Department of Curriculum Studies

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Browsing Department of Curriculum Studies by browse.metadata.advisor "Barends, Z."

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    Home language and language of learning and teaching dichotomy: language support for foundation phase learners
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Botha, Myrincia; Barends, Z.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Curriculum Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The majority of South African learners have a different home language than their language of learning and teaching. As a result, they experience language learning difficulties in the classroom. Children in the Metro East District are being taught in English as a medium of instruction despite their mother tongue being Afrikaans, because the school changed their language medium from dual-medium to single-medium with exclusively English as a LoLT. This study aimed to determine how these learners with Afrikaans as a home language were being supported in the classroom. Over the years, research has continually reiterated the importance of parental support. This research investigated how learners whose LoLT differed from their HL could be supported. The data revealed that parents need the necessary support from teachers, schools and community organisations to aid them in effectively supporting their children. Parents, schools, teachers and communities need to work together well to form good partnerships that will be beneficial for the learner. This study was mainly aimed at parents whose home language differ from their child’s language of learning and teaching, but it did not exclude other parents. The hypothesis stated that learners did not receive adequate language learning support from their parents and/or teachers. Learners were thus struggling as a result of this lack of support from the parents, and the latter did not always know how to support their children. A qualitative study was conducted within an interpretive paradigm. A multiple-case study was used, focusing on three individual families who share the same home language, Afrikaans, while their children are in LoLT English classes at the same school. This study encourages schools and teachers to work together with parents to equip them to support their children. The findings can lead to the development of language learning skills that will enable parents to effectively support their children.