they will know a few words and expressions.

It's possible classes will not be the way these women will be taught. They might adopt a language exchange approach, where the woman spends time with an English speaker. This goes on all the time on a voluntary basis. That can help with learning in situ e.g. going shopping together. It's an interesting project because the providers will need to think out of the box to reach and engage their students.

Sounds an interesting and practical approach Wilma! I'd volunteer to do something like that.

It does sound ideal. However, I'm still not convinced that really isolated women would be allowed by their menfolk to even apply for English lessons, let alone go out of the house with a comparative stranger.

Jane10 have a look at your local Gumtree for people looking for a language exchange.

It's certainly a challenge Ana.

I used to go into women's houses to teach them to read and write. No need for them to go out of the house.

But will you or whoever be allowed in?

Can but try. I've been in similar houses in the past in a work capacity. I think it helps because I'm a middle aged woman. I've noticed though, and please don't jump down my throat its an honest observation, that some women employed by various charities /vol orgs can look very off-putting. Eg brightly dyed hair , tattoos and piercing and somewhat unconventional clothing. Yes I'm being judgemental but it risks their not being taken seriously and reduces their likelihood of acceptance by very traditional families.

This is an interesting - and frightening - article.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/24/syrian-refugees-asylum-seekers-racism-uk

Has anyone seen this on Twitter: # Traditionally Submissive.
It seems the educated Muslim women are not amused at Dave's idea.
If you can bear to look, it's in the DM.

Just had a look at that hashtag.

He wasn't, of course, talking about all Muslim women, nor even most Muslim women, so I don't know what they're getting their knickers in a twist for as if he had been.

He was saying there is a language problem for some–a minority of–Muslim women. So far so true.

What a shame they don't put their energies into helping their less enlightened sisters.

Good point Petra

It's a classic case of a storm in a teacup.

www.independent.co.uk/voices/this-letter-from-an-eight-year-old-muslim-girl-sums-up-everything-that-is-wrong-with-cameron-s-a6832516.html

Tell this girl it's a storm in a teacup.