JEDDAH: The Arab News will be sponsoring four of 15 women students taking a Ramadan-long English course organized by the British Council in Jeddah. The 15 students were given the opportunity to undertake the language course as a charitable gesture by the council at the beginning of Ramadan.
The four successful candidates will now be offered the chance to take a monthlong continuation course to develop further and reinforce their newly acquired learning.
“It was a remarkable gesture on behalf of the British Council and one that struck a very significant chord with us at the Arab News,” commented Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief. “As the Kingdom’s premier English language newspaper, communication in English is at the core of everything we do. The idea of our being able to help develop the language in these young women and perhaps give them a hand on the way to fulfilling their potential and making their way in the world appealed to us at once.”
Almaeena noted that Arab News was proud to have the first woman managing editor, Somayya Jabarti, of a national newspaper in the Arab world. “We also have a large team of talented women journalists and contributors. We are delighted to contemplate the possibility that one day, perhaps one or more of these young women will join us,” he said.
With the first week of the course complete, teachers at the British Council Women’s Center were positive about their students’ progress. Spread over three language levels and in three separate classes, they have adjusted well to the unique communicative learning environment of the council’s classrooms.
“Their language skills are quite weak and reading skills are very basic,” commented Fatma Naqvi about her group of 18-year-olds. “This is only the first week and far too early to make judgments but they are certainly keen, they are making progress and are becoming involved in lessons and that is already developing competitiveness among them.” She added that the students had reacted very positively to the new learning environment.
Course teachers Heather Mullett and Cody Edene have seven and four of the group in their classes respectively. Their groups are mainly in their early 20s and, as with Naqvi’s group, with little experience of formal English learning.
“They have adjusted very well to the teaching style,” commented Edene. “They were expecting something a little bit different ... from what they were used to in the local school system and they fitted in rapidly.” She added that from her perspective and that of the other students, “they add an element of fun to the class.”
Mullett agreed. “They seemed a bit bemused at first and my group is much quieter. They are largely new and first time students and not quite used to the set up. However, they work hard and none are at the bottom of the class.”
All 15 students showed some nervousness at first, and the variety of their backgrounds produced an equal variety of characters and approaches to the course. Any nervousness about the challenges that lay in store for them seems to have evaporated during the first week.
“That’s a positive sign. Some of them definitely will successfully complete the course over the five weeks and become considerably more accurate with their English and a couple are really highly motivated,” said Edene.
The four students to receive the Arab News sponsored follow-on courses will be chosen by the tutors and teaching staff of the British Council Women’s Center.
It will not be decided on a marks basis, but on the basis of a combination of factors: which students have made the most progress during the course; have showed keenness to learn and work; have demonstrated aptitude and who would benefit most from a follow-on course.
Already, with competitiveness and keenness among the students already surfacing, the signs are that it will be a tough job to choose.
