A mini-dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Magister Educationis (M Ed) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / This mini-dissertation describes the difficulties faced by educators who teach Natural Science in Grade 6 using isiXhosa mother tongue instruction. The researcher has investigated how educators dealt with Natural Science terminology when they were teaching Grade 6. The sample consisted of 10 educators from 10 schools in Gugulethu who were teaching Grade 6 Natural Science. The researcher used a focus group interview of 10 educators from 10 schools in Gugulethu. The researcher unpacked the issues of teaching Natural Science in mother tongue instruction, as it was the policy of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). The researcher looked at the measures put in place by the WCED to pilot schools, such as resources and training of the educators. As a researcher I looked broadly and compared educational policies in other neighbouring countries, such as Mozambique and Swaziland, to South Africa. In a purposive sample, one was likely to get the opinions of one’s target population, but one was also likely to overweight subgroups in one’s population that were more readily accessible. Researcher also consulted some literature such as that of Baker, Alexander, Brock-Utne etc. In conclusion, the researcher used exploratory studies for hypothesis generation, and by researchers interested in obtaining ideas of the range of responses on ideas that people had. However, in this study the researcher used the qualitative methods, with a focus group interview, to gather data on the implementation of mother tongue instruction in a Grade 6 Natural Science classes. The findings of the study seem to indicate that learners understand better if they are taught Natural Science in isiXhosa mother tongue. Therefore, recommendations pose a number of challenges to those committed in the implementation of mother tongue instruction in the Western Cape schools.

Abstracts in English and Zulu / Bibliography: leaves 138-141 / Multilingualism is the norm in most urban areas of South Africa. This study aims to discover the perceptions of young adults towards their mother tongue due to being exposed to multiple languages in their daily environment at a very young age. The study further investigates whether young adults acquire their mother tongue whilst growing up in an environment that has multiple languages. It also seeks to determine the role that parents play in the acquisition of mother tongue by their children. Literature was reviewed in order to explain and understand the standing of African languages in South Africa. This study is guided by the theories of first language development and acquisition and Cummins’ concepts of Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) theories. The study employed a mixed-method approach. Empirical data was collected by means of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews from young adults and parents. Data collected was analysed by a statistician using categorical data analysis. The researcher used graphs to present findings from analysed data. Findings from the empirical data show that young adults who grew up in a multilingual environment acquire more than one language. Parents also play a role in nurturing the acquisition of the mother tongue / Ubuliminingi yisimo esijwayelike kakhulu ezindaweni zasemadolobheni zalapha eNingizimu Afrika. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuthola izimvo zabantu abasebasha mayelana nolimi lwabo lwebele njengoba kulesi sikhathi samanje bedibana nesimo lapho behlangana khona nabantu abakhuluma izilimi ezahlukene. Lolu cwaningo luhlose futhi nokubheka iqhaza elibanjwe abazali ekufundiseni abantwana babo ulimi lwabo lebele. Kulolu cwaningo kusetshenziswe ongoti abahlukene ukuze kuchazwe futhi kuqondisiswe ukuthi zime kuphi izilimi zendabuko zaseNingizimu Afrika. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise izindlela zokucwaninga eziningi. Ulwazi locwaningo luqoqwe ngokusebenzisa amapheshana emibuzo, kanye nezingxoxo ezingahleliwe ezenziwe kubazali nakubantu abasha. Ulwazi locwaningo luhlaziywe umhlaziyi wezinombolo esebenzisa uhlaziyo lwezigaba zocwaningo ezahlukene. Okutholakele ekuhlaziyweni kolwazi kuveze ukuthi abantu abasha abakhulele lapho okukhulunywa khona izilimi ezahlukene bazuza ulwazi lwalezo zilimi bagcine sebekwazi ukukhuluma nezinye izilimi okungezona ezabo. Kuvelile nokuthi nabazali bayaqinisekisa ukuthi abantwana babo bayalufunda ulimi lwabo lwebele. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)