Unisa online - Joining forces to provide English classes

Helping the community to speak English is a priority

The Bright Site Project, the Povey Centre and the JRS joined forces to provide English Language Proficiency Classes to French-speaking foreigners and refugees living in Pretoria during 2010. These classes are supported and funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Prof Rinie Schenck, Project Manager for the Bright Site Project, stated: “Since the Bright Site Project started in 2009, one of the groups living in Sunnyside we interacted with was the refugees. They expressed the need for English classes to be able to communicate with South Africans. A foreign student at Unisa, Jean Omba, initiated this project. The project grew fast. We negotiated with the JRS to take over the project as they also offer English classes to foreigners. The Department of English Studies are involved in assisting with the quality of the training, as well as taking the opportunity for their students to do their practical work. We rather see ourselves in an enabling capacity to organisations. The JRS is funded by the UNHCR to offer these English classes. They now have the responsibility and we play a facilitative and enabling role.”

Prof Schenck went on to say: ”The UNHCR regard these English classes to be important because they not only give the recipients communication skills, but offer opportunities for socialisation, support and networking. We will continue to play this facilitative and supportive role.”