Literature, while perceived as beneficial, is not widely used in the ESL arena. This study set out to investigate proven benefits of using literature in ESL through a review of the current research, at the same time establishing a link between literature and narrative based on `story grammar' which biological determinism claims the human brain is hardwired to use as a language learning tool. Hypothesizing that there would be no correlation between theory regarding the presence and application of literature in ESL as presented in the current research and the practice as found in the prominent ESL course, New Headway, the study set out to identify narrative input in New Headway's Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Levels and analyzing the way in which narrative is used to teach language skills and communicative competence. Contrary to expectations a surprisingly high level of narrative was found and the narrative was exploited in full accordance with suggestions made in the current research. The findings indicate that the incorporation of narrative in New Headway is a pedagogically informed decision by the authors to exploit the benefits of literature while at the same time catering to a very heterogeneous audience of international ESL learners. Key terms: literature, narrative, story, biological determinism, ESL course books, New Headway / English Studies / M.Ed.

The study investigates the potential of teacher talk in enhancing learner capacity to negotiate learning, premised on a view of classroom interaction as guided construction of knowledge. It examines the extent to which levels of oracy - essentially, awareness of the language of instruction, and the ability to use it more effectively - can be raised by exposing teachers to an in-service distance education language-based course. The main research questions are: a. What are the effects of the course in classroom text and discourse on oracy in the high school classroom? b. How can the quality of classroom discourse be assessed in a relatively systematic and objective manner? With regard to the second question, an analytical framework was developed that defined three key constructs in terms of discourse acts, namely teacher dominance, teacher effectiveness and learner initiative, and these constructs formed the basis of the three hypotheses. Patterns of interaction in English, mathematics and geography classes during the first year of high school in Harare, Zimbabwe (main study) and Zomba, Malawi (supplementary study) were analysed. The Zimbabwe study used a pretest-posttest control group design, with six teachers in the experimental group and three as controls, while the Malawi study used a posttest-only control group design with three teachers in each group. The experimental groups took part in an intervention programme known as the Litraid Project, a course on classroom text and discourse. The findings, interpreted both quantitatively and qualitatively, showed that after intervention the experimental group teachers dominated classrooms less and used discourse input more consciously and effectively. Similarly, their learners showed improved ability to negotiate learning, as reflected in their heightened levels of initiative and discourse output, both in class and group discussion. Hence the conclusion that classroom praxis, specifically in English second language situations, benefits from a conscious enhancement of oracy, leading to more effective teaching and learning. / Linguistics / D.Litt. et Phil. (Linguistics)

According to the South African Schools Act no 86 or 1994, school governing bodies determine the official language used as Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) in public schools. Black community primary schools use home language in the Foundation Phase, and switch to English from the fourth grade. This study investigates Zulu as LoLT in the Foundation Phase in selected township primary schools in Gauteng East District. A qualitative inquiry used semi-structured interviews to collect data from Grade Three teachers. Findings were that educators welcomed use of learner’s Home Language as LoLT; due to diverse linguistic backgrounds of teachers and learners, Zulu was not used effectively in classrooms; code switching to English was prevalent; parent involvement was poor due to parents’ lack of Zulu proficiency and learning and teaching materials were mainly in English. The review of school language policies and the provision of multiple medium classes to accommodate language diversity were recommended. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Early Childhood Development)

Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Linguistics)

English Second Language {ESL) teaching has undergone noticeable changes in recent years. One such change, based upon current second language teaching theory, has been a striving for authenticity and relevance in ESL classrooms. Innovations in ESL resulting from such a striving, have been collectively labelled as Communicative Language Teaching {CLT). A new generation of ESL core syllabuses and course books has arisen, based upon the ideals and terminology of CL T. In spite of official sanction from education departments there was perceived to be an apparent lack of communicative activities in many ESL classrooms. This study considered the extent of this perceived absence of CL T approaches from ESL classrooms in certain Ciskeian secondary schools. Using purposeful sampling a group of Ciskeian ESL teachers was identified for possible classroom observation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide a "thick description' of ESL classroom life, with an emphasis on the orientation of the teachers towards CL T. A measure of typicality in the findings derived from such observation would allow for the applicability of such an understanding of classroom life to other schools in the Ciskei region and in the greater Eastern Cape Province. The study addressed the following two issues: * The changes that have occurred in English Language teaching methods with particular reference to CL T and the claim that can be made for CL T to be considered as an educational innovation; * The extent to which CL T was encountered in the Ciskeian ESL classrooms observed and the role that the teachers in these classrooms fulfill as agents of change in the light of the innovative nature of CL T. A literature study was undertaken of the theory and practice of Educational Innovation and CL T. Because of a desire to locate this research in a qualitative paradigm consideration was given to the theoretical underpinnings of Qualitative Research in general, and of Ethnography in particular. Teachers in the study were identified by means of their responses to a questionnaire designed to establish the teacher's perceived inclination to CL T. The subsequent data collection strategy included classroom observation, the use of an observation protocol (the Communicative Orientation of Language Teaching-COLT), audiorecordings of lessons observed and teacher interviews which were recorded and transcribed. Analysis and interpretation of the data led to a series of statements indicating the extent of the CL T orientation of the classrooms observed. Synthesis of these statements revealed that classrooms were organized around teacher-centered, wholeclass, pedagogic activities supporting a 'transmission' mode of teaching. this supported the earlier perception that there was a lack of communicative activities in CL T classrooms. Arising out of these findings were a number of implications for the teachers in the sample, for the college of education which had produced these teachers, and for the Eastern Cape Department of Education. It was suggested that there should be a commitment on the part of the teachers to CLT, a sensitivity on the part of the college to the need for sound theoretical and practical pre-service training for prospective ESL teachers, and the recognition on the part of the Department of a need for a comprehensive programme of CL T in-service training. / Language Education Arts and Culture / D. Ed. (Didacticts)

