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13 January 2020
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Story Eugene Seegers
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Photo Anja Aucamp
Spearheading the digital expansion of the conversational Sesotho course is IDEAS Lab Director, Johann Möller (middle). With him are from the left: Prof Pule Phindane, CUT; Dr Brenton Fredericks, CUT; Bahedile Letlala, UFS Department of African Languages; and Dr Elias Malete, UFS Department of African Languages.
For many years now, the UFS has been offering a one-year course in conversational Sesotho for staff members; this can then be followed up with the one-year course in advanced conversational Sesotho. The conversational Sesotho for students in the Faculty of Education was introduced in 2018 at the UFS.
The Central University of Technology (CUT) needed a conversational course for its first-year students and approached the Department of African Languages for the development of such a course. Living as we do in a multilingual country; this additional language skill opens doors and often hearts as well.
Using instructional design principles
However, the need was identified by both CUT and UFS to present this crucial information in a way that would be more appealing to digital natives as well as to those less familiar with technology. The Department of African Languages on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus, together with relevant departments from the CUT, approached the IDEAS Lab located on the UFS South Campus, since they already have a reputation for being a specialist on broadcasting and repackaging curricular content for digital presentations. The IDEAS Lab provided technical advice and built the multimedia programme, which will help the user to hear and practice phrases in Sesotho, using instructional design principles. The course will be available to both staff and students belonging to the two universities.
Room for growth
Johann Möller, Director of the IDEAS Lab, says this pilot programme will give both institutions the opportunity to test the use of multimedia for language acquisition. He adds, “Language is extremely complex, and we would like to expand this learning aid in the future.” In fact, the original design has room for growth built into it.
To keep things simple for the user and the building team, it was decided to start out with only four potential everyday scenarios where a staff member would like to speak Sesotho: Firstly, how to greet other persons from different genders; secondly, potential scenarios one might encounter in the university environment itself; thirdly, how to deal with situations at a hospital; and finally, how to use one’s language skills at a filling station.
Pronunciation is key
Each scenario contains three to four conversations that the learner can revise, along with images and audio that illustrate the situation and assist with correct pronunciation. The system does not allow the user to progress unless they have listened to the pronunciations of the sample sentences or phrases.
Further reading material and vocabulary lists are also provided, with the result that people who are using the programme can learn at their own pace. The authoring software Articulate Storyline was used to build the individual scenarios and each conversation or lesson within it. The lessons are also not dependent on an internet connection; they can be downloaded onto a flash memory drive and used offline.
KovsieSport lauds its heroes of the year
2013-10-20
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Maryka Holtzhausen and Wade van Niekerk
20 October 2013 |
The University of the Free State (UFS) honoured its top achievers at the Loch Logan Waterfront on Friday 18 October 2013. Maryka Holtzhausen and Wade van Niekerk were named the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year respectively.
The Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman for 2013 are Jacques du Toit and Izelle Lategan.
This year the university’s sport stars were honored in five categories. This includes:
- Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year (everyone that represented South Africa at a senior level, was eligible for the title). The winners each received a trophy and each sportsman and sportswomen in this category were honored with a medal.
- Junior sportsman and sportswoman of the year. The winners each received a trophy.
- Sport stars that represented South Africa at senior and junior level. The achievers received certificates.
- Sport stars that represented the UFS in the national student teams. The sport stars also received certificates.
- Certificates were also awarded to the KovsieSport club sport stars.
The following students represented South Africa at senior level:
- Maryka Holtzhausen was a member of the Protea Netball team that participated in the Fast5 World Series in Auckland, New Zealand, in November 2012. Maryka captained the victorious Protea Netball team in the African Cup in Malawi in May 2013 and was also the captain of the Protea team that toured England in September 2013.
- Adele Niemand was a member of the victorious Protea Netball team in the African Cup in Malawi in May 2013. Adele obtained her 50th cap for the Proteas when she played for the Protea Netball team that toured England in September 2013.
- Izelle Lategan was a member of the SA Senior Women’s Protea team that participated in the World Hockey League Round 1 and 2, as well as in the semifinals of the World Hockey League. Izelle was also part of the Protea Women’s team that participated in the Investec Series in England.
- Tanya Brits was a member of the SA Senior Women’s Protea team that participated in the World Hockey League Round 1 and 2, as well as in the semifinals of the World Hockey League. Tanya was also part of the Protea Women’s team that participated in the Investec Series in England.
- Hananja Steyn was a member of the national team that participated in the African Fencing Championships in Cape Town in 2013. Hananja also participated in the World Championship in Budapest during 2013.
- Elsabe le Roux participated in the WKF Senior World Karate Championships in Paris in 2013. Elsabe was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Championships in Namibia in June 2013.
- Diana Welmans was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships in Namibia in June 2013.
