Manama: Language Bridges, an initiative that provides free basic English literacy courses to expatriate workers in Qatar, has launched its courses for the spring, a spokesperson has said.
The classes, held in accommodation 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.
“A team of more than 20 volunteer teachers from Carnegie Mellon and Weill Cornell Medical College and others working behind the scenes are creating learning materials, handling logistics and working on the Language Bridges blog and Facebook pages,” Julie Zawadzki of Faj International, Language Bridges programme director, said, quoted by Qatari daily Gulf Times.
According to Silvia Pessoa, the coach and mentor to the volunteers, "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,” she said.
Language Bridges programmes are currently hosted by Advanced Construction Technology Services, United Development Corporation, Construction Development Company, and Al Jaber Trading and Contracting Company.
