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Mathematics is the only universal language
04/04/2008 11:23
I am an engineer. We deal with the Japanese... their English is broken, at best, our Japanese is incrementally worse. But when we discuss technical matters, the language is maths and physics. By all means, teach in mother tongue, but only if you grasp the fundamentals, will you succeed in mathematics and the sciences. That's not a language matter. - SkerP |
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so so so so true!!!
04/04/2008 11:26
Its so disturbing that although we have 11 official languages, everything in this country only seems to operate on 2 - English and Afrikaans. - Thandi |
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Whose fault is that?
04/04/2008 11:29
Since 'democracy' The South African education department had over 13 years to translate books into the other official languages. Yet 13 years later you'll STILL find schools without electricity or running water? - I guess buying text books aren't as lucrative as buying submarines, huh? - Juan |
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rubish, crap, nonsense, the african mentality
04/04/2008 11:29
Kids learn these languages at an early age so they should not have a problem writing these exams later on in life. I sent my kids the the german school where everything is taught in german and no my wife and i are not german not can we speak german but we thought it would be good if our kids could speak a european language and now they speak fluent german and they each got distincions last year. - terence |
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Books written by people
04/04/2008 11:30
Its simple, afrikaans people write afrikaans books, and english people write english books. If you want something done in your language, then the people of that language group have to do it. Do you think a Frenchman would write a German textbook? Not likely. Get on with it then .... - kd |
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Good point ...
04/04/2008 11:31
You make a good point Tsholofelo! We all agree that English is the world's tongue and every child in South Africa should at least be able to master it before they graduate from High School, but to expect them to study all their subjects in English does seem unfair! Although 11 languages seem to be a lot to accomodate in the education system,the larger languages should at least be an option for students to receive their education in! Viva for a fair and diverse education for all!
Etienne
- Etienne |
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ermelo?
04/04/2008 11:33
But moedertaal onderrig is exactly what the majority don't want. Remember Ermelo...learners insist to go to an afrikaans (english) school instead of fighting for a school in their own language. A matter of it is easier to take power (language) away from others than to offer it themselves. - tokka |
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2 Problems
04/04/2008 11:34
1. 11 Official languages. Who are you going to discriminate against because there is not enough money to develop text books in 11 languages?
2. English and Afrikaans institutions and text books have been developed over hundreds of years. It will take a long time for the other languages to catch up. Especially since there are no words for most of the terms used in the subjects you describe. - VB |
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English is an INTERNATIONAL Language
04/04/2008 11:34
The sooner everyone learns to speak English properly, the better for them in terms of coping in the business world. With 11 official languages, there has to be one common language for communication - it may as well be English seeing as it's used worldwide. That said, teaching methods at S. African schools need to be improved. Teach kids the fundamentals in their mother tongues & introduce them to English in their third or 4th year of school. - Saffa |
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School is a preparation for the rest of your life
04/04/2008 11:35
one thing to consider is that if things were thought in your mother tongue it might solve a problem in school but what happens when you graduate with distinctions? will you be able to make it in the professional world? I doubt it because with globalisation the language of business is English - yusuf |
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keep it simple
04/04/2008 11:35
Why bother to translate maths ans science if you will use predominantly english in the workplace (globally).
The 'memory' subjects can be tought in the mother tongue. I went to an Afrikaans school and suffered greatly once I entered an english university. Many of my afrikaans peers suffer in the workplace even though they did well at school. My child speaks afrikaans at home but will learn in english. English is at the moment the language of business. Adapt or die. - brendon shields |
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Language
04/04/2008 11:36
I hear you Tsholofelo. But which language would these kids be taught in? There's eleven languages. English is the language of business, if can't speak it you won't get far. How will these kids study at uni if they can't read or write in English? Why is it possible for Afrikaans speaking students to study at an English school or uni and not loose their 'traditions' nor their language? - Nyx |
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Part true
04/04/2008 11:37
I can see that language is a barrier because in order to solve a problem you need to understand it first&if the language is something that isn't second nature, you might answer it incorrectly. But I think if the papers would be in a language that the pupil understands perfectly, more would pass but they wouldn't suddenly all get straight A's. That takes dedication&very hard work,plus upbringing plays a key role since the earlier you engage in say science&have an interest the better you will be - M |
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Language is a barrier
04/04/2008 11:38
To learn basic concepts in a language you do not have a complete grasp of can only be a barrier. This makes seemingly simple basic concepts complex and hard to grasp. Just try to explain anything, in a language you do not fully grasp, to somebody who does not know what you are explaining and whos grasp of the language even worse than yours. - Citizen Cane |
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Solve it ...
