A language guidance service for immigrants

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 10

A language guidance service for immigrants

By

TUI THOMAS

New settlers in Christchurch, and visitors who are not fluent in English but speak Dutch. French, German Norwegian or Swedish can now contact a local branch of the Link Guidance Service to arrange to talk to someone in their own language.

A branch of the free and confidential multilingual service has been opened with a voluntary staff of five at the Link Association office, 32 Lichfield Street. It is an extension of Link, a travel service for migrants and visitors and alse an association of ethnic groups and affiliated organisations with offices in London, Amsterdam, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The guidance service gives newcomers information about living in Christchurch, in their own language, helps them relate to their new surroundings and neighbours, introduces them ot social services available and helps them with their English when required. the agency is open from 10 a.m. to 12 noon from Monday to Friday and appointments can be made for a staff member and a migrant or visitor who speak the same language to meet by calling at the office or by telephoning number 63-802.

Mrs Pauline Hoare, an English migrant, established the guidance service in Auckland seven years ago and is now the national co-ordinator. She came to New Zealand 17 years ago and understands what it feels like to be a stranger in a strange land, even though she was not affected by the language barrier.

When it. was suggested that a branch would be very useful in Christchurch she helped set it up. Last week she held a training session for volunteers to advise them on

the type of questions they would be asked, how to “lend a listening ear” and where to refer migrants with problems. It was not easy to establish a household in a new country for those who could not speak its language, Mrs Hoare said when last in Chritchurch.

Migrants suffered loneliness and disorientation after arrival and needed to discuss their difficulties with someone in their own language at times, however determined they were to master English.

“When an accessible agency is provided, staffed by caring and concerned people who can share some of the problems, provide a temporary sup-

portive role — and take the time to do so — then something worth while is achieved,” she said. The agency provides a voluntary back-up service

to the Immigration Department. embassies and some high commissions. “Government department staff rarely have the time to listen to problems in depth and we see the

guidance service fulfilling a useful role in this area of the resettlement programme,” she said. Voluntary staff are selected for their language

skills, their general knowledge of community affairs, their ability to relate to migrants in a non-judg-mental, friendly way and have a realisation of the

difficulties newcomers face when adjusting to another life-style. In Auckland the service has a voluntary staff of 40 who speak 36 languages, including European, Asian

and Pacific Island vernaculars. The service is more than a static advisory agency and “information bank.” It encourages new

ideas and the participation of migrants themselves. “Open house and coffee times are two examples of social and recreational activities established by the staff in Auckland,” said Mrs Hoare, Staff members visit migrants in their own homes, in hospital or an institution. They work in close liaison with voluntary as well as Govern-

ment agencies. “In Auckland we often get calls at the centre from visitors staying at hotels who long to speak to someone in their own language,” Pauline Hoare said.