English as a Second Language/English as a Foreign Language
The Government of Rwanda, through it’s Ministry of Education, declared a few years ago that “Courses in Rwanda’s schools and universities shall henceforth be taught in English, this being among the means for Rwanda to join the Commonwealth.”
This opened the need for English-instruction to be offered to current school teachers at all levels. As well, it put the nation of Rwanda on a path to transition from being a francophone country to an anglophone country. The need and desire to speak, hear, read and write English is everywhere.
Many of ATN’s Volunteers and Staff have ESL and TESL certification and are working with communities, school children, public and private school teachers and street kids to give them the skill and gift of English. As well, ESL/EFL classes are regularly held at ATN’s training center in Kicukiro.
Africa Reads and ATN
ATN has partnered with Africa Reads to bring English literacy instruction and training to Rwanda’s public schools and develop classroom and school libraries working towards a “culture of reading” in Rwanda.
In 2008 a representative from Rwanda’ Ministry of Education contacted Ken Stamatis, a literacy consultant and professor at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Stamatis made a trip to Kigali, Rwanda in the summer of 2009, conducting a literacy workshop for approximately 100 teachers and working in classrooms of about ten schools. During his trip, Stamatis spoke with many Rwandans who all said the same thing: increased access to reading material would result in increased academic performance and improved social and economic capacity. Upon his return to the United States, Stamatis began AfricaReads.
Committed to partnerships that promote English literacy in Rwanda, AfricaReads focuses on four primary objectives:
- Professional development for teachers in literacy instruction strategies in the classrooms of primary and secondary schools.
- Implement English Language Learner curriculum with primary and secondary students and teachers.
- Lead in the creation of classroom and school libraries in our partner schools.
- Promote African authors who seek to write and publish books for African children.
WBTC, Literacy International and ATN
ATN has partnered with WBTC (World Bible Translation Center) and Literacy International to provide EFL Literacy materials to Rwandan Primary and Secondary Schools.
WBTC has combined their Easy to Read English version of the New Testament with Literacy International’s EFL Firm Foundation Literacy materials to create a Firm Foundation Reader which ATN uses in Rwandans Public Primary and Secondary schools to equip and enhance English skills and literacy competency. As well, ATN is using these materials with English Club programs in schools and with street kid outreach programs. The readers are used as “text” books. In addition, Firm Foundation Workbooks, which contain literacy lessons and exercises, are provided to each student.
Kinyarwanda Literacy
ATN has begun a pilot Kinyarwanda Literacy class with vulnerable women in Kicukiro. In principle, it’s very difficult to learn to read or write a second language before one can read and write one’s heart language. Thus, the need for Kinyarwanda Literacy Education. Literacy International, in addition to developing English literacy materials, has also developed Kinyarwanda literacy materials using the same format and teaching structure. ATN’s Volunteers and Instructors trained to use their English litearcy materials, who speak Kinyarwanda, can easily use their Kinyarwanda literacy materials without additional training.
