Labour practice

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As a global gold company with a number of mining and exploration activities in many parts of the world, AngloGold Ashanti employs a diversity of people with different cultures and languages. Around 34 languages are spoken in a total of 17 countries, excluding the 11 official languages spoken in South Africa. Since English is recognised as the business language at the company’s international operations, many employees either have a basic knowledge of the language or avail themselves of English courses offered by the various operations. However, a visit by Executive Officer: Human Resources (HR) & Information Technology, Nigel Unwin, to the South American operations two years ago, prompted a suggestion that English speakers should return the gesture by making some effort to converse in the host country’s language.

“I realised that the effort that our South American colleagues were making to learn our language was not reciprocated by a similar desire on our part to learn theirs,” comments Unwin.

In an effort to embrace cultural diversity, one of AngloGold Ashanti’s values focusing on developing employees, the company decided that it would provide corporate office-based employees with the opportunity to learn another language. This would assist communication with their overseas colleagues, either on business visits or secondments. The offer was extended to other employees who were interested in learning a language for their own enjoyment.

Two accredited language schools – Wits Language School and Language Works – were chosen to provide instruction in languages at Level I (beginners), Level II (intermediate) and Level III (advanced). Once the interest level was ascertained, the first set of courses commenced at the beginning of 2004 with pure Portuguese, Spanish and French classes (there are slight variations in the Portuguese and Spanish spoken in South America and the French spoken in Africa). Sixteen opted to learn Portuguese, eight Spanish and 41 French (37 at Level I and four at Level II).

Ava Venter from Language Works explains that each level requires students to attend a 40-hour course. “Teaching, by mostly mother-tongue speakers, is informal and interactive, and focuses on the language skills required for everyday living, rather than on learning strict grammar rules,” she adds. By the end of the beginners’ course, students should have a vocabulary of 800 words, be able to speak in two tenses, and perform simple daily functions related to, for example, greetings, directions, time and money. By the end of the intermediate stage, vocabulary should have increased to around 1,000 words, with a grasp of two more tenses. This stage is a consolidation of Level I, focusing on language skills related to work, travel, and conversation. Language content can be customised to a specific environment or to suit the needs of a specific learner.

Catch-up classes are made available for those who miss classes owing to work commitments. Individual sessions are also offered for employees who are unable to participate for the full 10- or 20-week course because of regular business trips out of the office.

Language courses, which are now held annually, cost an average of R2,500 each. In order to ensure commitment to the language studies, AngloGold Ashanti funds 100% of the beginners’ course and 50% of both the intermediate and advanced courses, with penalties in the event of failure for all three.

Certificates of achievement are awarded to those who successfully complete the oral and written exams, while an attendance certificate is granted to those who opt not to undertake formal language tests.

Zulu was introduced in 2005 after a survey showed a keen interest in learning the language. Thirteen employees signed up for the class, while 13 applied for French (seven at Level I and six at Level II) and eight for Portuguese (five at Level I and three at level II). At the start of the 2006 application process, 35 had applied for French (29 at Level I and three each at Levels II and III), five for Portuguese, 11 for Spanish (eight at Level I and three at Level II), and 19 for Zulu (16 at Level I and three at Level II). With exploration operations in Mongolia and Russia, Russian is already being studied privately by members of one department and is likely to become one of the languages open to everyone.

The informal classes, which cater for a diversity of employees at corporate office, have been well-received by participants who appreciate the chance to hone their skills in a number of languages. Feedback has also been positive from the international operations, whose employees appreciate the effort that their corporate office colleagues are making to bridge the language divide.