Reading plays a significant role in society and currently there is worldwide pressure for higher literacy results. The focus of this thesis is reading motivation and how it relates to a learner's amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement since these problematic constructs are attracting the interest of researchers internationally. Researchers have investigated the relationships among these constructs with a variety of results. These relationships, however, have not yet been investigated in a South African context with Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers, and the only information available on the reading motivation of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers is information on their reading preferences in regard to literary texts. Hence the following three research aims were determined for this study: the compilation of a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers, the analysis of the relationships among Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers' reading motivation and their amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement in an Afrikaans Home Language environment, as well as the development of a reading motivation framework, particularly for use in the school and classroom environment, for these adolescent readers. The study was carried out in the post-positivistic research paradigm by means of a non-experimental quantitative research approach. Three methods of data collection were used, namely a structured questionnaire (based on the eleven reading motivation dimensions of Wigfield and Guthrie's (1997) Motivation for Reading Questionnaire, which for this purpose had been adapted for the South African context), two reading comprehension tests and obtaining the data regarding the academic achievement of the respondents. The 823 respondents that had participated in this study were the grade 9 learners (Afrikaans Home Language) of seven schools from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district (North West Province, South Africa), selected by means of purposive sampling so that different quintiles and geographic areas were represented. Information obtained from a comprehensive literature study on relevant motivation theories, on reading motivation in practice and on the relationship among their reading motivation, amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement, as well as from the results of an empirical investigation of the reading motivation of specific grade 9 learners, was used to compile a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers. The motivation theories on which motivation in this study was based, were the social-cognitive theory, the self-efficacy theory, the ecological system theory of human development and the expectancy-value theory, because these theories emphasise the individual's behaviour within particular social contexts and because constructs such as self-efficacy, task value and mastery, which emanate from these theories, play a cardinal role in determining suitable reading motivation strategies for specific readers. It was essential to compile a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers before a reading motivation framework for these adolescent readers could be compiled. The reading motivation framework recommends specific reading motivation strategies various social role-players in the school and classroom environments can implement so as to improve Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers' reading motivation levels. The various social role-players that would influence the Afrikaans-speaking adolescent reader's reading motivation and the reading motivation strategies each of them could use, was systematised (namely the Department of Education, the school principal and management team, teachers and parents). The essence of the contribution made by this study is that a reading motivation profile of a group of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers (grade 9 learners) could be compiled, that clear mutual relationships among the respondents' reading motivation and their amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement came to the fore from this study and that a reading motivation framework could be developed by means of which to improve the reading motivation levels of these adolescent readers. / PhD (Curriculum Development, Innovation and Evaluation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Reading plays a significant role in society and currently there is worldwide pressure for higher literacy results. The focus of this thesis is reading motivation and how it relates to a learner's amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement since these problematic constructs are attracting the interest of researchers internationally. Researchers