- Elme de Villiers was a member of the SA Badminton team that won gold at the All Africa team event and she played in the semifinals in the singles at the same event. Elme also reached the quarterfinals in the singles and obtained gold in the doubles at the Mauritius Open.
- Sandra le Grange was a member of the SA Badminton team that won gold at the All Africa team event and she obtained a bronze medal in the singles at the same event. Sandra also reached the quarterfinals and obtained gold in the doubles at the Mauritius Open.
- Karla Mostert was a member of the Protea Netball team that participated in the Fast5 World Series in Auckland, New Zealand, in November 2012. Karla was a member of the victorious Protea Netball team in the African Cup in Malawi in May 2013 and also toured England as a member of the Protea Netball team in September 2013.
- Balungile Ngcofe was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships in Namibia in June 2013.
- Jan Petrus van der Merwe was a member of the SA Swimming team that participated in China and Australia during 2013.
- Wayde van Niekerk was a member of the SA Athletics team that participated in the World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, in 2013.
- Wim Boshoff was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships.
- Tanya Basson was a member of the SA Judo team that competed in the World Kata Championships in Italy in 2013. Tanya was a member of the SA team to compete in the Africa Championships in Maputo in 2013 and she also competed in the World Kata Championships in Japan.
Sport stars that represented South Africa on junior level, are:
- Danelle Willemse was a member of the SA U/21 Netball team that participated in the Netball Junior World Cup in Glasgow in 2013. She also represented the SA U/21 Netball team in the World Youth Championships in Singapore in 2013.
- Diana Welmans was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships in Namibia in June 2013. She also participated as a member of the SA U/21 team in the UFAK Africa Karate Championships in Tunisia in August 2013 where she received a bronze medal.
- Line Malan was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that participated in the Hockey Junior World Cup in August 2013. She was also a member of the SA U/21 team that toured Europe in July 2013.
- Nicole Walraven was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that participated in the Hockey Junior World Cup in August 2013. She was also a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that toured Europe in July 2013. The SA U/21 team, of which Nicole was a member, won the Africa Cup Tournament in order to qualify for the Junior World Cup.
- Cornelle Botha was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that toured Europe in July 2013. The SA U/21 team, of which Cornelle was a member, won the Africa Cup Tournament in order to qualify for the Junior World Cup.
- Lisa Hawker was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that won the Africa Cup Tournament.
- Izelle Lategan was not only a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that participated in the Hockey Junior World Cup in August 2013, but also captained the team. She also captained the SA U/21 Hockey team that toured Europe in July 2013 and won the Africa Cup Tournament in order to qualify for the Junior World Cup. Izelle’s outstanding performances was recognised by SAHA when she was announced as the SA Junior Hockey Player. She was also a member of the SA Senior Women’s Protea team that participated in the World Series Hockey League.
- Tanya Brits was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that participated in the Hockey Junior World Cup in August 2013. She was also a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that toured Europe in July 2013 and won the Africa Cup Tournament in order to qualify for the Junior World Cup. Tanya was also a member of the SA Senior Women’s Protea team that participated in the World Series Hockey League.
- Jacques du Toit was a member of the SA U/21 Rugby team that participated in the IRB Junior World Championships in 2013.
- Andries Gous played as a SA U/19 Cricket player in a test series against England in January and February 2013, as well as in the One-Day Series against England during February and March 2013.
- Wim Boshoff participated as a member of the SA U/21 team in the UFAK Africa Karate Championships in Tunisia in August 2013 where he received a bronze medal. He also participated in the Istanbul Open in Turkey in September 2013.
The KovsieSport club sport stars are:
- Maryka Holtzhausen – Netball
- Jaco Fourie – Hockey
- Izelle Lategan – Hockey
- Leonard Killeen – Cricket
- Teboho (Oupa) Mohoje – Rugby
- Duke Munro – Tennis
- Christi Potgieter – Tennis
- Ricco Sutil – Soccer
- Choaro Khumisi – Soccer
- Wayde van Niekerk – Athletics
- Danelle Prinsloo - Athletics
B Category:
- Jan Petrus van der Merwe – Aquatics
- Elsabe le Roux – Karate
- Tanya Basson– Judo
The USSA international participants were:
- Wayde van Niekerk participated in the World Student Athletic Games in Russia in July 2013.
- Gideon Trotter participated in the World Student Athletic Games in Russia in July 2013.
- Rynhardt van Rensburg participated in the World Student Athletic Games in Russia in July 2013.
- Dumisane Hlaselo participated in the World Student Athletic Games in Russia in July 2013.
- Jaco Fourie participated in the World Student Hockey Games in Russia in July 2013.
- Luke Sanan participated in the World Student Hockey Games in Russia in July 2013.
- Robbie van Schalkwyk participated in the World Student Rugby Games in Russia in July 2013.
- Elme de Villiers participated in the Student World Badminton Championships in Korea in November 2012.
- Sandra le Grange participated in the Student World Badminton Championships in Korea in November 2012.