Egyptian resort harnesses SA English literacy expertise

The complex – which includes hotels, two golf courses, a convention centre and other world-class facilities – is being managed by Sun International, which has for several years used Media Works' materials to increase basic education levels among its workforce at the Sun City resort and entertainment complex in North West province.

“Two trainers from Sun International were sent to Egypt to implement the training program and there will also be three Egyptian trainers,” explained Dennis Lamberti, Media Works' development director, adding that Media Works has also sent one of its own trainers to Port Ghalib to train the Egyptian trainers.

Currently, the workers at the complex have extremely low or no English language communication skills, which are seen as critical in the rapidly expanding and highly competitive and service-focused international tourism and hospitality industry. This lack of English literacy is compounded by the fact that Egyptians use the Arabic alphabet.

A major advantage of Media Works' literacy material is in the flexibility of the multimedia approach. This allows learners to fulfil their lessons regardless of their shift times or other timing constraints.

“One of the Egyptian trainers commented to me that if he had had access to our outcomes-based material when he was at school, he would have learned English much faster,” said Lamberti.

The aim of the programme is to build the Egyptian workers' English literacy levels up to South African school Grade 9 standard over a period of around two years.

“We have for many years been supplying Sun City with adult education and English literacy training materials and we're optimistic that this appointment in Egypt will lead to us exporting our intellectual capital to other parts of Africa and the world,” said Lamberti.