STATEMENT ON THE AAUCA ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FACULTY/STAFF
AAUCA ON UPHILL MOBILITY
To undertake such a bold campus-wide initiative of building capacity in English language literacy in a non-native setting is no easy task. This daunting challenge couldn’t have been overcome without the enlightened vision of AAUCA’s new Rector , synchronized with the dedication of a handful of five (5)committed English language professionals, armed with the resolve to produce results in spite of resources being in short supply.
Within the span of the last 2 months, significant preliminary work has been executed with regard to feasibility, planning strategies, placement test designing, and drumming up support and involvement of key project facilitators. Today, after the launching of the EL training on April 19, we can pride ourselves of having achieved the first milestone in this tedious and long trek ahead to AAUCA’s EL program accreditation and international self-actualization.
After the administration of the placement test, which assessed prospective trainees’ competencies in the basic EL skills, we proceeded with group leveling based on the results obtained. We were then able to determine ability levels based on the outcome of the placement test. There were 72 participants involved in testing, and nearly half of them (35) were assigned to the basic level. In order to keep the student—teacher ratio below 20, the basic level was split in two groups (A &B.).
Four (4) levels were identified: a) Basic/Elementary b) Pre-Intermediate c) Intermediate d) Upper Intermediate. The Face2face manual from the Cambridge University Press was the chosen textbook, owing to its comprehensive scope (covering from the basic level through the Advanced level), featuring a student book, workbook, Teacher manual and audio recordings.
As we all should concur, the EL is unquestionably the global institutional medium of communication in academia, technology, science and business; and as such must be a prerequisite in any higher education institution that aspires for excellence, prestige and uphill mobility.
If for anything, this free training program availed to AAUCA’s personnel has the propensity to enrich and enhance their skills-set and broaden their academic and professional horizon, if fully taken advantage of. Our team is profoundly encouraged by the enthusiastic display of excitement by faculty and staff that are eager to seize this fresh opportunity to make the most out of this free chance for EL individual and institutional empowerment
Finally, the English Language Improvement team would be remiss if it does not acknowledge and commend the transformational leadership initiatives of Pr. Dr. Said, AAUCA’s Rector, for enabling and empowering us in the accomplishment of this challenging mission- HATS OFF!
Dr. Ousmane Ba, PhD
Training Program Coordinator
