By Matṧeliso Phulane
The English Foundation is a school that helps improve the proficiency of non-native English speakers who struggle with the language.
Non-native English speakers are students who speak a language other than English at home.
The school was founded by Halejoetsoe Mabaleha in September 2012. Mabaleha’s primary focus is on both elderly people and children who are taught grammar through the modules he created, namely how to speak English fluently with confidence, reading and writing the language.
He also offers training on how to use computer effectively in office programmes. Teaching is done both physically and online locally and internationally.
In an interview with theReporter this week, Mabaleha said when he first started the school, his main target was elderly people, but over time he decided to include children as well.
He noted that he was inspired to start his own school because he enjoys teaching, even though he never studied it at tertiary level. He describes himself as a ‘born teacher with a gift from God’.
He actually holds a diploma in Office Administration, but that does not stop him from doing what he loves.
Mabaleha is a man of many talents; he is a teacher, a motivational speaker, and a prophet who coaches people to start their own businesses.
“My heart bleeds when I see Basotho men and women in business struggling to communicate with their customers in English. This leads to business failure and unnecessary costs of hiring an interpreter.
“I decided to establish the school in order to help Basotho muster the confidence to speak English without needing interpreter when they travel outside the country
“When the school first started there were only eight people, five women and three men and the classes took place at St. Bennedett Primary school. At the moment there are 60 students who will soon be graduating,” he indicated.
Mabaleha awards his students Certificates of Proficiency in English upon completion of their studies.
“When a person is proficient, it means he has competent skills in doing or using something. In this case it means the person is capable of speaking English, reading as well as writing it,” he said.
He also revealed plans to open branches of the school in different parts of the country such as Maputsoe, Teyateyaneng and other districts.
The length of the studies is not cast in stone as this is determined by the strides an individual student makes.
“Some of the people I teach have never seen the inside of a classroom in their whole lives, so they take longer to learn the language.
“I usually notice a difference in my students within six months of leaving the school; they really change for the better,” he boasted.
Registration fee for adults is M 150 and M350 monthly tuition fees and M300 monthly for children. Apart from that they pay for the modules he wrote for them. There are morning classes and evening classes for those who are busy during the day.
People who are interested can contact him on +266 59420454 or visit his Facebook page at: English Foundation
