The education system in South Africa encourages the use of indigenous languages through policies that require full participation of teachers and elders. This case study explored the perceptions of teachers and elders of the use of folktale storysinging when teaching Setswana to young learners in the selected four provincial rural schools and villages. The aim was to investigate what folktale story songs they know and how they use them to communicate cultural customs and traditions embedded in them for young children’s future actualisation. The framework of the study was based on structuralism, functional-linguistic and ethnography of communication theories. A qualitative approach was undertaken in the form of group interviews, observations, field notes and documentation, including photo-voice. These instruments were analysed and grouped in themes and subthemes. The study assumed that teachers are professionals and are able to present Setswana folktale story lessons. The findings revealed that teachers, though being passionate and willing, were challenged by the folktale story books containing songs that they could not sing and contained grammatical errors as well as English words and sentences. They called on the parents (elders) with their totem understanding, for assistance, as the government seemed to be failing them through the implementation of language policies. However, it was found that elders sing folktale story songs to young children and even have the opportunity to give performances at the gatherings at the chief’s kraal but they did not regard themselves to be acknowledged by the teachers as responsible to give assistance to them. In the complex linguistic context in South Africa, speakers of a minority language need to understand that language and culture can be retained and transmitted but this understanding needs commitment from the speakers; in this case Setswana. / Tsamaiso ya thuto mo Aferika Borwa e rotloetsa tiriso ya dipuo tsa bantsho tsa setso ka go latela melaotheo e e gwetlhang barutabana le bagolo go tsaya karolo. Dipatlisiso tse di begwang mo, di tsenelela sebopego se barutabana le bagolo ba dirisang molodi-dinaaneng go ruta bana ba bannye Setswana mo dikolong tse dipotlana le metse-magaeng e e mabapi go tswa mo dikgaolopusong tse nne. Maikaelelomagolo ke go lekola gore ke melodi efe ya dinaane e ba e itseng le gore ba e dirisa jang go goroseng molaetsa wa ngwao ya setso o o leng mo dinaaneng, go ruta bana ba bannye gore ba tshele ka tsona fa ba gola. Tshekatsheko e, e theilwe godimo ga diteori tsa molebokagego, molebobodirisego le molebo wa setso wa tlhaeletsano. Leano la go kokoanya kitso ya go dira dipatlisiso le go fitlhela batsayakarolo go ntsha maikutlo a bona, e nnile ka mokgwa wa dipuisano ka setlhopha, go lebelela, go kwala le go buisa dikwalwa. Didiriswa tse tsa dipatlisiso, di dirisitswe go sekaseka kitso e e tswang go batsayakarolo, moo go neng ga runya dikarolo le dikarolwana tsa melaetsa maleba le kgang e ya go batlisisa ka ga molodi-naaneng. Tshekasheko e e dirilwe ka kgopolo ya gore barutabana ke bomaitseanape mo tirong ya bona, ba kgona le go ruta molodi wa dinaane tsa Setswana. Tshenolo ya dipatlisiso e supile gore le fa barutabana ba rata e bile ba na le tlhoafalo mo tirong ya bona, ba ne ba sitiswa ke dibuka tse ba di dirisang go ruta dinaane ka di ne di na le dipina tse ba sa kgoneng go di opela, gape di ne di na le diphoso tsa mokwalo le tiriso ya mafoko a sekgowa. Ka la ntlheng, go tsweletse gore bagolo bona ba opelela bana dipina tsa dinaane e bile ba kgona go bona tšhono ya go di tsweletsa mo dikopanong kwa kgosing. Le gale, ba ne ba bona gore barutabana ga ba lemoge mosola wa bona wa go ka tsaya karolo mo go ruteng bana dipina tsa dinaane. Fela jaaka go na le dipuo tse di farologaneng mo Aferika Borwa, bengdipuo-potlana ba tshwanetse go tlhaloganya loleme lwaabo gore ba kgone go somarela setso sa bona le go fetisetsa loleme loo tshikatshikeng. Foo go batlega itapiso go tswa go bengpuo ya Setswana mo kgannyeng e. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / EU DHET / Early Childhood Education / PhD / Unrestricted

English reading comprehension is an educational challenge worldwide. This study investigated how Grade 2 teachers teach English reading comprehension to First Additional Language (FAL) learners at three selected independent schools in Gauteng where the language of learning and teaching (LoLT) is English. Three English medium independent schools in Gauteng, South Africa participated in the study. The participants at each research site consisted of Grade 2 teachers (main participants) and Grade 2 learners (secondary participants). Grade 2 teachers were selected purposively on the criteria that they had taught for more than two years and were teaching English reading comprehension to Grade 2 FAL learners. This study followed a qualitative approach, and was situated within the interpretivist paradigm. The research design accommodated a case study. The conceptual framework was based on the revised taxonomy by Krathwohl and Anderson for questioning which integrated the role of the teacher in a reading lesson. The three stages of reading, before reading, during reading and after reading were divided into the different levels of thinking and reasoning as suggested in Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) theory. The data collection strategies were semi-structured interviews with Grade 2 teachers; observing reading lessons they gave; and keeping a journal in which personal reflections on the investigation