A WOMAN who barely spoke any English when she came to the UK has completed a foundation degree and is now on her way to achieving a full honours degree in Education Studies.

Nandini Gill is a student at the University of Worcester but that is a far cry from the days when she first arrived in England in 1992 when her knowledge of the English language extended to just ‘yes’ and ‘no’.

Mrs Gill ran a clothing factory with her partner when she first moved to the country, gradually learning more and more English.

In 2004 she took a job as a lunchtime supervisor at Queensbury School in Birmingham.

Her supervisor, Margaret Van Es, encouraged her to learn English and suggested the NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Level 2 test.

After Mrs Gill finished Level 2, Mrs Van Es encouraged her to complete Level 3.

Mrs Gill started to work in the classroom, alongside her studies, assisting the children.

The 37-year-old mother-of-two said: “I found that working and studying at the same time was quite a challenge. Slowly I picked up the skill of time management.”

Before long the school hired Mrs Gill as a teaching assistant.

“I read a lot of books and my husband helped me with my studies,” she said.

“Without his support I could not have achieved what I have achieved today.”

Mrs Gill, who was nominated for a National Teaching Award in 2008, said she would learn by listening and observing.

“I used to listen to the children at school and learn from that,” she said.

“Writing did not come as easy. I took a study skills workshop that helped me a lot.”

Mrs Gill, of Erdington, Birmingham, signed up to a Foundation Degree in Learning Support at Sutton College, validated by the University of Worcester, and graduated from the course this year.

She said of her graduation in November: “It was an amazing moment as I had been waiting for it for a very long time.”