Mustafa

Mustafa is from the Middle East, has no family here and is supported by social services. He has a very low level of English language. He is a sporadic attendee at the college in mandatory sessions and a virtual non attendee in the voluntary sessions. Sometimes we have short conversations. He tells me things in these conversations. One day he tells me of the journey he undertook overland and finally in the back of a lorry. He says it is very dangerous. He also tells me of his work in his country. He was a shepherd. He best friends were sheep and he was going to be a shepherd all his life until he came here.
He comes to class smiling. He says that his team won in a football match last night. He rarely attends if there is a game on. I ask him why he does not come to the voluntary sessions and the film project. He says that he has an appointment elsewhere.
Three weeks later I see him working in the local carwash. He is 17 but spends most of his days working with other people from his home country. I speak to his social worker who is keen for him to advance his English skills. She has no idea that he is working. He is threatened with the loss of a government learning allowance if he does not attend regularly (including the extra voluntary sessions). This makes no difference to him. He continues working and watches his football team on TV.
He is currently studying ESOL part time at Entry 1.