Students from City of Westminster College studying BTEC National Certificate in Sports Coaching and Development have been delivering exciting storytelling sessions at libraries as part of their work placement at Arsenal Football Club.
The sessions, led by storyteller, Dr Pat Ryan, who has worked on many innovative storytelling projects, are part of a National Literacy Trust scheme called Kick Into Reading which aims to provide positive role models for reading to stimulate speaking and listening skills among youngsters.
Year Five children from local primary schools have been attending the weekly sessions at libraries, where the trainees with Arsenal in the Community are telling stories using performance techniques to engage the youngsters.
Omotayo Kosoko, City of Westminster College Student and Arsenal Trainee said: “This is new to me and I’m really enjoying it. We’re learning new skills and understanding how to engage the young children and encourage speaking and listening. I enjoy football and also a bit of fencing, so this project is something quite different and I’ve been told I’m good at it which is really encouraging.”
Alan Sefton, Head of Arsenal in the Community said: “This is a fantastic scheme. All participants have learnt techniques from Dr Pat Ryan which help to engage these young children and stimulate speaking and listening. I’m sure everybody is learning skills which can be used outside of these sessions too. It may be outside what you might expect from a trainee with Arsenal in the Community, but the feedback from the students has been great and the children have been thoroughly enjoying these sessions too.”
Project manager for Reading The Game (theNational Literacy Trust’s initiative to promote reading, writing, speaking and listening for all ages through the motivational power of sport)Jim Sells added: “Language is power and reading for pleasure is key to becoming a powerful communicator.”
Glen Maybury, City of Westminster College lecturer in Sport, said: “This is a great initiative for the educational development of young people. Our students are seen as role models and they can coach and reach children helping them to gain confidence and invaluable life skills.”
Wednesday, April 30, 2008