With Spotlight programmes taking off in Cambodia, the possibility of setting up Listener Clubs is being considered. Janine Rembas, from HCJB, has experience of successful Spotlight Listener Clubs in Ecuador and has been invited by FEBC Cambodia to present the idea to Khmer church leaders on 10 February.

Spotlight programmes, produced by Feba UK in partnership with Words of Hope and Back to God Ministries International, are in Specialised English which has a slow speaking rate and a limited word list to help people learn English. With a number of Khmer churches already offering English classes to the community, Spotlight could be a great resource for them to use, especially for any of the teachers who have not had formal training. FEBC also plans to invite native English speakers in the Christian community, who would be willing to be volunteer helpers in any Spotlight Listener Clubs started by local churches, along to the presentation.

Spotlight went on air in Cambodia in June 2008 three days a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Former Feba UK colleague Patricia Napier, now with FEBC Cambodia in Phnom Penh, monitors the Spotlight programmes and selects those she thinks may interest young Cambodians. Patricia says: “There is a huge need here especially among young people to learn to speak and understand English well. Cambodia is in the middle of a rapid process of internationalization with high unemployment among young people, so English is potentially a real asset in finding a job. Interestingly the two young people who came out top in the whole country in last year’s school leaving exams were both quoted in a newspaper interview as saying that their knowledge of English was a weak point, and expressing concern that they needed to improve. So it’s not just a need among the less educated.”

Spotlight Listener Clubs in the UK?
We would like to develop Spotlight Listener Clubs in the UK to meet the needs of immigrant communities. To follow this development and other Spotlight news, please sign up to receive the Spotlight newsletter (by email only) here.

Read more about Spotlight:

News brief: Religious Leaders and HIV

Web site: http://www.spotlightradio.net/