Today was one of my favorite days that I have had so far in the city of Birmingham! It was an absolutely fascinating day, and I truly enjoyed every second. To begin, I woke up very early (6:50 in the morning!) in order to purchase a big cup of coffee before my morning lecture. I bought a Starbucks mocha coffee which was truly what I needed to energize me for our visit in the morning to Joseph Chamberlain college (JCC). On the way there, we had another fun ride on the double decker bus, and we were able to view more of the city as we passed by. Once we arrived at the college, that’s when the true fun began!
To start, every single one of us had to sign in, in order to receive a visitor badge for entry into the school. While this was a very tedious process, it was a very important one because it truly highlighted how seriously the college prioritized student safety. Due to the location of JCC, it can feel very unsafe for students especially because many come from dangerous situations in their hometowns to begin with. The school is their chance to feel safe and truly prioritize their learning without fearing for their lives or the lives of others.
After we signed in, I was given the chance to flip through a level three reading and writing notebook, completed by adult students in the English as a Second Language (ESOL) program. It was very practical and included examples of how to fill out job applications, how to write an email, etc. Something that I found very interesting about the class curriculum was that each student was assessed once a week based on what they’ve learned, but each assessment was also catered towards the specific student that was learning the material. There were also smaller class sizes that could range from four students to twenty students which nurtured a very personal relationship with the teacher, and made the students feel more comfortable to make mistakes. While the teachers were very supportive of their students, there was also less praise being given, which made it so much more valuable when the students received it.
After we observed the different classes, we were given an overview of JCC as a whole. It is a predominantly sixth form college consisting of 2,500 sixteen to nineteen year olds, and 1,162 adult learners who usually work part time in the college (adult learners are majority female from different ethnic minority groups). While the school focuses overall on the progression to higher education, most adult learners attend the college to improve their English for employment rather than university. Adult learners also have a mix of classroom-based learning and virtual learning provided to them to work around their home lives (i.e. childcare). I found it very interesting that JCC also offers free college courses for individuals who make less than 30,000 pounds and will provide them with childcare funding for children aged zero to two, and free transportation to the college if they live more than two miles away.
There is also a very different mindset in terms of progression and grades received at the end of courses at JCC. For many students, receiving C’s and D’s on their report cards is truly great, because they started college without the ability to even speak English a little bit. For them to go from speaking no English, to learning computer, math, science, etc. courses and progressing to university is very impressive, and truly inspiring.
After we visited JCC, we returned to BCU to attend a lecture on learning disability nursing. This is a lesser known specialty for nurses, but offers a very person-centered approach that many different nursing specialities could use in their everyday practice. We learned that a learning disability is typically diagnosed before the age of eighteen, and is the reduced ability to understand complex information, new skills, and to cope independently. While these are all true, those with learning disabilities still have the right to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare unless it is proven otherwise that they are not at full capacity. I found it very sad that those with learning disabilities are likely to die twenty years younger than the average adult, and are also more likely to be sexually abused (especially children).
After we attended our lecture, we ended the day by exploring the beautiful Botanical Gardens. While it did rain a lot, there were moments where the rain would stop, and I was able to take many, many pictures with friends. It was a great way to end the day, and I am so glad we had the opportunity to go!