Friday, 8th February 2008

NAIROBI CITY

Nairobi is a very beautiful city. It is the capital city of the republic of Kenya. Smaller with a lower population than Kinshasa, capital of my country DRC. The center of the city is not old with the many streets with beautiful buildings, apartments, many different restaurants and the big shopping centers. The roads are good, less traffic jam and many public transport vehicles.

In Kinshasa the traffic is difficult and a lot of traffic jam because many roads are very bad. There are two seasons in Nairobi: The dry season and the rainy season but it's very cold and often rains. There are a lot of flowers, a lot of different fruits in Nairobi. I think, there is also a good economic - social organization. Each school has its uniform for pupils or students. The schools and universities are very beautiful, very nice and very clean. Some schools have buses for the students. But you can easily see a great different between the poor and the rich. The majority of the people who live in Nairobi are poor.

The people are friendly, the food is expensive but many things are natural and local: food for example flowers etc and many different juices.
Despite the bad temporally political situation after 2007 elections, Nairobi is among the most beautiful and nice capitals in Africa.
In the same city is situated The Language Center, near Adams Arcade on Ngong Road. It's a Language learning school frequented by many foreign students from different countries and continents.

There are many teachers coming from different continents and countries too. I think there is a big diversity of people and a good organization in this Center. The languages studied at The Language Center: French, English, Spanish, Chinese, Kiswahili, Kikuyu and Dholou.
In each class, there are three to ten students but there are different levels: Beginners, Elementary, and Intermediate etc...

There is a library with many books, cassettes, CDs etc for the listening, learning and practice. The teachers are very friendly, kind (very good), patient even those who work there, who don't teach.

Many people prefer The Language Center, I think, because it's the best Center in Nairobi. The population in Nairobi is mixed social and religious adherence. Choose The Language Center, you who wants to learn, to speak English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Kiswahili and Kenyan local languages.

Welcome!

Written by Sister Winnie Nkusu Mbumba
From D.R.C
ELEMENTARY CLASS

Friday, 8th February 2008

My Dear Mother,

Hi!
Here I am in Nairobi where I arrived two months ago. I like it very much because there are many flowers. The city is very big, very interesting and beautiful. It isn't old. It has beautiful buildings, apartments, with different restaurants and big shops.

The food is expensive than in Congo Kinshasa. The weather is very bad for me because it can be cold and it sometimes rains.

Mother, I am learning English at The Language Centre. The teachers are very good and friendly. At the weekends, I sometimes go to visit my friends. There are free times or free days for me to relax. I don't like the weather and food but I eat that because I don't have another food to eat.

I think you're fine and dady is too. See you soon.

Love from your daughter

Winnie Kasuku. RSCJ / NAIROBI
From D.R.C
Elementary Class

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT KENYA

Before I came to Kenya, I thought that Kenya's climate was very hot because of Africa. However, this is untrue. I like Kenya's climate. The afternoon is warm and the night is cool. Mangoes are expensive in Korea, but here it's cheap. So I buy many mangoes to eat.

There are many forests in Kenya. I like forests because I can smell fresh air and I like that.

Many birds entertain me, I enjoy listening to the sound of the birds. Everything surprises me. For example driving is on the opposite side of the road and the driver's seat too.

LEE SANG BONG
From Korea
Pre-Intermediate Class

My name is Sister Agnes.

I come from Italy. I am 58 years old. I arrived in Kenya on November 13th 2007. I have been sent by my Congregation ``Poverelle Sister'' as missionary among the poor slum of Kibagari Slum, Nairobi.

I love this blessed land of Kenya for her people and their religiousness, for the good air, for the panoramas and parks immensely rich in plants, flowers, and animals. In this period of time I am studying English Language and I sometimes go to visit the families in Kibagari.

I started to study the language on November 16 in The Language Center. I love this school for its seriousness in the organization and functionality, for the appointment of the professors in the teaching of the language and in the discipline and they know how to transmit to every student respecting her and welcoming them as person with their gifts or limits.

In this school of the Language Center I like the entire subjects because they prepare me to fit in this new culture. However it is particularly important to converse with the teachers and the students because I believe that I exchange opinions and cultures. It is a big enrichment for life.

In my two classes there are students coming from different continents and nations from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and precisely from the nations of Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Peru, Brazil, Korea, Turkey, Czechoslovakia and Italy.

When the occasion arises I often speak with enthusiasm to other people commending The Language Center for the job they are doing.

Sr. Agnes
Pre-Intermediate Class

PRE-INTERMEDIATE CLASS

ABOUT LANGUAGE CENTER

I am a student in The Language Center Level Pre- Intermediate. My name is Mireille.

I come from Congo - Brazzaville. My school is called The Language Center. It is in Nairobi in Kenya. The school has many students from different countries. In my class we are ten students.

There are many languages taught in this school. Some of them are: English, Spanish, French, Chinese and Kiswahili. There are many teachers who teach these languages. Most of them are from different countries. We have many different class levels, such as Beginner, Elementary, Pre-intermediaries, Intermediate and Advanced.

We come to school for five days from Monday to Friday our lessons starts at 8.30am. I love my school very much because we have the best teachers and a lot of time to study at school. Our school is famous for a good education, which helps the students to communicate in different languages.

ABOUT LANGUAGE CENTER

There are many things different between Kenya and my Country Angola, also they have some things in common.