have investigated the relationships among these constructs with a variety of results. These relationships, however, have not yet been investigated in a South African context with Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers, and the only information available on the reading motivation of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers is information on their reading preferences in regard to literary texts. Hence the following three research aims were determined for this study: the compilation of a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers, the analysis of the relationships among Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers' reading motivation and their amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement in an Afrikaans Home Language environment, as well as the development of a reading motivation framework, particularly for use in the school and classroom environment, for these adolescent readers. The study was carried out in the post-positivistic research paradigm by means of a non-experimental quantitative research approach. Three methods of data collection were used, namely a structured questionnaire (based on the eleven reading motivation dimensions of Wigfield and Guthrie's (1997) Motivation for Reading Questionnaire, which for this purpose had been adapted for the South African context), two reading comprehension tests and obtaining the data regarding the academic achievement of the respondents. The 823 respondents that had participated in this study were the grade 9 learners (Afrikaans Home Language) of seven schools from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district (North West Province, South Africa), selected by means of purposive sampling so that different quintiles and geographic areas were represented. Information obtained from a comprehensive literature study on relevant motivation theories, on reading motivation in practice and on the relationship among their reading motivation, amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement, as well as from the results of an empirical investigation of the reading motivation of specific grade 9 learners, was used to compile a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers. The motivation theories on which motivation in this study was based, were the social-cognitive theory, the self-efficacy theory, the ecological system theory of human development and the expectancy-value theory, because these theories emphasise the individual's behaviour within particular social contexts and because constructs such as self-efficacy, task value and mastery, which emanate from these theories, play a cardinal role in determining suitable reading motivation strategies for specific readers. It was essential to compile a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers before a reading motivation framework for these adolescent readers could be compiled. The reading motivation framework recommends specific reading motivation strategies various social role-players in the school and classroom environments can implement so as to improve Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers' reading motivation levels. The various social role-players that would influence the Afrikaans-speaking adolescent reader's reading motivation and the reading motivation strategies each of them could use, was systematised (namely the Department of Education, the school principal and management team, teachers and parents). The essence of the contribution made by this study is that a reading motivation profile of a group of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers (grade 9 learners) could be compiled, that clear mutual relationships among the respondents' reading motivation and their amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement came to the fore from this study and that a reading motivation framework could be developed by means of which to improve the reading motivation levels of these adolescent readers. / PhD (Curriculum Development, Innovation and Evaluation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study, which explores the challenges of everyday English language words in learning physical sciences in Gauteng-East townships secondary schools highlights the difficulties that learners encounter in learning and developing scientific concepts and vocabulary. The study was conducted in four township secondary schools. A questionnaire consisting of 25 multiple choice items, as well as a semi-structured interview were used to collect data for this study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative protocol was used to analyse qualitative data. The overall percentage mean scores of correct responses in the questionnaire for schools W, X, Y and Z were 47.2%, 56.9%, 55.2% and 57.2% respectively, which indicated