04/04/2008 11:39
It seems you want to have your cake and eat it. Why dont we just standardise, as our neighbours Namibia did, where only 7% of the people speak english, but it is the country's official language. Stop moaning, solve your problem by READING BOOKS, alot. (btw I'm afrikaans speaking) - Coetzee |
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"we are accomodating the minority,but leaving the majority in the cold"?
04/04/2008 11:40
English just happens to be the international language of industry,commerce,economics,politics,science etc.It is the way the world has evolved (blame the British Empire).During the Apartheid years it was the refusal to learn Afrikaans (that was fair,I hated it myself but had to learn it anyway).Now according to your flawed logic English must be next in the firing line? How far will any child progress in the big bad outside world,with only being able to converse in his indigenous mother tongue? ( - The Truth |
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I dont get it?
04/04/2008 11:40
Would 1 native language help if there are 8 others left (11-2-1)? Are they that closely related that it would make a positive impact or would it create another 'minority' group. The people are failing the people - why not get volunteers together to do the translations - and prove the theory with a focus group. If we wait too long the culture will be long lost...or is a new, integrated culture evolving? - Blinkers |
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I agree
04/04/2008 11:40
Every student should have the right to be taught, and to write the exams in their home language. We have 11 official languages, so we should therefor have schools teaching in each on of those languages exclusively, and the exams written in those languages too. I know if I had to be taught in English, and then write my exams in Zulu, Sesotho or Xhosa, I would fail miserably, even though I might be an above-average student in my mother tongue. - TruthBeTold |
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My first language
04/04/2008 11:41
is also not English (or Afrikaans) and I'm not happy about it, but if we want to communicate with the rest of the world , English is currently the only option. - M |
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Loan words vs native vocabulary
04/04/2008 11:41
have any of you considered that the 9 allegedly unused languages all use English for their numbers, dates, etc? If you don't have your own words for such basics as "one, two, three", stop complaining about the well earned status of English. Besides, with the Eishkom blackouts, you won't have a chance to progress beyond the dark ages. - Gysbert |
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Languages
04/04/2008 11:41
I sympathise but the reality is that in an increasing globalised economy, which South Africa is part of, there is very little use for languages other than English, French, Spanish and Mandarin. Yes, mother tongue education is important, but don't ignore the importance of understanding technical concepts in one of the languages mentioned above. Of course we could always try and insist that companies in England, the US and Germany deal only with us in isiXhosa...right! - Kevin |
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Very SkerP
04/04/2008 11:42
Good point made in the article Tsholofelo. SkerP, it's fine to say you need to grasp the fundamentals of maths and science - surely this is a lot easier though when you are taught the basics in your mother tongue in order to create a solid foundation? Once the foundation is established, it is the subject that is universal rather than the language in which it is discussed! - Alex |
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by all means use the mother tongue at home
04/04/2008 11:43
but kids need to learn english as this is the language of the world if your kids cannot learn in english they will not succeed in the big wide world.
so good luck to those kids which have difficulties learning the language of the world. - terence |
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to Thandi
04/04/2008 11:43
It saddens me to see that children are not taught in their mother tongue, at least up to secondary school level, teaching them a proper foundation second language in this time (eg English). I grew up 'very' Afrikaans, only starting to learn proper English after matric when I chose computer programming as career, I had to become fluent in English.
