Background:
As a result of UNPRECEDENTED growth, UBUNTU BRIDGE is expanding!
We are a social enterprise, started 2006, and run as a profit-making business with a mission to contribute to a healthy economy, whilst manifesting positive social change with respect to all people and the environment.
The successful candidate will be responsible for administration in the UBuntu Bridge offices.
Job Descriptions:
- Client communications involving Cd orders, course bookings, payments and cash sales need to be dealt with efficiently and consistently at certain times every week from our office in Claremont, next to Cavendish Square.
- managing all enquiries and the client/supplier databases, as well as creditors/debtors
- overseeing the sales, stock and delivery process, communication with teachers and working with marketing person as part of a team.
- handling basic bookkeeping preparation at the end of the month for handover to our bookkeeper.
- Assist with all aspects of the business on an ad hoc basis. This could range from sending marketing emails, collecting materials, joining in on teaching events or buying supplies for events.
Attributes of Candidates:
- strong administrative skills, ability, preference and experience
- Be a strong communicator with good people skills who enjoys interacting with all types of people
- Have strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) is crucial
- Be able to multi–task and deal with customer services in a professional and efficient manner
- Be willing to learn and increase knowledge of the language-training industry in Southern Africa
- Be self-motivated, able to work alone and take initiative
- Manage daily and weekly tasks in a timely fashion
- Be a team player, cheerful, friendly and have a professional demeanour in dealing with clients
Hours of Work:
Initially 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) 4 hours in the morning, which need to be consistent. These days are not open to negotiations.
Apply by sending CV, relevant, contactable references, motivating letter and salary expectations via email to employment@ubuntubridge.co.za , with subject: “Job Application - admin,
Closing date:
Close of Business, Friday 16 December 2011 (currently extended)
Please note that correspondence will only be conducted with the short-listed candidates. If you have not been contacted by UBuntu Bridge within (2) two months of the closing date of the advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. UBuntu Bridge thank all applicants for their interest
Friday, December 23, 2011
Office Administrator Needed 2012
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Recent Corporate Feedback 2011
The majority of our feedback was collected on written sheets, as yet to be digitised, but here follows some excerpts from emails we received, often spontaneously, or via the HR manager. We intend to keep improving our services and products, but this shows that the quality of our work and service has remained consistent, even as we begin to upscale. We will not rest on our laurels, but continue to strive in our quest to help transform South Africa in a postive way.
I’ve been attending the Xhosa classes (taught by the Ubuntu Bridge team) here in Cape Town the last two months, and I have thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed them. It’s been wonderful to learn something new, and in the process learn a bit more about Xhosa culture. I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did, and it was also fantastic to meet Media24 staff from other businesses/business units. I really laud this Media24 initiative!
Warm regards,
Ester Levinrad
"Thanks for a great course – it has honestly changed the way I interact with people and has taught me so much more than the basics of another language. I hope to pursue it further."
Andrea Marchesi, Media 24
"Hi Craig
Just wanted to say a big thank you to you and Babalwa for the course. It was actually fantastic and it surpassed all my expectations. Having gone to school for 12 years and varsity for 5, I can safely say it was the most enjoyable course I have ever done.
Thanks again,"
Steven Mervis
Molweni Craig, Nosi, Harrison & Luphumlo,
Thank you so much for the wonderful learning experience you gave us at Media24.
You guys were the best!
Sobonana!
Elizca Henn, Media 24
Thanks, We had a tough time restructuring our business and our stress levels are high. I must say the one thing that helped reduce my stress levels were our lunch time classes with Luphumlo and Nosi. They are such a breath of fresh air and Luphumlo is sometimes a laugh a minute.
It is most definitely a worthwhile course to do and I think the uBuntu Bridge team that taught us is wonderful and very professional. I would strongly recommend that Old Mutual continue using them and most definitely continue presenting this course as part of the Business School HR initiative. I wish I have had this opportunity 20 years ago.
Finally, thank you for giving me this opportunity to enrich myself on a cultural and personal way. We have a wonderful country, and at Old Mutual we most definitely are living the value of diversity. I loved the past 8 weeks – THANK YOU!!!!
Regards, Mo van Niekerk, Old Mutual
Craig, thank you very much for creating the UBuntu Bridge initiative. The course is an enriching experience on many levels. And our teacher is a great ambassador for the culture and sensitivity of the people and the elegance of the language.
Louisa Botha, OM
Click here for Corporate info:
Or email us for more info: info@ubuntubridge.co.za
Monday, July 11, 2011
Ten Xhosa Learning Tips - #'s 1 - 2
I will release these every few weeks via our newsletter. Subscribe here:
1. Assume it’s an easy language to learn:
Because it really is! Here’s a couple of great reasons why: Some languages, such as Japanese, have at least three alphabets and writing each character requires accuracy and attention. English, a language you can speak (if you are reading this) and one which many people from all different backgrounds and levels of education are learning all the time around the world, is NOT phonetic, which makes it difficult to learn to read and pronounce, in fact it can take years. In contrast, Xhosa not only uses the Roman alphabet, but it IS phonetic and is thus quick and easy to learn to read and pronounce. Even the clicks, which make many people think that Xhosa is impossible and they just CAN’T do, are really easy and quick to learn if someone knows how to teach them. (This does not necessarily include Xhosa speakers, who suckled Xhosa from their mother’s breasts, as the Xhosa saying goes, and thus never had to learn the language as an adult!) There are only three clicks and we have taught over hundreds of people Xhosa over 6 years and everyone gets all three clicks in 30 seconds. It then just takes a bit of practice and repetition to get them strong and effortless, much as we can all do a bench press of a moderate weight at least once, but it takes effort and practice to increase your reps. With a few minutes of practice each day, rapid progress is possible! And the clicks are a fantastic way of connecting to the vibrations of our old Bushmen ancestors. Travel back in time, reconnect to ancient human heritage. Learn the Clicks! See a great video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1YwH_cRDK8. And besides, attitude is everything when trying to learn anything!
