The JCT/WITS Language Programme

Scholarship Opportunity for Unemployed Matriculants

Learn French, German, Spanish, Portuguese or Mandarin (Chinese)
and open many career doors for yourself – both locally and abroad

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Applications for the 2009 Language Programme are CLOSED.

The Job Creation Trust has created an opportunity for students from disadvantaged communities to learn a foreign language. Students are attending lessons in French. German, Spanish, Portuguese or Mandarin. The course is one year long and is being held in Johannesburg, at the University of the Witwatersrand Language School. This is normally a 3-year course and has been compressed into one intensive year of study.

Applications were invited from South African citizens of any race, colour, or gender between 18 and 24 who had passed matric before 2008 and who were unemployed. Applicants had to be from a disadvantaged background and needed a command of English (the language of instruction) and have an aptitude for languages, both written and spoken.

Interviews were held in all 9 provinces. Some 1 600 applicants were interviewed and sat a language aptitude test designed specifically for the programme. These were narrowed down to the final 140 candidates. The programme commenced on 9 February with a one week orientation programme. On 16 February the programme started in earnest.

Graduating students will receive a WITS Language School Certificate of Competence at NQF level 4 and will sit exams for the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages examination for level B2 or the Chinese equivalent. Graduates will be well positioned to seek employment in the diplomatic service, tourism industry, with foreign companies operating in South Africa or with South African companies operating in foreign countries.

The language course is accompanied by a life skills programme which covers many aspects of life skills, including culture, arts, health and nutrition, career counselling. team building, leadership, financial management and entrepreneurship.

The 2009 course will run from February to November 2009, with a break in mid-year. Secure, monitored accommodation has been provided by the Trust, as well as all meals. Counsellors have been made available to the students.

The entire language scholarship programme is funded by the Job Creation Trust and includes language tuition, the life skills programme, accommodation and food. Families of students are expected to support them where they can. Students are also required to participate in community service projects.

We are now moving to a new stage, seeking job opportunities, internships and further education possibilities for our graduates.

The intention is to hold this programme each year and to improve the overall quality of the entire programme as time passes.

We are seeking sponsors for the programme for 2008 and 2009. This programme is in line with virtually all CSI/CSR guidelines, encompassing empowerment of disadvantaged individuals, youth, education, employment, travel and tourism. Financial sponsorship of individual students, groups of students or the entire programme is possible.

Sponsors will be given recognition and branding opportunities and access to students for employment interviews.

Sponsors can also help in other ways - a computer network is needed for the residence, we desperately need transport to events and cultural locations and there are other ways you can help.

For more information or to investigate sponsorship opportunities, please

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