into teaching and learning practices were documented. Once data was collected, the recordings of the semi-structured interviews were transcribed. The observation checklists and the reflection journal entries were analysed. Data was analysed using a coding process and five themes and twelve sub-themes emerged. The findings show that the interactive approach was common in the teaching of English reading comprehension. However, parental involvement, the availability of the trained teachers and appropriate resources were necessary. A learner's individual reading needs and reasoning ability have to be considered through the use of differentiated teaching practices. Questioning throughout the reading process improves a learner's understanding of the text. / Die leesbegrip van Engels is 'n wêreldwye uitdaging. Hierdie studie het ondersoek hoe Graad 2-onderwysers onderrig in leesbegrip in Engels aan leerders van Engels as Eerste Addisionele Taal gee by drie uitgesoekte onafhanklike skole in Gauteng waar die taal van leer en onderrig (TLO) Engels is. Drie onafhanklike Engelsmediumskole in Gauteng, Suid-Afrika het aan die studie deelgeneem. By elke skool was die deelnemers Graad 2-onderwysers (hoofdeelnemers) en Graad 2-leerders (sekondêre deelnemers). Graad 2-onderwysers is doelbewus gekies op grond van die kriterium dat hulle langer as twee jaar onderrig gegee het en ten tye van die studie Graad 2-EAT-leerders onderrig het. Die studie volg 'n kwalitatiewe benadering binne die interpretivistiese paradigma. Die navorsingsontwerp behels 'n gevallestudie. Die konseptuele raamwerk is gebaseer op Krathwohl en Anderson se hersiene taksonomie van vraagstelling wat die onderwyser se rol in 'n leesles integreer. Die drie leesstadia voor, gedurende en na lees word in die verskillende vlakke van lees en redenering verdeel, soos wat in Vygotsky se teorie van die Sone van Naaste Ontwikkeling (ZPD) aan die hand gedoen word. As dataversamelingstrategieë is semigestruktureerde onderhoude met Graad 2-onderwysers gevoer, lesse waargeneem en 'n joernaal gehou waarin persoonlike besinning oor die ondersoek van onderrig- en leerpraktyke gedokumenteer is. Na dataversameling is die opnames van die semigestruktureerde onderhoude getranskribeer. Die waarnemings-kontrolelyste en die inskrywings in die besinningsjoernaal is ontleed. Data is met behulp van 'n koderingsproses ontleed, wat vyf temas en twaalf subtemas na vore gebring het. Daar is bevind dat die interaktiewe benadering algemeen in die onderrig van leesbegrip van Engels gebruik word. Die betrokkenheid van ouers, beskikbaarheid van opgeleide onderwysers en geskikte hulpbronne was egter noodsaaklik. Leerders se individuele leesbehoeftes en redeneringsvermoë moet by wyse van gedifferensieerde onderrigpraktyke in aanmerking geneem word. Leerders se begrip van die teks verbeter wanneer vrae in die loop van die leesproses gestel word. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Early Childhood Education / MEd / Unrestricted

The South African Language-in-Education Policy (LiEP) states that mother tongue should be the preferred medium of instruction in the Foundation Phase (grade R-3). Primary tuition is therefore currently offered in the 11 South African official languages. The challenge faced in South African schools that offer African languages in the Foundation Phase, is the fact that from grade 4 onwards, education is only available through the medium of English. This results in a vast number of learners having to make a transition in grade 4 to English as medium of instruction. In this qualitative study, I explored the experiences of teachers and learners in this transition. The context of this case study is a poverty-stricken and underdeveloped rural area. SiSwati is the language commonly spoken in this area and English is spoken, heard and read only in the classroom. Purposive sampling was done, including three grade 3 classes and their teachers, as well as the grade 4 learners and the teachers teaching siSwati, English and Mathematics. Data was collected through interviews, observations, document analysis and field notes. Conventional content analysis was conducted. Among the theoretical lenses adopted for the study was Krashen’s input-interaction-output model of second language learning. This informed the process grade 4 learners undergo in learning English as a second language and medium of instruction. The findings of this study revealed that the challenge regarding this transition is not the English language per se, but rather a deficient home language foundation and the quality of teaching offered. The learners’ age at the time of this transition also plays a significant role, as it affects their readiness to switch to another language. The implications of this study relate to the necessity of a solid mother tongue foundation and improved quality of teaching. It is suggested that the admission age in grade 1 be seven years and the actual point of transition prolonged. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Early Childhood Education / MEd / Unrestricted