2. Don’t START with the noun groups.
Many text books and Xhosa courses start with teaching the noun groups. This made some sense if the designer of the course was seeking to teach the entire structure of the language to a student and new that they had a long time to do so, for instance a couple of years at high school, or a year curriculum at university level. Even with those structures, many students seem to go through years of high school Xhosa tuition and come out not speaking Xhosa! I believe you have to start with a verb-based grammatical understanding, then combining with prefixes and using nouns only ad hoc, whilst the learner builds confidence and love for the spoken language of Xhosa. As you gain confidence and enjoyment, and sense the tangible rewards for your effort, you will be motivated to start tackling the more study intensive noun groups and all conjugations that follow from there. This worked for me!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Where were you on holiday? I was ....
Download now or listen on posterous
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
UNsubscribed
Thanks. You have been unsubscribed from our newsletter.
Hope you were not too bothered by our newsletter amongst the piles of junk info that we all have to deal with. Sorry - uxolo!
If you did not mean to unsubscribe you can re-subscribe or change your settings here: http://www.graphicmail.co.za/rwcode/subscribe.aspx?SiteID=5049&Mode=subscribe
Otherwise, Stay well - Sala kakuhle!
Sharp.
UBuntu Bridge.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Xhosa Volunteer Opportunities - The thinking behind it
It is my belief that the best way for people to learn Xhosa and potentially help heal rifts is to go and volunteer, but not to go as some sort of saviour but rather as your humble self, struggling to learn Xhosa and to get to know people in the process. You provide a service, and learn about your fellow peoples in our beautiful country and have a good time. There is plenty of healing to be done on both sides of the wealth and class curtain. Besides, this is how I learnt Xhosa as an adult - Volunteering and interacting. Its a fabulous investment in yourself, let alone the youth of our country.
So, if you wish to be connected through some innovative channels, please check this blog label often or subscribe via RSS or just keep subscribed to my mailing list. But hopefully, you can follow one of the links to organisations below and find a place to volunteer that works well for you. At this time, I prefer to not have to manage this process. Take initiative and contact some of the folk below.
At some point, we hope to have a google calendar, which will provide up to date connections with events and peoples organising things in the townships. The atmosphere of non-work pressure combined with the inquisitive exposure will allow you the mental space to let your Xhosa grow. Epic! Improve your Xhosa, heal the nation and yourself - Volunteer!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Volunteer Opportunities - Links and Contacts
The Sosebenza Centre for Peace is a youth centre in Masiphumelele (MASI). Its is a home away from home to many youth involved in various environmental, music, art, drama, sport and spiritual community based organisations.
Link to their Facebook Page
And Green Pop for fun tree planting activities in the locations:http://www.greenpop.org/
http://greenpop.org/dates/ - for planting schedule.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Culture Topics
UBuntu Bridge is happy to provide speakers on Xhosa culture and its adaptations in a modern context. Please email us on info@learnxhosa.co.za
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Long-distance Learning options
If you wish to study from a distance you have a few options.
1. Ordering the CDs. These are great for self-study. I teach over the Cds, with which you interact verbally, and the manuals make it clear. Starting with the first two I would suggest as a minimum and working through all four would be ideal. See Cd structures and costs here: http://ubuntu-bridge.blogspot.com/search/label/Audio%20Language%20Learning%20CDs
2. The online learning environment: this is in development, but I can finish it off quickly. Id like you to test the first lesson for me and let me know how it is working for you.
Xhosa Online Learning Environment
View here: http://196.25.114.230/learnxhosa.co.za/moodle/
Description: Read more online, but basically the whole text, audio and video content of my first lesson as taught in my courses, with pronounciations, the clicks, greetings, good-byes as well as cultural tips to help you in everyday interaction. Learn online!
To enter: I have set it up so that guests may enter the site provided they have an enrolment key or password which is "ubuntu".
Click on the above weblink and go to the home page. To get into the course you will need to click on the LearnXhosa Level 1 link in the centre of the page. This will take you to a page where you should enter the enrolment key (ubuntu) and click on "enrol me in this course". From then on you will be able to access the site freely.
NOTE: Do not click Login as you wont be able to access the site. Rather enter the enrolment key (ubuntu) and click on "enrol me in this course".
FEEDBACK including constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.
3. Skype lessons: After working through the above options, if you still need some live tutoring or you want someone to practice speaking with, you have the option of skype lessons.
We can converse with you and explain things that need explaining. Its an excellent way to keep your Xhosa in practice, especially if in a country where no one speaks Xhosa.
Or you could work through the first two beginners CDs (i.e. from scratch):
Or the third and fourth CDs:
These are generally better suited to those with a intermediate ability who are looking to practice and actually use the language whilst they are in a circumstance with few Xhosa speakers. However, anyone of any level could benefit from these lessons over the web.
We teach in 30 minute (R250). Special rates if you pay for a number of lessons upfront. 5 x 30 minute lessons for R1100.
For all options, please email: info@learnxhosa.co.za
