Peshmerga fighters receive English language certificates in Dohuk

Dohuk, Kurdistan Region – After a two month English language course, on Friday 40 Peshmerga soldiers in Duhok province received certificates of graduation. 

The course was taught by three female volunteers who also teach English at a local institute. The students were divided into three groups based on their abilities in English prior to taking the course. 

Almost half of the students were evaluated as “excellent” by their young teachers.    

Hayfa Abdulla is one of the teachers. She told Rudaw that she enjoyed teaching Peshmerga and sharing her linguistic skills with them. 

“They deserve to be taught English. They were quick learners as some of them could not previously write in English but now they do.” 

Bushra Jahed is one of the graduates of the learning course. She told Rudaw that she could not speak English at all before taking the course. 

“I did not know anything, but now I know the numbers, alphabet, description and many other expressions used on a daily basis. I can say that it taught us the basic skills in English.” 

A vast number of Peshmerga forces do not have academic qualifications and lack linguistic skills in foreign languages like English. 

The Peshmerga have been defending their Kurdish homelands for decades, with the most recent battle being against the Islamic State (ISIS) since 2014. 

However, they are enjoying a break from the fighting and taking advantage of the opportunity to take language classes and other military training courses. 


Ayub Nasri contributed reporting for this story.