Kids are smart, get them to learn proper english as SECOND language in primary school, then they will not battle with it later in life. - Atti |
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Loan words
04/04/2008 11:45
Note that not one of the 11 black languages has its own vocabulary for such basics as "one, two, three": they used the English words (= loan words). What chance of survival has a language that relies on English for such basics? In the 21st century? The debate is symptomatic of putting pie-in-the-sky ideology first, and ignoring the situation in the real world. - Bobby |
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11 official languages
04/04/2008 11:47
I agree with Moeca here. I was in an Afrikaans primary school, moving into an English secondary school. Adapting was a problem initially, learning the english terms for Biology, Accounting etc. With that said, you can overcome any problem if you throw yourself at it. The problem is, translating textbooks into 11 different languages. Costs involved etc. Schooling in your language, is your choice, and the education boards responsibility to deliver. - Sinudeity |
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Languages
04/04/2008 11:48
I am afrikaans, but learned and communicate in english in technical environments. Books are bought from overseas distributers since we don't have the local resources. So the answer is to teach the children english, and not 5 different languages which are all broken and only usefull in an isolated environment. Secondly, it seem that you are not aware the number of issues associated with African languages. None of these languages has a decent set of rules, and every district has its unique dialect. If you want to use african languages for teaching other than basic tasks and history the first step is to standardise the language. Not even afrikaans has enough standard to be able to be used functionally in technical environments. If you want the children to be part of a modern economy they will have to learn a mainstream language such as english in SA, or frensh, portugese or other western language. Look at africa for proof. - T |
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KD- I like your comment
04/04/2008 11:49
But unfortunately its not so simple as writing the books, the vocabulary for the subjects also need improving. Untill all the languages have developed terms for things like, chemistry, thermal equilibrium and ledger, it would be close to impossible implementing a teaching plan for all languages. - andrew |
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Language
04/04/2008 11:50
Sholofelo and SkerP make valid points. However the education system in SA needs a complete overhaul in terms of teaching in mother tongues. Sadly, Nalini Pandor fails to acknowledge this fact and has absolutley no plans in place to change the status quo anytime soon. - Gee PMB |
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Nonsense
04/04/2008 11:50
There might be 11 "official" languages, but really, who caters for that. That's why we have english to communicate universally. And thats why we should use it as our laguage of study. I mean, you can write your exam in any of the 11 languages, but who will understand you when you go to work in the rest of the world. - Lourens |
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Brilliant posting - Tsholofelo for Minister of Education
04/04/2008 11:51
Unquestionably the best posting here for some time. Sadly, literacy & academic excellence are inexorably linked. Speakers of the other languages, have 2 problems: (1) Most parents R a product of inferior education & don't read to their young siblings; hence a poor foundation during the critical early years (2) No learning material in the other languages & mother tongue teachers. Finally, industry operates in English - hence a serious dilema - yt1021 |
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Language
04/04/2008 11:52
I do a fair bit of work in other African states and the business language is always English. There is no problem with business communication. - Mullpitta |
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11 languages
04/04/2008 11:54
And to be hounest in the big big business world globally English is the language we all use to operate coerservily together....No where in the world are you going to be able to submit a business proposal in Xhosa, ask this why is parliement legislative issues written in English it common practice so as court documents. It is a global standard world wide or would SA and the magority loke us to cater for them also, hence we have 11 official languages so as to appease all or just the majority - bob |
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The difficulty of finding a balance
04/04/2008 11:54
I completely agree that it is unfair that two languages are mostly used in SA, namely English & Afrikaans. Putting Afrikaans aside, my question is how will you operate in the global village which mostly uses English as far as I know as a means of communication? Shouldn't we strive for a balance? That way we can empower our children witout losing our traditions associated with our first languages.Isn't it better to adapt to that which we cannot change rather than depleting energy fighting it? - Kobus |
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Language to a degree
04/04/2008 11:54
Mathematics and Science are languages on there own really.
You need to understand and grasp each part or else the follow on material makes no sense at all.
I think the Department of Education is more interested in matric pass numbers and not quality education. Discipline is also sorely lacking from students and teachers alike. No denying it. - Tintin |
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language
04/04/2008 11:56
Textbooks in at least one native language, you say. Right. Which one? I believe the Edu. Dept should provide schooling in home language for the first grades, then a gradual easing into English (a universal language) for all. Doing that will necessitate a goodish overhaul of the syllabus but so be it. I agree with you that the present way isn't fair. - taurus |
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Whatever...
04/04/2008 11:56
Why would you not want to push your child to be English literate as soon as possible? Should the parents not take initiative on this and either teach their kids themselves, or push them into English Primary schools so when they get to high school they are fluent in English?
