Language Bridges, an initiative under the umbrella of Vodafone’s ‘World of Difference’ programme which provides free basic English literacy courses to expatriate workers, has launched its courses for Spring 2011, a spokesperson said yesterday.
The classes, held in labour camps and site offices, are taught by a team of volunteers from several universities, including Carnegie Mellon University (CMUQ), the official said.
Language Bridges kicked off its first season in October 2010, with five organisations hosting the programme for their employees.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be working with Dr Silvia Pessoa and a team of more than 20 volunteer teachers from Carnegie Mellon and Weill Cornell Medical College plus others working behind the scenes creating learning materials, handling logistics and working on the Language Bridges blog and Facebook pages,” said Julie Zawadzki of Faj International, Language Bridges programme director.
CMUQ’ Dr Silvia Pessoa, the coach and mentor to the volunteers, said: “Language Bridges has been a very rewarding experience for both Carnegie Mellon students and the learners involved in the programme. Beyond teaching and learning English, the programme has given the student-teachers and the learners a great opportunity to closely interact and learn from each other.”
Language Bridges programmes are currently hosted by Advanced Construction Technology Services, United Development Corporation, Construction Development Company, and Al Jaber Trading and Contracting Company.
Reflecting on her experience, Mashael, a second-year Business Studies student from Qatar, said: “The fact that learning English was so precious to the students was amazing and made me cherish what
I have.”
