English teaching centers nowadays abound in Bujumbura. The Government of Burundi through the Ministry in charge of the East African community affairs is active in the promotion of this language.
<doc5600|left>After closing or end of business hours, one can see how many Burundians are determined these days. Most of them go to take English lessons despite their fatigue. English is indeed a must for EAC integration! English learning training centers are currently many and the number of learners is increasing day after day. The English language training centers managers indeed acknowledge: "We get a lot of people who come to learn." « some of them are parliamentarians, officials, traders, tourists, etc", says Félicien Harerimana, responsible for English Language Center (ELC). He indicates that the Center’s clients come for two main reasons: "the first reason is linked to the entry of Burundi within EAC and Burundians have to use English in carrying out their socio-economic activities. The second reason is related to the problematic of employment because for most job opportunities, the fluency in English is a prerequisite. »
Though the Center requires each learner to pay nearly 75.000Fbu per quarter, Mr. Harerimana considers that this amount is not high in these dire times when Burundians complain about of the high cost of living: "Of course they have money to pay, but most importantly, they think about all the advantages they will gain after learning English." » Moreover, Harerimana is proud of recent winners’ performance who did not know a single word in English when they came to register: "We have taught English to traders who knew Kirundi and Swahili only when they came. Now, they are doing well in English. »
He suggests that the Government of Burundi supports English teaching centers and allow easy access to the learning of the English language: "It would be nice if the Government could grant us plots to build our facilities. This could also reduce the fees paid by our students." He emphasizes awareness-raising: "people do not feel concerned because they do not see far. The people of Burundi must be shown the benefit of the knowledge of English. »
Learn and practice
Claire Munezero, Professor of English at the Communication Language Center, stresses the importance of a language: "we have a lot of Burundians who have learned English, but they do not use it. And when we do not practice a language, we easily forget it. "For her, the best way would be to practice the English language with those who have a good command of it in order to develop our fluency and to help those who are still weak.”In this way, everyone learns quickly”, she says.
The courses are expensive
"Everyone cannot afford classes," Alida Irakoze laments. “There are places where you can pay 5000 thousand Burundian francs a month, but the quality of training is not good and certificates issued are not worth those provided in renowned centers”. Miss Irakoze asks the Government to facilitate access to these centers for people who want to learn or improve their knowledge of the language of Shakespeare.
The Government is at work
The ministry in charge of the East African Community Affairs, is taking this question with due attention and justly considers it a one the challenges to the integration of Burundi into the EAC, according to Oscar Bahizi, the ministry’s communication officer. He says that thanks to sensitization, English Teaching Centers abound, especially in Bujumbura: "the Ministry is seeking to support these centers. We plan to facilitate the entry of their teaching materials, for example. »
Ruling the teaching of English from primary school in the curriculum learning program, is also another indicator showing the willingness of the Government of Burundi to tackle the challenge of the English language. "The integration will benefit to all and especially to future generations," he said.
"The Ministry has set up a laboratory for the English language", a project that will help the members of the Government, civil society and the people of the private sector for the development of the language English. "The first beneficiaries will begin to study this month in October. And it will be free. And we hope that this will stimulate other English Teaching centers to reduce the costs," he says, adding that the senior executives will be the first to benefit from the training: "They are the most concerned by regional integration when they are sent into negotiations."
