preview

Language Education In South African Schools

Decent Essays

In this essay one will be able to see that teaching in a mother tongue is a current crisis in South African schools. The writer of this essay is against that the mother tongue of learners should be the medium of instructions in South African schools.

First language education is a tender point with South Africa education, with two main aspects ruling. One side believes that the key to resolving South Africa’s education crisis is to thoroughly enhance education and training for teachers, specifically the language teachers, whether if they teach Afrikaans, a domestic South African language, or English. The other side agrees with the first side but also believes that African languages speaking children have to abandon their mother tongue too soon and learn in a language they cannot comprehend. Thus they struggle to learn the new concepts, how to read and write and to learn English.

Firstly, there is a crisis about the shortage of text and books that are available in other languages. Due to the lack of resources available in other languages, it creates obstacles to ensure proper teaching to children. “I work with young people who speak …show more content…

On the other side of the coin one cannot imagine what it could feel like to begin their education being taught in a different language. However English students in South Africa should also be taught an African language from the first day. We have twelve official languages in South Africa. This is a logistical nightmare, how do we get all young South African minds on the same page. One could suggest teaching in English but teach in one other official African language as well from day one to all. The results will speak for themselves, English speaking learners will learn from non-English speaking learners and vice versa. This format should be open and encouraging. The key is communication with

Get Access