How to make English the tounge of vocational learning in the NUCOOP Bachelor programme?

The teachers in the NUCOOP Bachelor programme in Vocational Education are beyond doubt expected to be using the English language when teaching. At the same time it is expected that not all of the teachers are used to teaching in English and that even a smaller part of the Sudanese bachelor students are feeling at ease when using the English language.

In some parts of the Sudanese upper secondary schools English is not taught at all. It is expected that some of the bachelor students are going to qualify for admission partially based upon their vocational merits.

Lazarus is worried that his computer training which he paid for him self is soon becoming useless because of his lack of acces to a computer.

Lazarus, a young man from Malakal told me how he had learned his English. By listening to others, picking up pieces of phrases and actively construct-ing his English language he has on his own obtained sufficient knowledge in English to be able to participate in social inter-action using the same language. Lazarus is beyond doubt a clever guy and he is called wise by his peers. He has in his own way managed to cope with the challenges caused by that his school did not offer him the opportunity of learning English.

The NUCOOP bachelor programme in vocational education will have to face the challenge of a student body supposed to be lacking sufficient knowledge in English by integrating intensive focus on language training in all of its activities.

One way might be to offer the students access to high quality soundtracks presenting readings of English literature as well as vocational texts. The individual use of technology supported interactivity enabling each student to record and listen to his or hers own pronunciation and intonation and to compare it with the sound tracks will probably contribute to an increased learning outcome.

Another approach might be to facilitate a systematic formalisation of the tacit knowledge often characterizing vocational practice by open reflection and sharing.

The big question of how to manage to make English the tongue of learning in the NUCOOP bachelor programme in vocational education in South Sudan still remains mainly open and ideas are welcomed.