What languages will the people you do business with one day be speaking? The language of money and business is English, get over it. It has nothing to do with opressing the other official languages. - Ace |
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language in schools
04/04/2008 11:59
Your article inclusively gives the answer to the aggressive protection of Afrikaans by the Afrikaner community. The Minister of Education (national) has stated that she wants to create one culture for all South Africa (see her speeches in Parliament). This is inconsistent with the constitutional obligation to maintain 11 official languages as culture and languages go hand in hand. By all means introduce a second and third language later (age of 12?). The practical problem in SA is off course that the student population in schools consists often of students from different language groups. How to cater for this in both teaching and support material? BTW, the problem is not only in South Africa. See Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and most recently the US with an increasing Latin population. - Benzo |
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English And Afrikaans
04/04/2008 12:00
I do agree that they should teach in all 11 languages, but some concepts there are no Words or Discription in our Native language even Afrikaans, i studied Engineering and al though all my classes where in Afrikaans most explanation and concepts where explained in English, due to no Afrikaans substitute, So i think our teachers should improve on the students abilty to understand, read and write in english to resolve this. - Lafras Uys |
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Why bother?
04/04/2008 12:00
What's the point of learning accountancy or physics in Sesotho? Do you really think there's going to be a need for the student to be able to practice physics in that language? Get with it - English is the only language that counts in this part of the world. Even the Afrikaans speakers realise it, subjects like this should only be taught in English. - Tracey |
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Unfair comparisons
04/04/2008 12:01
I think its impractical to expect the gov to produce books (give incentive to translators)in all official languanges in 13 yrs. These 2 languages have been supported for ages. Juan, your input does add value the next thing u will accuse the gov of neglecting Afr in favour of other languages. There are many things that still have to be corrected and this is one of them. Blacks need to value their languages as you rightly said we ridicule at people who can't speak English properly. - Pasta |
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Concepts...
04/04/2008 12:02
Strange, being brought up in Afrikaans 100% I still managed to get a degree in English...??? A concept is not language driven, if you don't get it, you don't get it. At which time will our youth take responsibility, lets face it, it's not SA's finest hour... This government failed you, and you put them there... Good luck ;)
- Afrikaans |
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Don't bother translating the textbooks.
04/04/2008 12:03
I'm Afrikaans and was unlucky eneogh to learn Maths and Science HG in my mother tongue. While doing my engineering degrees (at a predominantly Afrikaans Univeristy)is was bloody hard to adapt learning new concepts in English (ALL the textbooks is in English) based on base work learnt in Afrikaans. The best solution will be to rather teach the kids English from a young age. I'm firm believer in using one's mother tongue (be it Afrikaans, Zulu, etc) but in this case it is just not viable. - HVR |
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So what...
04/04/2008 12:05
If you cannot produce your own language text books then it's your problem. It is just a fact that English is used in many first world countries. Therefore the level of those text books are simply higher. If you want to propagate your culture and language then you must do it, because I don't care to. If your culture is supplanted by an English hybrid then so be it. Adapt or die. At least with some education maybe you will learn to think. Which is actually the purpose of education. - Jay_B |
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Another excuse..
04/04/2008 12:05
Tsholofelo, sounds like another excuse for failure. Even if 'local language' books were produced, it would severly hinder schoolkids when they reach the business world, global markets and companies don't convert all their dealings into Xhosa or Zulu. Whether you like it or not English is the language of inteligence, until Africa produces a Newton, Franklin, Bell, Fleming, Edison, Darwin that will be the case. When they do they are welcome to document their contribution in their native language - SR |
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Grow Up
04/04/2008 12:07
I came to S.A at age 7 not knowing a word of english. Yet I picked it up in 6 months and still know my mother tongue fluently, I matriculated with several distinctions including maths. Speak and learn in English (universal business language) and speak your native tongue at home simple. The younger you teach children a different language the better. - Elly |
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Textbook authors
04/04/2008 12:07
So why don't the "native" people i.e black intellectuals get together and write the textbooks then? I don't think blame should fall on the whites in this instance. ;) Later - The Dude |
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Unfair yes but what can we do?
