SUA CENTRE FOR AFRICAN AND INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES (SUACAIL)

SUA CENTRE FOR AFRICAN AND INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES (SUACAIL)

Centre Background

On September 14th 2016, SUA, through the Department of language Studies and the iAGRI project support launched the English Language Resource Centre at Solomon Mahlangu Campus of Sokoine University of Agriculture. The is a language learning facility which was meant to offer instructional and self-access learning services through integrated technology based resources. Among other things, the Centre was envisaged to strengthen the foundation of English teaching and learning at SUA through using innovative strategies. In this respect, ELRC was set to provide English Language Proficiency Course, which was primarily designed to cater for diverse categories of clients who wish to improve their English language skills to the best functional level to enable them communicate effectively in different communicative settings.

Since its launching, the centre had been a hub of offering professionally designed face-to-face and online programmes to English language learners at SUA and the surrounding communities. In December 2017, the Centre changed its name from ELRC) to SUA Centre for African and International languages (SUACAIL). The name change was motivated by the realization that the demands for knowledge in international languages have currently expanded to include not only English bust also French, Chinese, Kiswahili and many other African languages. Therefore the name change was meant to make the Centre increase its mandate in terms of provision of more language services and creation of opportunities of potential collaborations with other language institutions worldwide and to undertake language research activities.

In addition to fulfilling the roles previously accomplished by the English Language Resource Centre (e.g. offering of English language proficiency courses), in the new context, the Centre, is now mandated to:

  • Offer customized short courses in Kiswahili, English, French, Chinese and other languages as dictated by demand
  • Offer preparatory training programmes for aspirants of international language certification tests such as TOEFL and IELTS
  • Collaborate with similar Centres in Africa and beyond the African continent in undertaking joint language projects
  • Conduct research on African and international languages
  • Accomplish any other roles as it will be deemed appropriate by the University and other stakeholders.

Testimonies