As English is the main language spoken throughout the world, it is becoming an essential skill for professional development in the Middle East. Since January 2017, our centres have offered beginner and intermediate level English courses for women. Each course lasts between one and three months, depending on the needs of the students, and are offered on an ongoing basis.
The main objectives of the English course are to:
Increase level of English language proficiency
Provide a supportive learning environment for our students
Introduce a wide range of vocabulary and expressions that are useful in everyday life and professional environments
The primary impact of English language courses is to facilitate better opportunities for employment; English is a useful skill across a wide array of industries and allows skilled speakers to command higher salaries. Learning English also provides the ability to communicate and travel internationally, and the course itself includes a variety of discussion topics, which helps raise students’ awareness of current events and other topics.
CASE STUDY
Mother Ghazal arrived in camp in 2019, and like so many other women, knew few people and saw little opportunity available to her or her children. However, she then signed up to our English language course, and says: “It has been an amazing thing for me. Through the Lotus Flower centre I have been able to meet other women and girls and take part in many classes. I especially enjoy learning English language, as it helps me develop and acquire new words and learn about letters.”
Despite having no formal education and being illiterate as a child, she is able to ensure her own children have a very different experience. “Now I can help my children in school. I can teach them and help them with their homework. My hope is that they will be able to go to university and have the kind of chances that I never had.”