The first they have in common like all African countries. Kenya and Angola have the problem of poverty. In both countries there are many poor people.

Many things make them different. Kenya is in the East of Africa and has English as its official language. Kenya has a big population. Angola is localized in the West, it has Portuguese as its official language and has fewer people than Kenya.

Kenya's Kitchen uses a lot of spicy and Angolan's food doesn't have a lot of spicy. I think that Kenyan people don't become soon friendly than Angolan people, because they don't say Hi if you don't know nobody, but Angolan people are friendly.

The weather is different in Kenya its very nice because doesn't have a lot of heat but Angola very hot sometimes.

VICTOR ZACHARIA
PRE-INTERMEDIATE CLASS

My experience in The Language Center

I have been in The Language Center for five months and what I my self can say is that, The Language Center is a helpful school for those who want to learn English or any other Foreign Language.

The first week was a challenge for me. Learning a new language in a new country and new culture made me confused. And another problem was to study together with the ladies, I haven't experienced this since l finished the sixth year of primary school when I was 10.
By the way, today I'm used to everybody and I can joke and laugh with anyone. My experience of this new language is very positive, I thought that I could not speak or write but now I'm surprised to see my improvement in English.

The teachers I have met are good at teaching and they are very patient and kind. I can't imagine how great is their patience when the student's makes big mistakes and the teachers have to repeat the same thing to help them. They give the same opportunity to everybody to understand and learn the new language. They don't mind if you are young or old.

The Language Center is able to put together many people from different countries. In my group I haven't seen a misunderstanding or a row between two people from different places or ethnics even religion. What an amazing experiences!
We are from different categories of people: married, religious, single, old, young but we are all friends and we can joke without discrimination like the people of the same age, the same way of thinking or style of living.

The health condition is assured because they try to make every thing clean but I'm not very sure about the security, I have no idea for that.

I can say that The Language Center is trying to do its best especially the purpose for which it is founded. It is a good place for learning and I hope many people will have a nice experience like mine.

King Mazono Pierrot
Upper-Intermediate

HOANG THI BICH HUYEN

I have been living in Kenya for nine months. This is the first time that I have ever lived in a foreign country. The weather is absolutely wonderful, it's neither too cold nor too hot, but I have not really enjoyed Kenyan food. I hope I will gradually learn to enjoy Kenyan food. Kenyans are very kind, friendly, enthusiastic and helpful. I am gaining a lot from their cheerful attitude.

Since I came to Kenya, I studied with English sisters for five months before I started studying at The Language Center. I have been studying at The Language Center for four months. At first, I felt uncomfortable because everything was strange but day-by-day I feel happiness and more comfortable at school.

I've also received from my teachers understanding, trust, feedback and good examples. These help me to grow and blossom well. Besides, my classmates respect and love for me also make me more confident. I am willing to share with them what I have learnt. I consider that my studying at The Language Center is a gift, because I've touched the beauty and enrichment of other cultures. I've learnt the way to welcome and respect their cultures.

I am trying my best therefore I am coping very well at school but I still find speaking and listening difficult. I hope when I go back to Viet Nam my English will improve a lot. However, I admit that I need to learn more by myself instead of depending on my teachers. I think it is not enough if I've just learnt the lessons from my teachers. I need to learn from my friends and many different sources like newspapers, T.V. books…

Upper - Intermediate

The teachers and the people at The Language Center are friendly. Helpful and well-trained, and they are willing to be flexible to meet our needs
They use a lot of humour in their reading and are generous with information. The classes are stress-free! During the classes we can ask as many questions as necessary. There is a good balance of grammar, conversation and vocabulary.

I enjoy the conversation with the teacher and classmates the most, I think the teacher offers good mix of reading, patience and fun. A great learning environment! Even though I had studied English several years earlier, I had doubts and fear that I would not be able to speak, understand others and respond. Now I have much more confidence, and it was fun.

The school is professional and well managed. I was treated with much patience and friendliness by everyone at the school. I am always motivated because the more English I speak, the more I can communicate with the teacher and people in the city.

Andrea
Upper-Intermediate

I am a Tanzanian. In my Country we are among the East Africa Community. Tanzania is the biggest country in East Africa. It is a union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar which form the united republic of Tanzania. The origin of the word Tanzania is TAN short for Tanganyika and ZAN, Zanzibar with the addition of the three letters NIA which means one goal/target or aim in Swahili.

The people of Tanzania are Sukuma from Tabora and Mwanza, Chagga from Kilimajaro, Ngoni form Ruvuma region, Safwa, Nyakyusa, Sangu and Wanyiha from Mbeya and other tribes which make up two hundred and twenty seven tribes of Tanzania. Its foundation as a country is peace and unity among all tribes which makes it different from many countries in Africa.

The political foundation of Tanzania was socialism which was based on small groups of ten members "Nyambakumi'' who lived together and shared all that they produced. That foundation connected widely with the communal village "vijiji vya ujamaa'' in Swahili and whole country. This foundation was laid by Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere the first President and father of the Nation (Baba wa taifa). Today we still have few villages like Kwalukonge in Tanga region, Ijumbi and Inyara in Mbeya region and others but in many parts of the country it is not practiced and even these villages are not as strong as they were during Nyerere's time. It is one country which is stronger in Nationalism than in tribalism, united with one language, Kiswahili.

BY HERMAN .Y. MHAGAMA
ENGLISH STUDENT
Advanced Class

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