Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a sharp decrease in the reading habits of learners in the senior secondary school phase. Interest in Afrikaans literature is decreasing amongst both high school learners and the broader public. From an early age, readers prefer to read English. This thesis examines the reading culture of young adults. The literature study takes a look at the nature and the extent of young adult literature, with specific focus on the characteristics unique to young adult literature, the value of young adult literature and the role played by popular literature. The reading world of young adults is examined with reference to their reading habits, reading preferences and the reasons why they do not read. The factors that playa role in the reading habits of this target group are also discussed. This includes reading needs, disinclination to read, eagerness to read, reader guidance, the library, parents, the peer group, free time, age, the media, the cover, the title, the author, cost of books, literature education, the availability and obtainability of books, gender, reading pleasure, socially disadvantaged communities, culture and geographical position. The questionnaire involved 308 16- and 17-year-old young adults and focused on their reading habits, reading milieu, free time expenditure, language and book preferences and aversions. The reading habits are analysed on the basis of criteria such as how often the respondents read books, how many books they had read in the previous month and how often they visit the library. The reading milieu refers to the book, newspaper and magazine reading habits of the parents of the respondents and to the visits to the library by the respondents in their earlier youth. The role of variables such as gender, geographic position and population group is also examined. The results of the questionnaire examination confirm the hypotheses stated in this study: There is not an established reading culture among Afrikaans-speaking young adults (16- and 17 year aids). Afrikaans-speaking young adults prefer to rather read English than to read Afrikaans. In conclusion, a summary of proposals is provided that, if implemented successfully, could promote the reading habit and establish a positive attitude towards Afrikaans literature. There is a specific look at proposals with regard to literature education, the role that is played by libraries, parents, authors and the peer group, as well as marketing, book sales and projects that promote the culture of reading. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar 'n skerp afname in die leesgewoontes van leerders in die senior sekondêre skoolfase. Belangstelling in die Afrikaanse letterkunde is aan die afneem onder sowel hoërskoolleerders as die breë publiek. Lesers verkies reeds vanaf 'n vroeë ouderdom om Engels te lees. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die leeskultuur van jong volwassenes. In die literatuurstudie word gekyk na die aard en omvang van jongvolwasseneliteratuur met spesifieke fokus op die kenmerke eie aan jongvolwasseneliteratuur, die waarde van jong volwasseneliteratuur en die rol wat populêre literatuur speel. Die leeswêreld van jong volwassenes word ondersoek met verwysing na hul leesgewoontes, leesvoorkeure en redes waarom hulle nie lees nie. Die faktore wat 'n rol speel in die leesgewoontes van hierdie teikengroep word ook bespreek. Dit sluit in leesbehoeftes, leestraagheid, leesywer, leserleiding, die biblioteek, ouers, die portuurgroep, vrye tyd, ouderdom, die media, die omslag, die titel, die skrywer, boekkoste, literatuuronderrig, die beskikbaarheid en bekombaarheid van boeke, geslag, leesgenot, sosiaal-benadeelde gemeenskappe, kultuur en geografiese ligging. Die vraelysondersoek het 308 16- en 17-jarige jong volwassenes betrek en fokus op hul leesgewoontes, leesmilieu, vrye tydsbesteding, taal- en boekvoorkeure en -afkeure. Die leesgewoonte word ontleed aan die hand van kriteria soos hoe gereeld die respondente boeke lees, hoeveel boeke hulle die voorafgaande maand gelees het en hoe gereeld hulle die biblioteek besoek. Die leesmilieu verwys na die ouers van respondente se boek-, koerant- en tydskrifleesgewoontes en na die respondente se besoek aan die biblioteek kleintyd. Die rol van veranderlikes soos geslag, geografiese ligging en bevolkingsgroep word ook ondersoek. Die resultate van hierdie vraelysondersoek bevestig die hipoteses gestel in hierdie studie: Daar is nie 'n gevestigde leeskultuur by Afrikaanssprekende jong volwassenes (16- en 17-jariges) nie. Afrikaanssprekende jong volwassenes verkies om liewer Engels te lees as Afrikaans. Ten slotte word daar 'n samevatting van voorstelle gegee wat, indien suksesvol geïmplementeer, die leesgewoonte bevorder en 'n positiewe houding teenoor Afrikaanse literatuur vestig. Daar word spesifiek gekyk na voorstelle ten opsigte van literatuuronderrig, die rol wat biblioteke, ouers, skrywers en die portuurgroep speel, en ook na bemarking, boekverkope en projekte wat die leeskultuur bevorder.

D.Ed. / In South Africa the vast majority ofsecondary school pupils are instructed through the medium of a language that is not their mother tongue. Research indicates that problems which result from instruction in a medium in which pupils do not possess real competence are far reaching. This study is concerned primarily with the difficulties experienced by second language pupils reading expository text in English, in particular the reading matter encountered in subject text books. A study of the relevant theories with regard to reading and learning was made, as well as an overview of the socio-political and economic factors which affect the educational system in South Africa. An empirical study was undertaken, involving Standard 6 pupils who were not first language speakers of English, and who had received their primary school education at institutions under the control ofthe Department ofEducation and Training. In this empirical component pupils were observed, tested and interviewed in an attempt to determine the extent of the difficulties they experienced when they were required to intemalise information presented in the form ofexpository text such as that found in school text books. Findings indicate that the most effective way to address the issue might be by training teachers to become more efficient mediators in the reading process.

