Tsvetanka Kirilova is studying ESOL Level 1 (MLA) at Merton College, run on behalf of Merton Council.
Tsvetanka says: "I studied English in school, but that was a long time ago. When I arrived in the UK, I couldn't understand anything because I was used to American English from television and movies, I was lost with the British accent and psychologically it was very hard, I was in despair.
Then I found the ESOL course at Merton College and everything started to change for me. My teacher Naomi is so amazing that I literally started to hear and understand what other people were saying after the first few classes. It was like she somehow managed to open my ears again. She is so articulate and considerate to our level of understanding. When she wants to describe something to us it’s like she’s performing in a theatre, it’s funny and intriguing at the same time. I think that this is a gift to be a teacher like Naomi.
I am now aiming to improve my English to a level that is appropriate to apply for a psychology course at university.
Before I started the course, I felt so lost, as if I was an alien in a foreign world. I can't describe the relief I felt after taking just a few classes. I’m just so grateful and I can’t say thank you enough to my teacher and all the college staff who are making these free ESOL courses available."
