Centre's language resource

CONFIDENCE: Volunteering at the Wairarapa Resource Centre in Masterton has improved the English skills of Wyle Chen, China (top) and Neetu Bamrah Kalsi, India.

Paying it forward - language-wise - appears to be a byword at the Wairarapa Resource Centre.

Wyle Chen, from China, came to the King St second-hand shop four months ago to learn English.

The centre sells donated second-hand goods to the public, and provides customer service training for volunteers wanting to gain skills and become employable.

Ms Chen's English has improved to the point where she can help newcomer Neetu Bamrah Kalsi, who started at the centre on Friday become more familiar with the language and New Zealand culture.

The overlap is something of a handover, as Wyle is heading to Christchurch with her husband for work.

She is proud that her English is now good enough for her to get employment in the retail sector.

"When I first came here I was afraid to talk with other people," she said.

"But now I think I can."

She said it is lovely working at the centre.

"People are very nice."

A former software tester, Ms Chen helped the Masterton Rotary Club remodel their website, in return for English lessons, after the club saw an earlier story about her in the Times-Age.

Ms Kalsi said her husband has a job in IT in Masterton, so she made enquiries about volunteer work to improve her English.

She was referred to the Wairarapa Resource Centre.

"I like it," she said.

"I want to be able to talk to people, communicate with people, and experience how to work."