Thesis (D.Litt. et Phil.)--Universiteit van Suid-Afrika, 2002.

Today, unlike yesterday we talk about Moral Regeneration amongst the Vhavenḓa youth of today and throughout the whole world. Strategies of combating this monster that is snatching our youth are recommended in this study. The problem dealt with in this study is the issue of Moral degeneration amongst the youth which needs to be regenerated. There are many causes of moral degeneration amongst the youth discussed in this study which are accompanied by the remedial strategies. As a way forward in this study, observations of researchers and scholars on how to find the solution about moral degeneration that has impacted on the lives of Vhavenḓa youth and other youth of today around the globe were focused on. The literature review in this study was based more on issues that are linked to Indigenous Knowledge Systems as discussed by various scholars. This study used the qualitative research methodology though quantitative minimally. The sampling of data was more purposive though there were cases of convenience and snowballing so as to get more data. Data for this research study was collected through questionnaires and interviews from a host of interviewees. This data was analysed using open and axial coding. The findings were grouped or categorised into major themes in terms of selective coding. Reasons behind the findings were explained too. Finally, consequences, implications for further study and also recommendations were indicated. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African languages)

published_or_final_version / Language Studies / Master / Master of Arts

Cette thèse aborde la reformulation dans des discussions entre jeunes Libanais francophones. Après une approche lexicologique de formuler/reformuler/reformulation qui vise à faire émerger leurs spécificités par rapport à dire/redire, énoncer/réénoncer, etc., et une tentative de trouver une unité à l’objet discursif qu’est la reformulation, une double approche des reformulations du corpus est engagée. La première, linguistique, dresse une typologie de ce phénomène dans le corpus. Se voulant globale, elle prend en compte des critères linguistiques (phonologique, sémantique, lexical, morphosyntaxiques) et d’autres qui relèvent de la dimension interactive dans laquelle s’inscrivent les reformulations (instances, initiation et rôle de la reformulation dans le discours). Le principal apport de cette approche qualitative et quantitative est d’avoir montré l’aspect central de la morphosyntaxe dans le marquage des reformulations nuançant ainsi les approches du phénomène à travers les marqueurs lexicaux et les connecteurs. La deuxième approche se centre sur les locuteurs et sur leur statut de non-natifs en s’interrogeant sur le potentiel des reformulations à nous renseigner sur leur compétence de communication. De plus, le travail se penche sur des phénomènes de contacts de langues dans le cadre de l’activité reformulatoire des locuteurs dans le corpus. Cette thèse se consacre enfin, dans le cadre théorique de la grammaticalisation/pragmaticalisation, à l’étude d’un marqueur discursif du dialecte libanais «jæʕne» qui fait irruption dans le discours des locuteurs et témoigne, entre autres emplois, de celui de marqueur de reformulation. Les emplois de jæʕne sont considérés aussi comme des phénomènes de contacts de langue d’une part dans le cadre d’alternance codique et d’autre part, à travers des calques opérés par les locuteurs sur c’est-à-dire. / This PhD thesis approaches reformulation in conversations between young francophone Lebanese. It starts with a lexicological approach of the words formulate/reformulate/reformulation in order to emphasize their differences with say/say again, utter/utter again and goes on with a deep analysis of reformulation as a discursive object, followed by a two-fold approach of the occurrences in the corpus. The first approach is a linguistic one and also deals with the interactional dimension of reformulations. Quantitative and qualitative analyses emphasize the role of morphosyntax in marking reformulations, completing the approaches based on discourse markers and connectives. The second approach, focusing on the speakers, takes into account their non-native speaker status. We are questioning here the way in which reformulations can provide information about their communicative competence. Reformulation is seen as a communicative strategy they use in order to solve communication problems. Our work ends with the analysis of a Lebanese French discourse marker, jæʕne, used by the speakers to indicate reformulation (among other things). The first part of the analysis draws a typology of all its uses within the grammaticalization/pragmaticalization framework while the second one studies it as a language contact phenomenon.

The aim of the thesis is to design general recomendations on mistake management in a foreign language classroom which would meet both teachers' and learners' requirements and methods of mistake management in a foreign language classroom which would contribute to development of learners' communicative competence. The following methods were used in the research: analysis of literature on pedagogy, psychology and methodology of foreign language teaching, interview, questionnaire and observation. Thirteen general recommendations and fifteen methods of mistake management in a foreign language classroom which contribute to the development of learners' communicative competence were designed as a result of the research.