In partnership with the South African Department of Cooperation and International Relations and the Embassy of France the next Consultative Workshop of the Public Sector Foreign Languages Forum will start on September 1st, 2011.
This Forum will host representatives from Governmental and Para-governmental agencies in order to achieve a specific foreign language training programme.
Actually last year new participants such as the Department of Trade and Industry, the Home affairs or the SARS expressed their needs for more than twenty different languages. Most requested were French, Swahili, Portuguese, English, Chichewa/Nyanja and Igbo. About 8000 employees were identified to participate to the foreign language training programme.
The results of the need analysis were clear, foreign languages are requested in South Africa to develop Bilateral and multilateral relations with international organizations as AU, IBSA or SADC and also for trade and development opportunities. Those languages are essentials as well, for missions such as peace-keeping in Africa or scientific and cultural exchanges.
This year the Public Sector Foreign Languages Forum will host Mr Frank Heyworth Special Advisor from the European Association of Quality Language Services who will bring his expertise and will facilitate the Forum.
The Public Sector Foreign Languages needs analysis
Twenty-eight Governmental agencies have attended the third “Public Sector Foreign Languages Forum”. Thirteen new organizations were represented and came to confirm the Public Sector Foreign Languages demand and the necessity to adopt a common charter to develop a specific language training program. New participants such as the Department of Trade and Industry, the Home affairs or the SARS have expressed their needs for more than twenty different languages. Most requested are French, Swahili, Portuguese, English, Chichewa/Nyanja and Igbo. Moreover 7874 employees have been identified to participate to the Public Sector Foreign Languages program.
This demand follows the South African internal and external politic. Indeed French, Swahili, Portuguese, Arabic and Mandarin are the languages needed in order to develop Bilateral and multilateral relations with international organizations (ex: AU, IBSA, SADC), and also for trade and development opportunities. Furthermore, those languages can be essentials for peace-keeping missions in Africa or for scientific and cultural exchanges. Besides the South African constitution allows any individual to be judged in his mother tong, in this respect interpreters and translators have to be trained.
Regarding the different languages uses and in reference to the Common Framework of languages, levels A1 and A2 are mainly asked for Portuguese, Chichewa, Nyanja, Igbo, Arabic, Mandarin, Russian and German. Levels B1 and B2 are requested for French, Swahili, Shona and Amharic. Then, most advanced levels are requested for English.