M.Ed. / The language policy of South Africa recognises 11 official languages, all of which have been given equal status, but many of these languages are hardly being promoted in schools and public life. It is clear that the status of Afrikaans, for one, is gradually dwindling. The reading of literature is an important factor in sustaining and promoting the vitality of a language. The aim of this study is to find out what the reading preference of Black adolescents in the rural area of Majemantsho in Mafikeng in the North West Province is. For this aim to be achieved, an interpretative design was applied and the qualitative data collection method used, which includes interviews. The major finding of this investigation is that these teenagers like to read literature, but with the proviso that the texts have to do with what is currently happening in their lives and can help them to solve their life problems. They also prefer to read about characters that are role models, for example, heroes, celebrities, public figures and characters of their own age group. The main implications of these findings are: There is a need for teenagers to be given a chance to choose literary texts. There is a need for some form of communication between the Department of Education, writers, publishers, educators, librarians, teenagers, and all other stakeholders involved in the choice of adolescent literary texts. Teachers of literature should also improve their methods of teaching literature. Afrikaans literature lessons like those in other languages should be kept stimulating and relevant to their target group

The growing concern that teenagers don't read, led to this study. The study is preceded by an explanation of aspects in which the teenager develops, the value of reading and the influence of the environment on the teenager's utilisation of leisure time. In the study, a total of 478 Afrikaans-speaking pupils from grade seven to grade ten completed different questionnaires, whereby their reading interests and habits were determined. Some of the important findings of the study are: - although teenagers indicated their preference of fiction reading as that of horror and ghost stories, the romantic Sweet Valley series is read the most; - they prefer main characters who have the same religion and interests as they have; - cartoons and the periodical, Huisgenoot, are popular with all age groups; - books in Afrikaans are seemingly not popular; - the title and blurb are "decisive in the choice of a book; - teenagers consider it as normal that so little time is spent on reading; A few recommendations are made at the end of the study. / Die groeiende kommer dat tienderjariges nie lees nie, het tot die studie gelei. Die studie is voorafgegaan deur 'n uiteensetting van die aspekte waarvolgens tienderjariges ontwikkel; die waarde van lees en die invloed van die omgewing op tienderjariges se vryetydsbesteding. In die studie het 'n totaal van 478 Afrikaanssprekende leerlinge vanaf graad sewe tot graad tien verskillende vraelyste ingevul, waardeur hul leesbelangstellings en -gewoontes vasgestel is. Van die belangrikste bevindings van die studie is: ~ alhoewel tienderjariges aangedui het dat hulle gruwelverhale of spookstories as leesbelangstelling van fiksie verkies, word die romantiese Sweet Valley reeks die meeste gelees; - hoofkarakters wat dieselfde geloof aanhang en belangstellings as hulle het, word verkies; - strokiesprente en die tydskrif, Huisgenoot, is by alle ouderdomsgroepe gewild; - boeke in Afrikaans is skynbaar nie gewild nie; - die titel en die flapteks is deurslaggewend in die keuse van 'n boek; - tienderjariges beskou dit as normaal dat so min tyd aan lees spandeer word, 'n Paar aanbevelings word aan die einde van die studie gemaak. / Information Science / M.Inf. (Information Science)

The growing concern that teenagers don't read, led to this study. The study is preceded by an explanation of aspects in which the teenager develops, the value of reading and the influence of the environment on the teenager's utilisation of leisure time. In the study, a total of 478 Afrikaans-speaking pupils from grade seven to grade ten completed different questionnaires, whereby their reading interests and habits were determined. Some of the important findings of the study are: - although teenagers indicated their preference of fiction reading as that of horror and ghost stories, the romantic Sweet Valley series is read the most; - they prefer main characters who have the same religion and interests as they have; - cartoons and the periodical, Huisgenoot, are popular with all age groups; - books in Afrikaans are seemingly not popular; - the title and blurb are "decisive in the choice of a book; - teenagers consider it as normal that so little time is spent on reading; A few recommendations are made at the end of the study. / Die groeiende kommer dat tienderjariges nie lees nie, het tot die studie gelei. Die studie is voorafgegaan deur 'n uiteensetting van die aspekte waarvolgens tienderjariges ontwikkel; die waarde van lees en die invloed van die omgewing op tienderjariges se vryetydsbesteding. In die studie het 'n totaal van 478 Afrikaanssprekende leerlinge vanaf graad sewe tot graad tien verskillende vraelyste ingevul, waardeur hul leesbelangstellings en -gewoontes vasgestel is. Van die belangrikste bevindings van die studie is: ~ alhoewel tienderjariges aangedui het dat hulle gruwelverhale of spookstories as leesbelangstelling van fiksie verkies, word die romantiese Sweet Valley reeks die meeste gelees; - hoofkarakters wat dieselfde geloof aanhang en belangstellings as hulle het, word verkies; - strokiesprente en die tydskrif, Huisgenoot, is by alle ouderdomsgroepe gewild; - boeke in Afrikaans is skynbaar nie gewild nie; - die titel en die flapteks is deurslaggewend in die keuse van 'n boek; - tienderjariges beskou dit as normaal dat so min tyd aan lees spandeer word, 'n Paar aanbevelings word aan die einde van die studie gemaak. / Information Science / M.Inf. (Information Science)