This study aims to identify, explore and elucidate the language-learning strategies used by African English second-language learners participating in peer tutoring in Gauteng province, South Africa. Informed by pragmatism, this study was situated in a constructivist epistemology and a relational ontology. Consistent with a constructivist epistemology, Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory was utilised and adapted for the purpose of this study to reflect a hybridised model which is more suitable for studying the language-learning strategies used by indigenous learners. Using a convergent mixed methods design, a total of 137 second-language learners in Grades 8 and 9 from seven different peer tutoring programmes were purposefully sampled to be part of this study. The data collection methods used for this study were: a quantitative as well as a qualitative questionnaire, focus group discussions and non-participant observation. The findings of this study show that learners use a range of conventional strategies at a high frequency (metacognitive, social, cognitive and affective) while compensation and memory strategies were used at a medium frequency. The qualitative results show that the use of conventional strategies took place in a collectivist manner, which relates to the relational ontology of this study. A significant insight derived from this study is that African second-language learners use a range of indigenous strategies for L2 learning. These strategies include various art forms such as dance, music, poetry and word games. Consistent with the use of humour by many African literary scholars, learners in this study also used humour for downplaying their second-language mistakes, managing emotions and for critical thinking. The use of strategies was shown to be affected by learner motivation, gender, resource availability, identity, home language knowledge and the context in which learners learn. The peer tutoring learning context was shown to be an effective method for scaffolding second-language learning by allowing learners to be taught within their zone of proximal development. I theorise that the use of a hybridised framework that combines both conventional and indigenous knowledge systems should be considered to aid the learning of a second language. This framework lends support for strengthening learners’ home language(s) through translanguaging practices and by valorising learners’ translingual identity. Therefore, it is recommended that policymakers should ensure the inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems in the curriculum and put measures in place for monitoring the effective implementation of these indigenous knowledge systems in the South African curriculum. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / pt2021 / Humanities Education / PhD / Unrestricted

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The study investigates how English Home language teachers use the English Home language textbook in the grade 11 classroom. It aspires to generate an understanding of the strong relationship between the teacher, textbook and the learner thereby illustrating how a recognition of the various ways the textbook can be used. By addressing methodological issues and text relevancy as a tool for learner connection, the research appraises the use of text relevancy in the grade 11 classroom. In upholding a constructivist view of teaching the research postulates that the use of textbook material that holds a connection to learners’ lives can help increase the proficiency of the learners in the classroom and bring a deeper motivation for increase learner participation. The investigation uses a qualitative methodology to study and describe the dynamics of using the textbook. The research captured teaching methods that are already known. However, the research in this thesis also added some new dimensions that many teachers might not know of or might not be using in their classroom. These teaching methods revealed the extent to which effective teachers will go to make a difference for their learners. The teaching methods harnessed the ability from the learner to recreate, imagine and empower their understanding of the world they live in with an understanding of current topics that surfaces in a teenager’s life. The findings indicate that the textbook is still relevant and can be used in some creative ways of teaching. The study also affirms that it is possible to develop your own textbook, which can add a greater connection between the teacher and the learner.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The study investigates how English Home language teachers use the English Home language textbook in the grade 11 classroom. It aspires to generate an understanding of the strong relationship between the teacher, textbook and the learner thereby illustrating how a recognition of the various ways the textbook can be used. By addressing methodological issues and text relevancy as a tool for learner connection, the research appraises the use of text relevancy in the grade 11 classroom. In upholding a constructivist view of teaching the research postulates that the use of textbook material that holds a connection to learners’ lives can help increase the proficiency of the learners in the classroom and bring a deeper motivation for increase learner participation. The investigation uses a qualitative methodology to study and describe the dynamics of using the textbook. The research captured teaching methods that are already known. However, the research in this thesis also added some new dimensions that many teachers might not know of or might not be using in their classroom. These teaching methods revealed the extent to which effective teachers will go to make a difference for their learners. The teaching methods harnessed the ability from the learner to recreate, imagine and empower their understanding of the world they live in with an understanding of current topics that surfaces in a teenager’s life.

