Patricia: ‘Even if I do not understand all the words, I feel the rhythm’

The Reader’s weekly Monday Shared Reading Group at Toxteth Library is one of 15 projects with an ESOL focus run across the UK by the Liverpool–based national charity. Patricia has been attending for six months.

Retired university lecturer Patricia left her home in Chile, South America, to be reunited with her daughter in Liverpool. She is now a regular member of the weekly Shared Reading group at Toxteth Library in Windsor Street, Liverpool.

Led by experienced Reader Leader Frances Trotman, a retired geography teacher and counsellor, this warm, friendly and welcoming group runs every Monday in a light, airy, self-contained glass-fronted room adjoining the main library.

Whilst volunteering for a charity as an assistant ESOL teacher, she received the opportunity to go on a Read to Lead course run by The Reader. She has been running the Toxteth Library group for several years since.

Every other week Frances is assisted by her friend and co-lead Mary, who previously taught Russian.

Patricia joined the group six months ago.

She said: “My daughter lives in Liverpool. When I was in Chile I didn’t see her for seven years.

“It is hard when your family is separated. I was very upset,” she says making crying gestures with her hands.

“My daughter said ‘Mama, come and live with me’ and she sorted it for me to come here.

“This activity is very good for my vocabulary and expression. When I arrived in Liverpool I could say only a few words, such as ‘Good morning’ and ‘Good afternoon’

“Now I speak with much more confidence.”

Patricia particularly loves listening to poetry.

She says: “Frances's pronunciation is very good for me. I do not understand all the words, but I can feel the rhythm inside here,” she says pressing her hand on her chest.

Set within a characterful period building in the city’s Georgian quarter, close to the Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral, Toxteth Library, is surrounded by historic streets, some are lined with impressive Grade II listed Georgian terraces.

It is also the most racially and ethnically diverse area of Liverpool, home to the oldest black community in Britain.

The latest government statistics reveal parts of Toxteth have devastatingly high rates of child poverty (69%), and one of the highest crime rates in Merseyside, despite the efforts of successful community led regeneration projects.

As it is a drop-in session, accessible to all who wish to join, Frances and Mary never know who will turn up from week to week. Everyone who attends receives a warm welcome.

On this week, Patricia is joined by Ada, a former secretary from Hong Kong, and ‘Mr Khan’, a lawyer who came to the UK seeking refuge from Pakistan in 2010, and now works as a legal assistant for a solicitor three days a week.

Frances said: “We usually have around six people but there can be up to 10.

“We have one regular group member, who has been coming for many years and brought along friends and acquaintances from his community. As an engineer he can understand how to build a complex piece of machinery from a manual, but all he wants to know is how to talk to people at a bus stop.”

Patricia said: “I am very happy to be in this group. Frances and Mary are very nice, and I have made a good friend in Ada. We also go to English language lessons at Mary Seacole House together.”

Ada reads her lines slowly and cautiously. Occasionally she stumbles but perseveres with the encouragement of Frances, Mary and the group.

After class Ada says: “I moved to Liverpool in 2022 on the advice of my niece, who is a student at Liverpool University, and I have been coming to this group for around 10 months.

“Frances is a good leader. For me English is very difficult. It has a different rhythm to Chinese. I find the pronunciation difficult, but I try my best.”

Mr Khan, whose spoken English is excellent, explains his reasons for attending the group.

He says: "It's very good to learn polished English - Frances speaks very well.

“I feel a responsibility on my shoulder to learn best practice for others. When I am free I help people in my community who struggle with their English.”

Frances added: “Patricia really loves poetry. Some time ago I said to her ‘do you understand the language?’ She said, ‘A little bit, but I can feel it inside’.

“Sometimes a poem read aloud can touch you deep inside, even without knowing what all the words mean, you can get a sense of it - and that’s what is so special about Shared Reading in this kind of setting, making that connection.”

We're currently seeking four enthusiastic individuals to join a fully funded training programme to start their journey as Reader Leaders, who will deliver and facilitate Shared Reading sessions in new Halton based groups for asylum seekers and refugees. Find out more and apply by 31 July here.

As a charity we rely on the generous support of individuals and organisations to help us change lives through Shared Reading. A donation allows us to train volunteers, provide resources for groups and help reach more people. We want to make sure everyone can attend a Shared Reading group, no matter what their background, income or situation, and we'll be so grateful for your help.

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