Rochdale soldier helps Afghan general learn English

Brigadier General Sheren Shah studying with Lt Ashworth

A soldier from Rochdale is helping a top Afghan army general to learn English, so he can communicate better with his British colleagues.

Lieutenant Roz Ashworth, an education and training officer with 2nd Battalion the Rifles Regiment, spends two hours a day with Brigadier General Sheren Shah, the commander of 3rd Brigade of 215 Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA), to help him learn the language.

The Brigade is based in at the ANA Camp Shorabak, which is next to the major British base Camp Bastion.

2nd Battalion the Rifles are serving as advisors to General Sheren Shah’s ANA Brigade, assisting their Afghan colleagues on everything from planning major operations to logistics and supplies.

The commander speaks several languages, including Russian, Farsi, and the Afghan languages Pashtun and Dari. He is keen to learn English to bridge the communication gap with his British and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) colleagues.

Lieutenant Ashworth has been trained to speak Dari and also teaches British soldiers the basics of the language to help them communicate with their Afghan partners and civilians while on operations.

The 30-year-old, from Rochdale, said: “At the moment most communication is done through a large number of interpreters. However, senior officers in the Afghan Brigade headquarters are very keen about learning English to strengthen relationships with their British partners.

“The general is very keen and incredibly dedicated to the job. He is often out on operations but when he is in camp he spends about two hours a day on it. He’s picks it up quickly and he’s at the stage where he can easily hold conversations without an interpreter. He’s got a good sense of humour as well, which helps the lessons!”

General Sheren Shah said: “It’s really important to have a command of English so that I can communicate with ISAF. My understanding of English is growing, but we are working hard on my writing. Of all the languages I have learned, English is the hardest.”