The following item from the Abuja paper, the Daily Trust, was seen on
AllAfrica.com at http://allafrica.com/stories/200703190921.html . This
concerns a commercial language center that focuses mainly on foreign
languages (but note that Hausa is on the list also). It is the kind of place
that could be equipped with basic facility for local languages as well at no
cost (is it really "fully equipped" for African languages as well: fonts,
keyboard drivers, and if available, localized FOSS?). It may also be able to
link with sites and resources for people elsewhere learning the local
languages as second languages. From a business point of view there seem to
be 3 angles of interest:
1) People "learning to read" their first language (very small market, but
possibly interesting to develop)
2) People learning another Nigerian language (such as is the case with
Hausa)
3) Possible remote arrangements with African language teaching programs in
other countries. (Basically distance tutoring on a schedule with pay - this
is hypothetical, but I think African language programs are moving in the
direction of such distance methods.)
None of these need replace foreign language learning, but could add to the
range of business.
Don
Nigeria: Language Centre Signs MOU With IT Firm
Daily Trust (Abuja)
March 19, 2007
Posted to the web March 19, 2007
Abdullahi M. Gulloma
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed by the Easy Language
Centre and Dolman Networks Limited in Abuja for the promotion of foreign
language studies through information technology.
The MOU which was sealed Friday will enable Easy Language Centre to avail
its courses in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese
and Hausa languages in meeting the yearnings of the populace.
Head of Dolman Networks Limited, Mr. James Egwu, addressing newsmen at the
company's office at Wuse 2, Abuja, said the company's subsidiary, the Dolman
Computer Institute, 'is a Pearson centre where GMAT, TOEFEL and other
professional examinations are written on line' and enjoys patronage from
government and non-governmental organizations.
Also speaking, the director of Easy Language Centre, Mr. Ekum Etti Bernard,
said his school will utilize Dolman's fully equipped language laboratory,
computers with internet facilities in all classrooms and computerized
administration to enable students monitor their progress on line world wide.
Copyright C 2007 Daily Trust.
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