Argentina to Teach Spanish in Mossel Bay Ahead of 2010

This was announced last week by the Academic Director of the University, Professor Roberto Villarruel, at a media conference in Buenos Aires that was attended by representatives of various Argentinean ministries - including Directors General from the Ministry of Exterior and Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry Exterior Relations - as well as Armiger and Louis Harris, who represented the Municipality of Mossel Bay.

The Language Centre is the first in of a number of projects presently being developed by Mr Harris on behalf of the Municipality and in association with the City of Buenos Aires. Other projects that will soon come on stream include skills training facilities focussing on sports, recreation and health and on the improvement and enhancement of social security programs both in South Africa and throughout the African continent.

The University Language Centre (Centro Universitario de Idiomas) in Buenos Aires has grown phenomenally - from 67 students in 1992 to 20,000 in 2009 - and now uses state-of-the-art technology to teach thirteen different languages.

“Many students enrol to learn another language because they want to look for work in other countries, and others come simply because they have a love of learning,” said Mossel Bay's 2010 Coordinator, Louis Harris, who worked alongside Armiger in negotiating the deal for the town.

“The program in Mossel Bay will be presented by six language teachers from the University who will come here for three months at a time and will thereafter be replaced by another team of six people,” he said.

“The objective is to train 200 students per month through a fast-track, 90-hour programme that will teach a basic knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese, French or Italian to people who'll be working during the World Cup with visitors, players and officials who speak the Latin languages.

“However, once the fast-track courses are delivered, more advanced courses will also be made available, and other languages will also be offered.”

Mr Harris stressed that this was not just a programme aimed at 2010 - because the Centre would remain permanently established in Mossel Bay.

“Over time it will develop the capacity to teach all levels of language
- from beginner to proficient,” he said. “It will also eventually have a full translation and interpretation unit staffed by South African graduates who have gone through all stages of language training.

“It is fundamental to understand that the long term aim for the training unit at Mossel Bay is to develop South African language experts and teachers who will eventually replace the Argentines who will initially be employed here.

“Therefore, in both the short- and the long term, the value to the students, to the FIFA Family of footballers and their supporters, to Mossel Bay itself, and to South Africa in general cannot be underestimated.

“The Centre will provide fast-track students with a marketable skill - one that will always be needed in fields like the hospitality and import-export industries and the services sector; it will provide Mossel Bay with a sustainable language tourism industry; it will increase South Africa's ability to host international events like the World Cup; and it will improve the visitors' experience of the country - because they'll more easily be able to find service and help in their home languages.

“In 2010, there'll be a particular need for members of our police services, ambulance personnel, paramedics, staff at our hospitals, security personnel and officers at information centres to be able to communicate with the fans.

“And, as you can imagine, once the Eden District's Media Hub for 2010 is open in Mossel Bay, the presence of foreign language speakers will be invaluable to the reporters and journalists who'll be based here.”

Mr Harris said that the Language Centre's method of teaching in Buenos Aires was highly personalised and includes face-to-face interaction with other students and lecturers, and that this method would be applied in Mossel Bay.

“The model developed for Mossel Bay will also create opportunities for people from South Africa - and various other countries in Africa - to be trained as translators for conference centres.

“This will come in handy almost immediately after the World Cup, when the first World Congress on Social Security will take place in Cape Town
in November 2010,” said Mr Potgieter.

“Armiger - in association with the University of Buenos Aires - will set up offices in Mossel Bay within the coming weeks,” he said.

“Our first fast-track students will come from the Garden Route and Klein Karoo, and we're currently working to interest various hospitality companies and service providers in both the public and private sector in our services.

“Importantly, the Language Centre will be attached to a cultural centre through which we'll bring events that celebrate Latin American culture - like tango shows, for example - to the people of the region.”

Mr Harris said that the cost of training - which will be around a “very reasonable R3,000.00 per student for the fast-track courses - can be reclaimed from the government's SETA programme, and Armiger will be able to help any employers who pay their levies to apply for these refunds.”

Mr Harris stressed that that Mossel Bay had taken the lead in providing these language courses with a view to accommodating those soccer fans who don't speak English but will be visiting South Africa in 2010.

“Communication with our visitors will be critical in order for them to enjoy their stay in our town and region,” he said.

Still, both Mr Harris and Mr Potgieter were at pains to point out that the Language Centre would have benefits long after the World Cup ended.

“The Government and FIFA are very concerned that the World Cup should leave a legacy that will improve the lives of South Africans in the years after the event,” said Mr Harris.

“But as far as the Language Centre in Mossel Bay is concerned, the World Cup is just a short-term aim - because the Centre will still be here long after the soccer players and their supporters have gone.”

“You couldn't find a more perfect match for the ideal of using the World Cup as a catalyst for development in Africa,” he said.

More information about Armiger at www.armiger.biz