One of the biggest obstacles migrants and refugees face when looking for a job is their lack of language skill. Many of SCCT clients are educated, well-trained people, often academics who cannot find permanent employment, because their English is too basic. This is the problem SCCT tries to overcome by offering free language courses which, like all other services of the SCCT, are accessible to everyone – migrants, refugees and locals.
Presently the English School offers four levels of English – Beginners, Elementary and Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate and registers 20 students per class. Each level is divided into two courses, each lasting five months. Classes take place twice a week for 1.5 hours each. The classes follow a set curriculum based on "English for Life" by Tom Hutchinson. At the end of each course students have the opportunity of writing a test and receiving a certificate for regular attendance.
In addition to that SCCT also assists in finding tutors for students who are in need of more intense English training than the regular English classes provide.
All our English teachers are volunteers who do not receive payment for the work they do. Term 1 2010 starts on 1 February 2010 and students must register with Daniela on the first floor of the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town early January . New students will need to complete a written and spoken placement test on Wednesday 6 January 2009 starting at 10am.
