No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1964.

Thesis (MPhil (Journalism))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Do young people have any news interest? Which subjects interest them most and what is their medium of preference? In order to answer these questions, research was done on news reading trends of young people – both nationally and internationally. A questionnaire was completed by 180 grade 11 scholars from the Western Cape, the Free State and Gauteng. The results of the different provinces are compared in this study to monitor newstrends nationally. The child’s cognitive development phase has an influence on nurturing healthy (news)reading habits. In this study the correlation is explored by using Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980) theory of cognitive development stages. From interviews with the JIP supplement editors (Beeld, Burger and Volksblad), as well as the cell phone companies (MTN, Vodacom en Cell C) the biggest obstacles and possible strategies to draw young readers were identified. In this work the public’s need for media, as well as the influence of the media on the society (especially the youth) is discussed by looking at Fourie’s (2001) model of short term and long term influences of media on the society. The study showed that the majority of young people see one news bulletin (newspaper, television and/or radio) per week as sufficient. Research results indicated that the medium of preference for news headlines among young people is SMS. Just less than half of the respondents are willing to pay for such a service. The second medium of preference to receive news is noted as youth newspapers. The main news subjects amongst the youth is entertainment, followed by sport and sosial issues. Political and international news seems to be less popular amongs this group.

This dissertation endeavours to come to an understanding of adolescents' attitudes and perceptions with regard to recreational reading. The scope of research in the discipline of Children's Literature is a clear indication that researchers in various fields consider it to be a crucial learning area in children's education in general and the acquisition of literacy in particular. This development comes at a time when many pessimists have reason to regard reading, if not a dying art, at least a threatened pastime, especially with modem children whose reading has to compete with a variety of electronic media for divided attention during limited hours of leisure. After a literature review of central issues pertaining to recreational reading, a survey attempts to determine the scope and nature of adolescent reading habits. Finally, strategies are recommended to help teachers in their promotion of adolescent readership. Chapter one takes the view that recreational reading supports all aspects of a learner's development, from the acquisition of literacy to linguistic mastery, from intellectual stimulation to emotional and moral development. The theoretical inquiry studies various factors that contribute to - or detract from - the acquisition of a lifelong reading habit. From parental influence the focus moves to the influence of teachers at school and the role of bibliotherapy. Chapter two endeavours to give an overview of beginning reading strategies as well as early contact with texts since attitudes on reading are formed through these initial experiences at home and at school. An inspection of some theories on children's reading development leads to an understanding of how to match book with reader as a crucial facet in readership promotion. Chapter three focuses on adolescent attitudes and perceptions. An understanding of adolescents, their motives and interests are necessary when teachers wish to motivate their learners to read a wide range of material for pleasure. It is clear that the decline in adolescent recreational reading can be attributed to the pressure of time, the lack of adequate models of reading and the poor use of available reading materials. in the Tshwane South district of Gauteng province as representatives of the middle adolescent phase. The results of the survey are described and the implications of adolescent reading habits are discussed. Chapter five is a comprehensive chapter in which the research findings are applied to design teaching strategies to help promote recreational reading. Encouraging adolescents to choose to read enthusiastically, thereby possibly creating a lifelong reading habit, ultimately requires the combined efforts of governmental and education authorities, principals and teachers, librarians and, of course, parents. The study is followed by two appendices: the questionnaire and some suggestions for readership promotion by learners in their own words. The value of the study rests on the testimony of learners that teachers can influence adolescents with regard to recreational reading. Whether serving as models of reading, leading group discussions on books or applying bibliotherapeutic strategies, the influence and guidance of highly-motivated teachers are decisive. / Dissertation (MA (English))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Modern European Languages / unrestricted

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.

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

This study provides quantitative and qualitative data about the effects of using children's literature with adolescents in a language classroom and the role of children's literature in students' second/foreign language development, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The study presents qualitative data about the role of children's literature in developing more positive attitudes toward reading in the second/foreign language and toward reading in general. With literature being a model of a culture, presenting linguistic benefits for language learners, teaching communication, and being a motivator in language learning, this study presents empirical data that show that inclusion of children's literature in adolescents' second/foreign language classroom promotes appreciation and enjoyment of literature, enhances the development of language skills, stimulates more advanced learning, and promotes students' personal growth.

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)

The pace of technological advancement and growth in the twenty-first century continues to soar at unprecedented levels and beyond human imagination. As the fourth industrial revolution unfolds, it has become increasingly difficult to predict the direction technological innovation will take in the not too distant future. Digital technologies have become an integral part of every aspect of human existence (work, play, schooling and personal relationships). The purpose of this study was to explore the various ways mobile technological gadgets like cell phones, tablets and laptops could be leveraged to promote a culture of leisure reading amongst a group of Zimbabwean adolescent learners. Data was collected using the literacy practices interview, mobile reading diaries, focus group interviews and the researcher’s personal field notes. Theoretically, the study was guided primarily by Urie Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological systems theory. Also, the study was supported by Guthrie and Wigfield's reader engagement model and Turner and Hicks' connected reader model. The empirical data collected through the data collection instruments were analysed inductively. The findings revealed that adolescent learners are a digital generation whose reading needs are ever growing and expectations are ever changing. The adolescent participants expect their reading to be like the rest of their digital lives, which is quick, uninterrupted, personalised and smart. It was found that the adolescent participants like to read on their terms, as they dislike being told when to read or what to read. Three reader identities were revealed namely; the eager reader, the ‘fifty fifty’ reader and the non-reader. The adolescent participants who were not already mobile readers readily accepted and adopted mobile reading as it afforded them vast reading opportunities. Besides, the findings of the study revealed that participants encountered many challenges, which in some instances militated against their mobile reading endeavours. These challenges were because of mobile phone use restrictions in schools, prohibitive data costs, a strong emphasis on academic reading as opposed to leisure reading and internet connectivity problems amongst other issues. In this study, the recommendations and guidelines outlined provide a framework with which schools, parents, mobile reading application developers and policymakers can adopt to support a robust mobile reading culture amongst Zimbabwean adolescent learners. The researcher concluded that mobile reading devices are a novel, noble and credible means through which they can foster positive leisure literacy practices amongst Zimbabwean adolescents. / Language Education, Arts and Culture / Ph. D. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)