Magister Educationis - MEd / The use of literature-based reading has a significant impact on the development of critical literacy (Tung and Chang, 2009). Based on the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory and Vygotsky’s theory of collaborative learning, this interpretive qualitative case study aimed at exploring how Grade 10 English Home Language poetry was taught in the development of critical literacy. Research was conducted at two schools in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town in which lesson observations, focus group discussions, post-observation interviews, and field notes were used to amass data. Cultural-Historical Activity Theory, Critical Discourse Analysis, and insights from Boler’s (1999) pedagogy of discomfort were used to analyse data. This study found that despite teachers’ being favourably disposed towards poetry, they harbour covert feelings of inadequacy in teaching the genre which lead to the adoption of coping mechanisms. / 2023

The implication of South Africa’s multicultural and linguistic diversity is that many learners have a home language that is not their language of instruction. Research has indicated that children learn best in their home language (UNESCO, 2020). In South Africa, however, language is seen as one of the biggest barriers to teaching and learning. In the historical context of South Africa’s divided past, equal educational opportunities are still not afforded to every learner, with many learners learning in a language in which they are not yet proficient. In South Africa, there is also a preference for learning through the medium of English, due to its global status and common use by the workforce. This preference is not only shown by teachers and learners themselves but also by parents who prefer that their children learn through the medium of English. Due to globalisation, multilingualism in education has become a major point of discussion in relation to research in education. Translanguaging, which is how multilingual speakers use more than one language in their everyday communication with others, is questioning ‘monolingual practices and ideologies worldwide’ (Makalela, 2013). This study was conducted in two township primary schools in Eersterust, which is a Coloured township situated west of Mamelodi in the Tshwane South District. The study aimed to answer the following research questions: What are the perceptions of translanguaging amongst English teachers in township primary schools? And why do teachers perceive translanguaging in this way? The research participants included seven English-language teachers from Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7. All these participants were selected purposively, and their participation was voluntary. Data were collected qualitatively through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, classroom observations and documentation. The conclusion from the study is that teachers viewed translanguaging as an effective strategy within their Home and First Additional English-language classrooms. Teachers from both schools instinctively implemented translanguaging on a daily basis. Translanguaging within both schools did not occur only as a pedagogical practice but also as a sociolinguistic phenomenon. What was evident from the findings were the many acts of unplanned and spontaneous translanguaging which took place within the classrooms. These findings were generated through accounts that teachers gave during interviews, during classroom observations of their lessons and, through analysis of lesson plans. The unplanned acts of translanguaging confirmed that teachers were willing to implement translanguaging, which in turn influenced their perceptions of translanguaging. What was also evident was that many of the social circumstances, which teachers and learners within this community faced on a regular basis, influenced how translanguaging was implemented. / Dissertation (MEd (Curriculum and Instructional Design and Development))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Humanities Education / MEd (Curriculum and Instructional Design and Development) / Unrestricted

