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Odeion alumna offers free online music classes to Grade 12s

06 November 2020 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Supplied

Tronel Hellberg_web read more — Dr Tronél Hellberg, UFS alumna, completed her PhD in Music from the OSM in 2018.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has posed many challenges. Not only has it distrupted our normal way of life it but has created a ‘new normal.’ Even in these trying times, alumni from the University of the Free State (UFS) have adjusted to the new normal by going above and beyond to make it as normal as possible.

One of these is Dr Tronél Hellberg, an alumna from the Odeion School of Music at the UFS, who has supported Grade 12 learners by presenting free online prescribed music theory classes. The classes are beneficial for learners following the CAPS or IEB curriculum. “I trust the online videos will assist learners and teachers to get through this challenging Grade 12 year,” says Dr Hellberg. She has recorded more than 38 live videos on her G-Sential Theory of Music Facebook page.

The recordings are accessible to Grade 12 learners and their teachers at no cost. Dr Hellberg established the G-Sential Theory of Music in 2007 and has since published 20 theory of music books.

Apart from assisting in teaching, one of her main objectives is to reach less fortunate learners who do not have access to music teachers. “Grade 12 music literacy requires an accumulative understanding of theory of music,” she says. With her initiative she also aims to “fill any gaps” to solidify knowledge and information which might still be unclear.

News Archive

Kovsie student translates and interprets between English and Mandarin

2012-11-14

Chen-Shu
14 November 2012

When television channel e.tv recently interviewed successful Chinese businesspersons in South Africa and Tanzania, they turned to Kovsie student Chen-Shu Fang to translate from English into Mandarin. Chen-Shu, who has completed a BA Honours in Linguistics, is the first student in the Department of Linguistics and Language Practice translating and interpreting between English and Mandarin.

Born in Taiwan, Chen-Shu started her high-school education in South Africa in 1997 and matriculated in 2001. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Taiwan, but returned to South Africa in 2011, enrolling for studies in the Department of Linguistics and Language Practice. After completing her honours degree in June 2012, Chen-Shu decided to also enrol for the practical honours module in Translation Studies in preparation of her Master’s degree next year.

“I have some background knowledge in linguistics, but during my studies at the UFS, I discovered an interest in interpreting and translation. Therefore, I changed my main focus from Linguistics to Language Practice,”says Chen-Shu.

This year, Chen-Shu also started offering translation and interpretation services. Her first interpreting brief from the Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment (ELFE) at the UFS was for Dairy Belle where she had to interpret for a technician from China. She furthermore assists in the translation of the website of Hsiang Chun Orchid Garden, a Bloemfontein-based company (www.hcorchids.co.za).

“I have a great interest in translation, and would also like to offer my language skills and knowledge gained in this course to the Mandarin-speaking community in Bloemfontein. This degree has given me the opportunity to practise and enhance the necessary language practice skills. ”

On assessing Chen-Shu’s translations, an external marker for Mandarin from Rhodes University commented as follows on our department’s course: “I am impressed by your generous and relaxed attitude towards such a diverse group of students, so that they can actually follow a translation course and develop translation skills within their own, unique context”.

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