Emmanuel English Language Centre
From December 2023
Emmanuel English Language Centre has been offering quality affordable English classes to adults in Djibouti since 1976.
It has moved and developed but remains vibrantly active and continues to fulfil a need.
The library is open daily for members to borrow books, to study and to join conversation classes with a native speaker or a qualified teacher of English as a Foreign Language.
The main goal is to give Djiboutians the opportunity to enhance their skills to give them a better chance at finding a job. Classes are offered in the morning, afternoon and evening. The evening sessions give working students a chance to attend. Around 120 students attend the classes each year, with many more visiting the library each day. They are a committed student body, who dream of a chance at prosperity in a country with very high unemployment.
The EELC has also been able to offer a number of training courses for local English teachers, to improve their skills and equip them to serve their local communities. In January 2017, an experienced teacher trainer delivered an intensive course for high level students and local teachers.
Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim, 26, graduated from the EELC in 2015, after completing all four levels. He enrolled in the Level 1 (elementary) class in 2011 when he began his English Language degree at Djibouti University.
“I am very happy about Emmanuel School. The staff are very friendly. I learned different things from my teachers to fix my English pronunciation. I don’t know how to thank them.
We had different kinds of conversation classes and we used to talk about different kind of topics, such as traditions and languages.
Studying with EELC has brought job opportunities for Ibrahim. “When I was working with Caritas NGO I was an Afar-English translator, as a volunteer. I also worked for a Chinese company to translate between local people and Chinese people. Now I am working at a big hotel and sometimes I find English speakers and I have discussions with them.”
Nasra Said Elmi, 21, completed level 4 in 2017. She enrolled in the Level 1 class in 2014 after finishing high school. Now she is teaching her own English class in her neighbourhood.
“When I came to Emmanuel School I didn’t really understand anything! I didn’t think I could learn English. I could do the homework but the big problem for me was speaking and understanding. I joined the library and I was trying to read some books to help me. I met some of the teachers and they became friends and I asked them questions.
“In 2016 I started to work with LIFE International, an NGO, coaching running. I had to use English because the western coaches and my boss only spoke English at first so I needed to translate. If I hadn’t learned English it wouldn’t be helpful.”
Nasra also took part in a TESOL training course at EELC in January 2017. “Now I work at Open School of English and some of the running girls go to that school. I showed them my certificate and my TESOL training and in November 2017 I started teaching. I’m not used to being a teacher – the students would say, “teacher, teacher” and I would think, “who’s the teacher?” Then I remembered it was me!”
“You need to have patience to study and to finish the four years. So, to be a teacher now, I am really happy. And I know that I couldn’t have done it without my teachers who helped me and my boss who was paying for the school.”
Now see the Centre in action!
You have already seen this video on the home page but now have another look after learning more about the Centre’s history and activities.
Impressed?
Happy. Enjoyment. Involved. Committed. Participatory. Interactive.
Can you think of any other suitable descriptions?
EELC really is a very impressive place!
Kerith Trust 