English Language Program

Connecting the efforts of community teachers…

The practice of teaching and learning English collectively among the Sudanese and Somali communities in Amman dates back to as early as community formation in the city. Knowledge of English is considered important especially as the majority seek resettlement to third countries like the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada.

In late 2018, Sawiyan board member Dr. Shireen Keyl, Sudanese community teacher Mobarak Adam and Somali community teacher Hassan Abdullahi joined forces to develop an English language program that can reach greater numbers of learners. The program would continue to be run by volunteer teachers among the community, with the assistance of native speakers. They set out to find nearby community based organisations in different neighborhoods to hold the classes, where a successful collaboration materialized with House of Hope in Jabal Amman neighborhood, and HelpAge International in Jabal Weibdeh neighborhood.

Sawiyan - British Council partnership: ESL teaching skills

Through an already established connection between community members and former British Council officer Mr. Frankie Randle, Sawiyan signed a contract of partnership with the British Council in 2020 to enable the delivery of a 60-hour course on language and pedagogy for English teachers to a total of 20 community teachers.

Throughout the course, diverse teaching methods and tools were explored (both online and in person) and ways to engage students of different backgrounds and ages. Discussions were also held about teachers’ classroom experiences and different teaching contexts. The discussions gave the students a space to explore challenges as well as opportunities and resources for community-led efforts in teaching English.

Critical pedagogy and racial empowerment

With the guidance of Dr. Shireen Keyl, Paolo Freire’s Critical Pedagogy approach was integrated into the formation of our community-led English language program. Our English language classes are spaces where teachers and students learn together. It is also a place where texts, passages and readings chosen for the different levels (beginner, elementary, pre-intermediate and intermediate) contain elements of racial empowerment for our community members. Over the past three years, co-founders of this project Mr. Mobarak Adam from Sudan and Mr. Hassan Abdullahi from Somalia developed study books for the beginner, elementary and pre-intermediate levels that address the needs of our refugee community.

Why Paulo Freire focused on oppression? Because oppression is dehumanizing. To be fully human is to have full control over what we do, how we think, and what we want to become. It’s a matter of self-determination. So, if we don’t attain self-determination, we will become alienated, will not have control over of our thoughts, creativity, and production. You can learn more about Paulo Freire and the development of critical pedagogy through the short animation below.

Sawiyan English language classes used to be held in person at different locations covering Jabal Amman, Jabal Weibdeh, Ashrafiyah and Jabal Natheef in collaboration with partners. Since the spread of COVID-19, the classes were moved online creating an opportunity to reach a wider audience spread out across Amman.

Since January 2022, a total of 202 students from 8 nationalities signed up for their classes and and received their textbooks. 12 volunteer teachers run the 8 different online classes through Zoom:

Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Elementary 1, Elementary 2, Pre-intermediate 1 (for speakers of Somali language), Pre-intermediate 2, Intermediate, and conversation class.

Some photos from our in person classes at different CBOs, homes, and Sawiyan offices (2019 - 2020):

If you are interested in signing up for our next semester, please contact us through the form below: