Bridge club helps people learn English
‘‘I've been helping promote the game and getting more people to understand it's not a game for 90-yearolds.’’
Ayako Imahashi has a card game to thank for helping her learn English.
It was nine years ago she first started playing bridge at her local club, one year after moving to New Zealand from Japan with little English language skills.
Since then she’s flourished - she’s made friends, participated in tournaments, and taught the game to Japanese visitors.
‘‘It was very hard for me to find friends and do something with people but by joining the bridge club I could find people in a similar age group,’’ Imahashi says.
‘‘When I began the most difficult thing was chatting with people when we finished the game with several minutes to spare.’’
Her English has now improved as a result of those regular conversations and she says the game has expanded her world.
Bridge enthusiast Jane Stearns has been volunteering with English Language Partners to help migrants and refugees learn English.
She has been volunteering at bridge clubs across the country, including Papatoetoe Bridge Club.
Language isn’t a barrier to playing bridge, you just need to be able to count to 40, Stearns says.
‘‘I’ve been helping promote the game and getting more people to understand it’s not a game for 90-year-olds,’’ Stearns says.
‘‘Every time you turn up to the table it’s the same conversation so for beginners to the language people need to get used to saying all that.
‘‘It’s really good practice and I was thinking ‘this is great if only we could get migrants and refugees to play games’ - it’s so good for the language.’’
It was through English Language Partners that Imahashi first started playing bridge, and she says Stearns is a wonderful teacher.
‘‘We’re very lucky to have her at bridge club, she is very special . . . I really admire her,’’ Imahashi says.
Stearns has been partnered with bridge clubs for five years now and has written a booklet aimed at introducing immigrants to card vocabulary to encourage them to join a club.
She says it’s been rewarding to see people live happy lives in New Zealand and integrate into society after being isolated.
‘‘If you didn’t have much English it would be difficult to make friends so it’s very brave to take that first step into anything.’’
Papatoetoe Bridge Club’s first lesson of the year is on May 1 and the club can accommodate up to 80 new players of all ages and nationalities.
To join or for more information go to bridge.org.nz/papatoetoe or contact Angela Signal on 027 492 8225.