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21 June 2023 | Story Amanda Tongha | Photo Samkelo Fetile
Enhancing students’ linguistic abilities
Language teaching professionals from Southern Africa attended a two-day symposium on foreign language acquisition practice on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

Language teaching professionals from across Southern Africa recently gathered at the University of the Free State (UFS) to discuss the need for benchmarking and standardising teaching and assessment practices. 

With the aim of empowering lecturers and researchers responsible for language acquisition and delivering competent students to ensure their employability globally, the educators addressed the challenges of language acquisition in the region. It was the first time that educators from different language disciplines, including Dutch, German, French, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Sesotho, and Sign Language, met to discuss standardisation and best practices in teaching and assessment.

The symposium, which was hosted on the Bloemfontein Campus on 8 and 9 June 2023, brought together educators from the UFS, North-West University, University of Cape Town, University of the Western Cape, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Pretoria, Rhodes University, University of South Africa, Stellenbosch University, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Limpopo, and Sol Plaatje University. They were joined by participants from the University of Namibia and the National University of Lesotho, providing a regional perspective. 

Standardising language acquisition in Southern Africa 

Prof Angelique van Niekerk, Head of the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French, says the meeting marked a movement towards delivering competent students in order to increase their employability in languages such as Dutch, German, French, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Sesotho, and Sign Language. 

“It is probably the first time that the different language disciplines and colleagues from disciplines involved in language acquisition in Southern Africa have met to discuss the need for benchmarking and standardising.” 

“The symposium was not on multilingualism per se, but as language scholars, we support multilingualism. Social cohesion is affected positively if people and their culture and language are accepted and thus used.”

Talking about the need for a reference framework for benchmarking languages, Dr Michelle Joubert, Subject Specialist in the UFS Centre for Teaching and Learning, told delegates in her keynote address that a coordinated system provides a basis for the mutual recognition of language qualifications. 

“Our aim is to develop a framework of standards for indigenous and foreign languages to reflect the political and social realities of a multilingual and multicultural South Africa, which aims to form a single South African education, employment, and residential space for its citizens.”

In another keynote address, Dr Carina Grobler, Subject Chair and Lecturer in French at the North-West University, highlighted effective assessment tools to enhance students’ ability to learn additional languages. 

Prof Van Niekerk says many new initiatives, such as the sharing of resources on centralised platforms, were some of the gains following the symposium; a follow-up event is planned for 2024. 

News Archive

Former Kovsie named best teacher in the Western Cape
2011-11-14

 

Proud educators from left: Mrs Julia Ramabenyane, lecturer at the School of Social Sciences and Language Education; Prof. Dennis Francis; Roland Rudd; and Prof. Okkie Combrinck, Head of the School of Mathematics Natural Sciences and Technology Education.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse

Kovsie alumni are second to none. This was proven by Roland Rudd who was recently named Best Secondary School Educator in the Western Cape. Roland, a teacher at Wineberg Boys’ High School, completed his education studies at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2005.

Visiting the university's Bloemfontein Campus last week Roland was full of praise about the education he received at Kovsies. “I have made it known that my success is through the input and solid grounding the UFS offered me. I feel really indebted to the Faculty of Education and the university. I believe that this is the best education faculty and university in South Africa.”
 
Roland, who teaches Engineering Graphics and Design to Grade 10 -12 learners, met with former Faculty of Education lecturers during his visit. They all remembered a bright student who won best student awards every year. In his final year Roland won the award for best student in practical teaching. Prof. Dennis Francis, Dean of the Faculty of Education, said he was pleased that one of his faculties’ graduates was doing so well.
 
Roland will compete in January 2012 in the national best school educator competition.

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