<p>Suomen kieli on yksi Ruotsin vähemmistökielistä. Lain mukaan kaikki lapset, joilla on suomenkielinen tausta ja perustavat taidot suomen kielessä, ovat oikeutettuja suomenkielen opetukseen.</p><p>Tämä opinnäytetyö on pieni muotoinen kvalitatiivinen kartoitus Ruotsin peruskoulun suomen kielen opetuksesta. Teoria perustuu Ruotsin lakiin ja Ruotsin suomen kielen opetushistoriaan. Empiirinen osuus koostuu suomen kielen opettajien ja suomea opiskelevien oppilaiden haastatteluista sekä ruotsinsuomalaisen vapaakoulun rehtorin ja suomalaistaustaisen vanhemman kanssa käymistäni keskusteluista. Olen myös kysynyt usealta kunnalta suomen kielen opetuksen järjestelyistä ja sen toteuttamisesta.</p><p>Työn tavoitteena on kartoittaa suomen kielen opetuksen tämänhetkinen tilanne Ruotsin peruskoulussa. Eräs tutkimustulokseni osoittaa, että kunta ei tiedota tarpeeksi suomen kielen opetuksesta. Olen saanut myös selville, että pätevistä suomen kielenopettajista on pulaa Ruotsissa. Lisäksi olen todennut, että suomen kielen oppituntien pituus ei joissakin kunnissa yllä edes yhteen tuntiin. Kiertävien suomen opettajien työolot ovat stressaavia ja työpäivät koostuvat lähes pelkästään opetustunneista.</p><p>Kaikesta tästä olen tehnyt johtopäätöksen: suomen kielen opetuksen tilaa on parannettava laadukkailla opetustunneilla ja pätevillä opettajilla, joilla on hyväksyttävät työolot. Lisäksi opetuksen määrää täytyisi lisätä.</p> / <p>Finska är ett av Sveriges nationella minoritetsspråk. Enligt svensk lag har barn som har finsk bakgrund och grundläggande kunskaper i finska språket rätt till att få undervisning i finska.</p><p>I detta examensarbete presenterar jag en kort kvalitativ kartläggning av undervisningen i finska i den svenska grundskolan. Teoridelen bygger på förordningstexter och andra styrdokument samt litteratur om den historiska bakgrunden till dagens finskundervising i Sverige. Den empiriska informationen består av intervjuer av finska lärare och elever som läser finska samt diskussioner med en rektor i en sverigefinsk friskola och en förälder till ett barn som har ansökt om finskundervisning. Jag har även frågat flera kommuner om deras sätt att organisera och genomföra finskundervisning.</p><p>Syftet med detta examensarbete är att kartlägga finska språkets situation i dagens svenska grundskola. Ett av mina resultat är att kommunen inte informerar tillräckligt om finskundervisningen. Jag har också fått reda på att det råder brist på behöriga finska lärare i Sverige. Jag har även kommit fram till att finska lektioner i vissa kommuner är kortare än en timma. Ambulerande lärarna har stressiga arbetsförhållanden och arbetsdagarna består nästan endast av undervisningstillfällen.</p><p>Med hjälp av allt detta har jag kommit fram till följande slutsats: man måste förbättra villkoren för finskundervisningen med hjälp av högkvalitativ undervisning och behöriga lärare, som arbetar under acceptabla arbetsförhållanden. Dessutom bör undervisningstiden utökas.</p> / <p>Finnish is one of the Swedish minority languages. According to Swedish law children who have a Finnish background and basic knowledge of the Finnish language have a right to Finnish education.</p><p>In this Degree Project I present a short qualitative survey of the field of teaching of Finnish in Swedish primary schools. The theoretical frame work is based on Swedish law and the literature on the history of Finnish teaching in Sweden. The empirical data consist of interviews with Finnish teachers and their pupils and some discussions with a principal of the Sweden Finnish independent school and a parent for a child who had applied for Finnish education. In addition, several municipalities were surveyed about their plans forteaching Finnish.</p><p>The purpose of this study is to document the situation of the Finnish language in Swedish primary schools today. One of my findings is that municipalities do not provide adequate information about teaching in Finnish. A further finding is that there is a shortage of competent Finnish teachers in Sweden. I have also established that in some Swedish states schools the Finnish lessons are not even an hour long. The travelling teachers have stressful circumstances at work and workdays consist almost only of lessons.</p><p>From this my conclusion is that we have to improve conditions for Finnish language teaching with high qualitative teaching and with competent teachers who have acceptable working conditions. Furthermore teaching time should be increased.</p>

This study investigated the deliberate use of learners‟ home languages in the teaching and learning of linear programming. The study involved a Grade 11 teacher and his Grade 11 multilingual learners in a township school in the East Rand. Data was collected through lesson observations for five consecutive days, reflective interview with teacher and clinical interview with two learners. Analysis of data revealed that the teacher used learners‟ home languages to probe learners‟ understanding of specific terms frequently used in linear programming concepts, for example terms such as, „at least‟ and „at most‟. Learners‟ responses suggest that they drew on their home languages for the meaning of these words. Learners explained the term „at least‟ in their home languages as „buncinci‟ in Isixhosa, „bonnyane‟ in Sesotho and Sepedi and „okungenani‟ in IsiZulu. Learners also used mathematical English term minimum to explain „at least‟ and maximum to explain „at most‟.