that participants in the study have limited knowledge of everyday English words, when used in a science context. There was no significant gender discrepancy in terms of performance. In-depth analysis of the results revealed that the underlying difficulties were as a result of participants’ relative levels of proficiency in the English language, lack of precision in the use of this language, misreading, and confusion in terms of the use of words. Furthermore, the results were consistent with earlier findings from other countries as reported by various authors. The findings will contribute to knowledge about effective classroom instruction and teacher education from the perspective of language in science. / Kulolu cwaningo, kuhlolwa izinselelo zokusebenzisa amagama asetshenziswa nsuku zonke welimi lwesiNgisi ekufundeni iSayensi ezikoleni zezinga lesibili, emalokishini wabantu abaNsundu empumalanga neGauteng. Kuvezwa ubunzima obuhlangabezana nezingane zesikole ekufundeni nokuthuthukisa umqondo weSayensi nesilulumagama. Uphenyo lwenziwe ezikoleni ezine zasemalokishini. Imibuzo yayiquketwe izinhla ezingamashumi amabili nanhlanu lapho obuzwayo ezikhethela impendulo ekuyiyo, kanye nesinga nhlolokhono yasetshenziwa ukuthola ulwazi oluningi mayelana nalolu phenyo. Izibalo ezichazayo zisetshenziswe ukuhlola ubuningi, kanye nobuqotho kulandelwa umgudu wocwaningo wolwazi olutholakele. Kuvelile emva kophenyo ukuthi izimpendulo ezishaye emhlolweni ngokwamaphesenti kuzikole W,X.Y kanye no Z ngu 47%, 56,9%, 55.2%, kanye 57.2% ngokulandelana kwazo. Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi, abantwana banolwazi oluncane kakhulu ekusebenziseni amagama wesiNgisi asentsheziswa nsukuzonke ukufunda iSayensi. Kubuye kwatholakala futhi nokuthi awukho umehluko ohlukanisa ngobulili babafundi ophawulekayo ngokusebenza kwamagama esiNgisi. Kuphinde kuvele futhi ngokuhlaziya okunzulu, ukuthi kukhona ukwentuleka kwekhono elimini lesiNgisi, nokuthi abafundi abakwazi ukusebenzisa amagama ngendlela eqondile, babuye bafunde ekungeyikho, kanye nokudideka uma besebenzisa amagama. Okunye futhi okuvelayo, yikuthi lemiphumela ihambisana ncamashi neminye imiphumela evela kwamanye amazwe njengoba kubikwe abalobi abahlukene. Lokhu okuvelayo kuzosiza ukulungisa ukufunda kanye nokuqeqesha othisha, mayelana nukufundisa iSayensi ngolwimi lwesiNgisi. / Hierdie studie, wat die uitdagings van alledaagse Engelstalige woorde in die leer van Fisiese Wetenskappe in sekondêre skole in informele woonbuurte in Gauteng-Oos verken, beklemtoon die uitdagings wat leerders teëkom in die leer en ontwikkeling van wetenskaplike begrippe en taalgebruik. Die studie is uitgevoer in vier sekondêre skole in informele woonbuurte. ‘n Vraelys bestaande uit 25 veelvuldige-keuse items, tesame met ‘n gedeeltelike-gestruktueerde onderhoudskedule, is gebruik om data in te versamel vir hierdie studie. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik om kwantitatiewe data te ontleed, terwyl kwalitatiewe protokol aangewend is om kwalitatiewe data te ontleed. Die algehele persentasie gemiddeldes van korrekte response op die vraelys vir skole W, X, Y en Z was 47.2%, 56.9%, 55.2% en 57.2% onderskeidelik, wat aangedui het dat die deelnemers aan die studie beperkte kennis gehad het van alledaagse Engelstalige woorde om in ‘n wetenskaplike konteks te gebruik. Geen noemenswaardige geslagsongelykheid in terme van prestasie is bevind nie. Indiepte ontleding van die bevindinge toon dat die onderliggende uitdagings die resultaat van deelnemers se relatiewe vlakke van taalvaardigheid in Engels, ‘n gebrek aan presiesie in die gebruik van die taal, gebrekkige leesvaardigheid en verwarring rondom die gebruik van woorde weerspiëel. Die resultate was verder in lyn met vroeëre bevindinge van ander lande, soos deur verskeie outeurs gerapporteer. Die bevindinge sal bydra tot kennis rondom effektiewe klasonderrig en onderwysersopleiding uit die oogpunt van wetenskaplike taalgebruik. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

Summaries in English, Xitsonga and Afrikaans / Reading literacy for many black South African learners is a problem. In order to understand what happens in the South African foundation phase classrooms that affect learners’ reading performance, this study uses the adapted early grade reading assessment (EGRA) tool to assess Grade 1 learners’ reading abilities in the home language (four schools) and in the first additional language (one school). The EGRA is important for measuring foundational literacy skills. Its outcomes help teachers plan instruction that accommodates diverse learning capabilities. Data were collected through observing literacy practices and activities in the Grade 1 classrooms, evaluate classroom settings and interview Grade 1 teachers and curriculum advisors of the general education and