Students from Australia help novices in the development of English language competencies

Through Bridge Builders, an australian program supporting marist collaboration and volunteering, was developed a collaboration between the Year 11 students of Parramatta Marist High of Australia and the Marist Novices at the international Novitiate at Tudella, Sri Lanka, whereby students accompany Novices, assisting them in the development of their formal and informal English language competencies.

Mark and Samuel, from Parramatta Marist High, are piloting the English language program via ZOOM. They earn credits in a program named Marist Mission/Active Volunteering. The program has two aligned streams: an innovative Faith in Action RE course (Marist Mission); a Vocational Educational Training (VET) certificate course which qualifies students for nationally recognised credentials at Certificate level.

Physical volunteering is not so possible in these Covid times, hence the development of this Virtual Volunteering program.

Novices at Tudella come from the Province of Australia (Timor Leste and Melanesia), the Province of South Asia (Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka), and the District of Asia (Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia and China). All need to develop their English skills at the formal level by achieving a good score in IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, so that they can later complete tertiary courses in the Philippines. They also need to be comfortable with conversational English, as they have different mother tongues and need a common language in Community.

Br Nghi is from Vietnam and has agreed to be in the vanguard of this pilot program.