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Creating mother tongue pride and confidence in rural areas

26 January 2024 | Story Charlene Stanley | Photo Supplied

A unique public speaking competition hosted in the small town of Philippolis has done wonders to not only build confidence in young mother tongue speakers, but to broaden the cultural perspectives of an entire community.

The Philippolis Public Speaking Competition has been hosted by the Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment (ULFE) and the Department of Community Engagement (CE) at the University of the Free State (UFS) since 2013. What started as a small competition for learners in this Southern Free State town, has grown into a much-anticipated annual event, drawing participants from schools in neighbouring towns such as Trompsburg, Bethulie, Jagersfontein, Fauresmith, Gariepdam, and Reddersburg.

Talking about heritage

Every year, learners from Grades 6 to 9 are invited to present a speech on a specific heritage-related topic. Participants are encouraged to speak in their mother tongues – which in this region are mainly Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, and isiXhosa.

Interpreters from the UFS ULFE ensure that the audience can follow each speech. For the past few years, deaf learners from the Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind in Thaba Nchu and Re Tlameleng School for the Deaf in Kimberley have made welcome appearances, assisted by UFS sign language interpreters.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to teach our young people about acknowledging and respecting different opinions – but also to consider perspectives from differently abled individuals,” enthuses Anita Muller, a teacher from Bergmanshoogte Primary School, who has been involved in the competition from the very beginning.

“Learners in rural areas so often believe they don’t have a voice, and that nobody is interested in their opinions,” she continues.

“This competition does wonderful work in building feelings of self-worth and self-confidence. And it is usually a welcome opportunity for our broader community to get together, learn about one another’s cultures, and change perspectives.”

Embracing individuality

Jani de Lange, UFS Lecturer in South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies, and one of the coordinators of the project, says she was excited to note that the master of ceremonies of last year’s competition was a former participant in the very first event.

“This project gives me a sense of pride and reminds me why I am part of the UFS. It has been a real eye-opener to see how important it is for those involved,” she says.

“It encourages our young people to embrace their individuality, as we celebrate the cultures and traditions of all those who participate,” says Mabatho Ntsieng from the Engaged Scholarship Office. She says young people often lose sight of where they come from. By giving them opportunities to research topics linked to their heritage and then present their speech in their mother tongue, they can return to their cultural roots.

“It is wonderful to see how proud these participants are and the impact it has on the schools and the community.”

News Archive

UFS gives recognition to excellent researchers

2004-11-16

p>The University of the Free State will give recognition to excellent researchers at UFS on Tuesday 16 November 2004. “This recognition function will also serve as the first annual lecture in research excellence,” says Prof Frans Swanepoel, Director of Research Development Division at the UFS.

This is the first occasion of its kind in the UFS. It coincides with the university’s centenary celebrations. The recognition of excellent research shows the UFS’s commitment and innovative focus on research as one of its core functions,” says Prof. Swanepoel.

Recognition will be given in different categories. They are female researchers, black researchers, young researchers, C- and L-Rated researchers, researchers with significant research outputs, B-Rated researchers and distinguished professors in research.

The promotion of equity and development of research capacity of designated groups is one of the objectives of the UFS’s research strategy therefore the university is recognising the research achievements of 21 women and 16 black persons. Amongst these are Prof. Margaret Raftery (English and Classical Languages), Dr Liesl van As (Zoology and Entomology), Prof. Peter Mbati (head of the Qwaqwa campus) and Prof. Charles Ngwena (Constitutional Law and Philosophy of Law).

The UFS is also recognising nine young researchers. They must hold a doctorate and have the potential to establish themselves as researchers within a five-year period based on their performance and productivity as researchers during their doctoral studies and/or early post-doctoral careers. Amongst them are Dr Esta van Heerden (Microbial Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) and Prof. André Jooste (Agricultural Economics).

Fifty-eight established researchers with a sustained recent record of productivity are receiving recognition in the C- and L-rated researchers’ category. Amongst them were Prof. Hennie van Coller (Afrikaans, Dutch, German and French) and Prof. Gert Erasmus (Animal- and Wildlife- and Grassland Sciences).

Prof. Francois Tolmie (New Testament) and Prof. Gina Joubert (Biostatistics) are two of the twelve researchers that are receiving recognition for having excelled in research outputs during recent years.

Nine researchers are acknowledged in the B-category for the international recognition they receive from their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs. Amongst them were Prof. Johan Grobbelaar (Plant Sciences) and Prof. Hendrik Swart (Physics). Prof. Grobbelaar focused in his research on limnology, algal biotechnology, plant stress and Prof. Swart focused on solid state physics and degradation mechanisms that are responsible for the degradation of field emission and TV displays.

Seven individuals are recognised for their exceptional achievements as researchers. Prof. Frederick Fourie, Rector, but previously in the Department of Economics, is recognised for his research in two policy areas: Political Economics, Government Finance and Fiscal Policy, and Industrial Economics, in particular analysis of the South African industrial structure and competition policy, where his research contributions played a key role in reforming South Africa’s competition policy.

Prof. Lodewyk Kock (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) focuses in his research mainly on pure and oxidised edible oil where yeasts are used as a study model. He obtained national as well as international recognition for this research program.

The UFS is also awarding the S2A3 Bronze Medal to recognise a Master’s degree student who has delivered outstanding research in one of the sciences. Mr Pieter Taljaard and Ms Tania Venter are recognised in this category.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
16 November 2004

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