training band to understand their perception of Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). The main findings revealed that the Grade 1 learners are acquiring foundational reading skills in Xitsonga very slowly during the first year of schooling and on all measures, performance was either low or very low. The teachers’ lack of deep understanding of how early reading develops and how each of the reading activities contributes to different aspects of this development may have contributed to the learners’ reading outcomes. Findings further revealed that the ability to read fluently and with comprehension is determined by hierarchical relationships between various reading skills. Thus, knowledge of letter-sounds facilitates word reading which impacts reading fluency and then reading comprehension – all these skills are important for reading development during early learning only if they are taught well in the classroom. / Ku hlaya ni ku tsala swi tikela vadyondzi vo tala laha Afrika Dzonga. Eka ndzavisiso lowu, ku va hi ta kota ku twisisa leswi swi humelelaka mayelana na matirhelo yo hlaya ya vadyondzi va ntangha R-3, hi kambela vuswikoti lebyi vadyondzi va ntlawa wo sungula (Giredi 1) va nga na byona byo hlaya hi ririmi ra manana (mune wa swikolo) na hi ririmi leri ri nga le eka xiyimo xa masungulo (xikolo xin’we) hi ku tirhisa xikambelwana lexi xi vuriwaka early grade reading assessment (EGRA). Xikambelwana lexi (EGRA) xi ni nkoka lowu kulu mayelana ni ku kambela vuswikoti bya n’wana byo hlaya. Mbuyelo wa xikambelo lexi wu pfuna ngopfu mayelana na leswaku vadyondzisi va kota ku kunguhata madyindziselo lama ya angarhelaka vadyondzi hinkwavo. Ndzavisiso lowu wu humelerisiwile hi ku kambela madyondziselo yo hlaya ni ku tsala eka ntlawa wo sungula (Giredi 1), ku kambela xivumbeko xa kamara ro dyondzela eka rona, ni ku kambela vutivi bya kharikhulamu bya vadyondzisi va ntlawa wo sungula na vaseketeri va vona (curriculum advisors). Mbuyelonkulu wu humesele erivaleni leswaku vadyondzi va kuma ntokoto wo hlaya hi Xitsonga hi ku nonoka va ha ri eka lembe ra vona ro sungula xikolo. Leswi swi thlela swi nyanyisa na hi leswaku mbuyelo wa vona wo hlaya eka swiyenge hinkwaswo swa xikambelo lexi xi nga tirhisiwa ku va kambela a wu ri ehansi ngopfu. Eka ndzavisiso lowu, ku pfumala ka vadyondzisi vutivi hi vuenti bya ku dyondzisa vana eku hlaya swi nga va swi vile na xiave eka mbuyelo wa vadyondzi wo hlaya. Vulavisisi lebyi byi thlela byi humesela erivaleni leswaku vuswikoti byo hlaya hi ku twisisa swi koteka ntsena loko mudyonzi a ri ni ntokoto eka swiyenge hinkwaswo swa ku hlaya hikuva swi na vuxaka. Hikokwalaho, vuswikoti byo hlaya mimpfumawulo ya maletere swi pfuneta ku hlaya marito lawa ya thlelaka ya pfuneta ku hlaya hi nkhuluko ni ku twisisa leswi swi hlayiwaka. Vuswikoti lebyi hinkwabyo byi ni nkoka mayelana ni ku dyondza ku hlaya ntsena loko madyondziselo yo hlaya ya landzelerisa leswi kunguhatiweke eka kharikhulamu. / Leesgeletterdheid vir baie swart Suid-Afrikaanse leerders is ‘n probleem. Om te verstaan wat in die Suid-Afrikaanse grondslagfase-klaskamers gebeur wat die leesprestasie van leerders beïnvloed, word in die studie die aangepaste instrument vir vroeë graad leesassessering (EGRA) gebruik om die leesvermoëns van Graad 1-leerders in die huistaal (vier skole) en in die eerste addisionele taal (een skool). Die EGRA is belangrik vir die meting van fundamentele geletterdheidsvaardighede. Die uitkomste daarvan help onderwysers om onderrig te beplan wat voldoen aan verskillende leervermoëns. Data is versamel deur die waarneming van geletterdheidspraktyke en aktiwiteite in die Graad 1-klaskamers, die klaskamerinstellings te evalueer en onderhoude met Graad 1-onderwysers en kurrikulumadviseurs van die algemene onderwys- en opleidingsband te onderneem om hul persepsie van Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) te verstaan. Die belangrikste bevindings het getoon dat die graad 1-leerders in die eerste jaar van skool baie stadig basiese leesvaardighede in Xitsonga verwerf, en dat prestasies op alle maatstawwe laag of baie laag was. Die onderwysers se gebrek aan diep begrip van hoe vroeë lees ontwikkel en hoe elkeen van die leesaktiwiteite bydra tot verskillende aspekte van hierdie ontwikkeling, het moontlik tot die leerders se leesuitkomste bygedra. Bevindinge het verder aan die lig gebring dat die vermoë om vlot en met begrip te lees, bepaal word deur hiërargiese verwantskappe tussen verskillende leesvaardighede. Kennis van letterklanke vergemaklik dus die lees van woorde wat die vloeiendheid van lees en dan leesbegrip beïnvloed - al hierdie vaardighede is slegs belangrik vir leesontwikkeling tydens vroeë leer as dit goed in die klaskamer geleer word. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / Ph. D. (Languages, Linguistics and Literature)