Agencies Team Up to Teach 'Survival' English Skills to Somalis UTICA, May 15, 2008 -- Some 20 Somali Bantu refugees took a “survival” English language skills class from April 1 to May 13, thanks to the Neighborhood Center, MAMI Community Interpreters and the Legal Aid Society teaming up as part of a United Way grant. The one-and-a-half hour class was held three nights a week at the Neighborhood Center, contracted through MAMI. “Between 15 and 20 refugees attended each night,” said Virginia Barney, executive director of the Neighborhood Center, the lead agency in the UW grant. “While the class was open to everyone from the Somali Bantu community, the target population was women, especially those with less exposure to English. We provided child care and transportation. There was one couple that wanted to learn English together and came to class on a regular basis.” The class taught “survival” language skills, “such as what to say when dialing 9-1-1, letter and alphabet recognition as their language is not a written language, home and school communication, and other survival skills,” said MAMI Executive Director Cornelia Brown. “The class also taught the importance and meaning of appointments, how to be on time, how to be and act in a classroom or meeting. These things will assist them in navigating the modern world, find and keep a job, or receive services when they need them.” The MAMI instructor was Lili Vidovic, a Bosnian refugee who is now a teacher of English language skills for the Utica School District. Vidovic also had taught a MAMI driver’s education class for Somali Bantu women. Noted Brown: “The Bantu are teaching us about their culture, what is important to them, how to best help them. Right from the start, they have expressed that they want to learn, and become full members of our community.” ### Back to Main News Page