English Language Training for Migrants

Background

Since 2022, Eastern Bridge Education has delivered targeted English language and employment readiness training to migrant communities across New Zealand. These programmes are developed in response to findings from the Nationwide Annual Migrant Survey, which has consistently identified English language barriers as the single largest obstacle to social inclusion, access to services, and meaningful employment for non-native English-speaking migrants.

Delivered by Eastern Bridge Education and supported by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), Eastern Bridge’s training programmes focus on equipping migrants with the practical language, digital, and cultural skills needed to participate confidently in New Zealand society and enter the workforce.

Programme Overview

The core offering includes beginner to intermediate ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses, digital literacy training, employment skills workshops, and IELTS preparation. Classes are delivered in accessible community locations, with a strong focus on real-world application and learner empowerment.

In 2024, the programme reached over 380 migrants in Opotiki, Whakatāne, Kawerau, Napier and Hastings. Participants represented more than 15 countries, with strong representation from Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Samoan, Indian, and Latin American communities.

Programmes are designed to be inclusive and adaptable. Learners are placed based on their current language proficiency, and courses incorporate roleplays, field trips, and local guest speakers to build cultural awareness and confidence.

Social and Community Impact

The impact of the programme has been significant at both an individual and community level.

Participants consistently report feeling more confident in day-to-day situations—whether it’s speaking to a landlord, visiting the doctor, applying for a driver’s licence, or engaging with their children’s schools. The programme actively supports community participation, and many learners go on to volunteer, join local sports or cultural groups, or attend community meetings for the first time.

In a 2024 post-course survey of 165 participants:

• 92% said they felt more confident using English in daily life
• 87% said they now felt “part of the local community”
• 71% reported an increase in their use of public services, including libraries, clinics, and council-run events

The ripple effect extends beyond the classroom. Learners often act as intermediaries for their families and wider migrant communities—translating, advocating, and helping others engage more confidently with New Zealand institutions. Teachers report a noticeable uplift in social confidence and wellbeing among students, especially those who had previously experienced isolation or dependency on others.

Economic Impact

Eastern Bridge’s language and skills programmes also have a direct economic benefit—improving job readiness, supporting career transitions, and enabling long-term financial independence.
The employment-focused training modules include:

• Writing CVs and cover letters
• Preparing for job interviews
• Understanding New Zealand workplace rights and etiquette
• Using online tools like Seek, Trademe Jobs, and LinkedIn
• Digital skills such as email, online banking, and workplace apps

Employers have noted the positive contribution of migrant graduates. One Whakatāne-based logistics manager remarked:
“We hired three learners from the ESOL programme, and all have been reliable and well-prepared for the work environment. The training clearly makes a difference.”
For local economies, this translates into a more confident, employable, and productive migrant population—reducing dependency on social services and filling persistent labour shortages across key industries.

Policy and Community Recognition

Data from the 2024 Nationwide Annual Migrant Survey, coordinated by Eastern Bridge and completed by over 12,000 respondents, highlights the broader community impact of these education programmes.

Survey responses showed that:

• In districts where Eastern Bridge migrant training programmes were active, 74% of migrants reported feeling welcomed by their local community, compared to a national average of 69%
• 68% of respondents in these areas rated local council services as “accessible and responsive,” an increase of 4% since 2023, bucking the national trend where many migrants feel more isolated.
• Migrants in these regions were also 40% more likely to say they would recommend their area to other migrants

These figures have been noticed by local various regional organisations, many of whom now use training delivery as part of their Welcoming Communities and Workforce Development strategies.