Importance Of Language Education

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LANGUAGE POLICY IN GRADE 4 AT A SCHOOL, FREE STATE PROVINCE

by

Samuel, Tello Khumalo

(Student No: 20476671)

a research proposal submitted to the

Department of Post Graduate Studies (Education)

Faculty of Humanities of the

CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, FREE STATE in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (P.G.C.E.):

Introduction to Research in Education Course (INR10AB)

Supervisor: Dr. A.H. Makura

23 October 2014

CHAPTER 1

THE BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Educators are confronted with the challenge of ensuring quality teaching and learning at schools. Language plays a major role to address the hindrances in effective teaching and learning, communication,

According to Grugeon and Woods (1990:127)…”for many of these pupils, English is a second language not spoken at home. Every phrase outside school is in the mother tongue. Thus, they lack the vocabulary necessary to express themselves.”

1.3 THE STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Since the first democratic elections in South Africa, the Department of Education has developed two language policies that complement each other.

The policies are:

Language in Education policy in terms of section 3(4)(m) of the national education policy Act (1996) (Act number 27 of 1996), and the Norms and Standards regarding language policy published in terms of section 6(1) of the South African Schools, 1996.

Learners are confronted with a difficult situation of commencing grade one with mother tongue teaching and learning and subsequently changing to second language as the language of learning and teaching (LOLT) in the intermediate phase.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

MAIN QUESTION

How is the education policy regarding language implemented in Grade 4 at primary schools in Thabong, Free

It is further vital to acquire the language skills that will enable people to apply in their daily social lives.

According to the African National Congress (1994:68), language plays an important role in thinking and learning. It is therefore imperative for the learner to learn the language. Teachers must therefore regard themselves as language teachers irrespective of which learning area they offer.

2.3 THE ROLE OF LANUAGE IN EFFECTIVE LEARNING AND TEACHING

For Heese and Orr (1995:112), language is the combination of words, which assists us to express our thoughts.

According to Orlek (1995:4)”… We use language at the bank, at school, in places of worship, at the shops and so on. We will feel frustrated if we are not familiar with the language that is used in these places. We will feel even more frustrated if we have learnt the language but only know the formal grammar, which does not help us to do the things we need to