From a teacher’s perspective, one of the best aspects of the workshops offered by the SU Language Centre is the wide variety of students and trainees they attract. Our most recent round of General English workshops are showcasing just that.
Meet Francisco and Gabriel
Two young, talented Brazilian rugby players have enrolled in the world-renowned SAS (Stellenbosch Academy of Sports) Rugby training programme. While they are in South Africa to master the game in a country that produces World Cup-winning Springboks, they are also tackling a different challenge: improving their English.
As team meetings and coaching sessions are conducted entirely in English, Francisco and Gabriel’s English workshop sessions focus mainly on rugby-specific vocabulary and scenarios, ensuring they can understand their coach as clearly as they read the game.
We want to be able to understand our coaches better, so that training and practice doesn’t have to slow down just for us. We also want to understand our teammates better during matches, English allows us to do this.”
Francisco and Gabriel doing the work.
Meet Ernesto
In a different lane, we have Ernesto, an experienced cyclist from Spain, who is in town to take part in the gruelling mountain bike race, the Cape Epic, from 15 to 22 March this year. As if this wasn’t enough of a challenge, he has also taken on the steep climb of working on his English language skills.
Ernesto didn’t just come here to focus on sports; he came to connect. In his English classes, we have now shifted gears, moving from expanding his vocabulary, to refreshing his conversation skills, enabling him to better share experiences or have a laugh with his fellow riders.
Two years ago, after dinner with friends, I came home and saw a CAPE EPIC lottery ad on Instagram. And now, two years later, I’m here. When you don’t know a place, you only listen to the worst thoughts. But this place is A PARADISE, especially for bikers. The real reason I’m here is a mountain bike race but because I enrolled at the SU Language Centre I discovered a very beautiful town, Stellenbosch, with amazing buildings. And the people are even more beautiful – they’re funny and really good people.”
Ernesto focusing on his workshop session.
At the finish line
Whether they are navigating the mountains, a sports field or a complex sentence in the classroom, these students are doing it with a smile. They are proof that language is the ultimate tool for connection, no matter your age, country of origin, profession or even your sport.
For this reason, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach with our general English workshops at the SU Language Centre. We meet students at their level, with materials and topics that not only address their needs but also pique their interest. With this in mind, we offer general English workshops specifically geared to the real-world environments our students may face, whether that’s behind a podium, in a boardroom, or doing the sport they love.
If this sounds like something you’d like to explore or recommend to someone you know, we’re happy to discuss options for a workshop. Contact Michelle Pieters at michellep@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2812. We’d love to hear from you!
Also have a look at our short courses in professional communication. Although these offerings are more formal than workshops, they are still fun and very relevant to the workplace. We cover a variety of topics!
Workshop coordinator Michelle with Ernesto.
– by Charnel Williams, English teacher
This post is also available in: English