04/04/2008 12:09
I work in educational publishing and the sad truth is that the government is our main customer. They buy the textbooks for schools and colleges and distributes them. Few schools choose their own. And they predominantly buy books in English which is the official medium of instruction. So the government in effect decides what will be published. Demand results in supply. Sadly, few Maths and Accountancy authors are fluent in isiXhosa but your university textbooks will also be in English so the barrier remains. China and Russia have the numbers and authors to warrant publishing in those languages. My Afrikaans parents sent me to an English school because they wanted me to be completely bilingual. And I studied at an English university. I regret not having learnt an African language too. Language is power anywhere you go in the world. And these days the most powerful language is that of computers. It's simple - adapt to survive. Learn a language of power or fall by the wayside like so many others. - May |
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Mother Tongue Education
04/04/2008 12:14
I think it is a very narrow-minded view to think that "English is a world language" (and thus that education should be english-only). BS! My education was mostly in Afrikaans but I've never had trouble working with/in North America(ns) & Europe(ans). There are large parts of Europe and Asia where English won't get you anywhere; the world is much larger than USA, UK&NZ. Get a (proper) education in a language you grasp, translate to/learn other languages as/when you need them. - Boertjie |
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The very fact that we are having this discussion in English...
04/04/2008 12:16
should indicate that it is the universal language (and it doesn't necessarily have to be "the Queen's English" either. - The Truth |
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The scientific value of it all
04/04/2008 12:16
All the same, we are debating around a premise, specifically that language is the final determinant of success and failure at school. Would it not be intersting to put this to the test with a control group... - Paul |
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What to Do
04/04/2008 12:16
There are Four things that need to happen to sort your problem out.
1. Write to the department of Education etc detailing the above. 2. Get a Translater 3. Det a publisher 4. Make shure there's enough cash to do it all.
Simple stuff really. Now go find that money! - JON CONNOR |
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Language.
04/04/2008 12:17
I believe our single biggest problem in this country is a lack of education, and everything possible should be done to raise the level. If this means producing books in 11 languages, then let's give it a try. Language is definitely a problem, I regard myself as relatively intelligent, I have science degree, but I don't speak a Black language, and simply going to get my drivers license renewed is a complicated procedure, possibly due to the language barrier. - Silver Surfer |
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no excuses!
04/04/2008 12:20
i have to say english is my third language but i still managed to get a degree, i am now a scientific researcher and i still battle somewhat to write propertly in english. when i get a mathematical problem the solutions spin around my head and my imagination takes over, the process of communicating that is where the problem lies but where the understanding lies is irrespective of language! stick it out and learn it, do what you have to do so you can get on with what it is that you wanted to do! - stick it out |
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another excuse...SR -
04/04/2008 12:21
"Whether you like it or not English is the language of intelligence (I corrected your spelling mistake)". That's a bold statement to make excluding a large portion of the world population and its achievement. This attitude does not show much of the intelligence, you claim to go with the language. - Benzo |
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Rest of the world?!!!
04/04/2008 12:21
The avarage SA kid has no chance of going abroad (especially poor ones). Anyway, people who will go abroad are those who are generally financially priviledged...and they are either white or well off blacks...and they generally know english. Why should we sacrifice our children's education fo the sake of 'the rest of the world'? Mother tounge education is best, that is why the Afrikaner has always fought and continues to fight for it. - Motho |
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@Gysbert
04/04/2008 12:21
1-Nngwe
2-pedi
3-tharo
4-nne
5-hlano etc
Those are the numbers in sesotho they can go up to whatever.Please do a little investigation before you can comment you idiot. - Brian |
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Learn/Speak English
04/04/2008 12:21
I'm Afr but am for all education to happen in Eng. Communication is one of the worst cultural barriers we have, when you speak to someone and they "eeessssjjj", "hau" and cannot understand you automatically think they're stupid. They get frustrated with you as well because they cannot understand you. Our neighbouring countries don't try to accommodate 11 languages in education (Angola - Portugese, Mozambique - Portugese, Namibia - Eng, Zim - Eng). We could learn somthing from them. - Me |
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Did you get a distinction in your mother tongue subject?
04/04/2008 12:22
Its NOT about the language buddy, its all about the will to learn. If I may ask did you get a distinction in the subject that was in vernacular at school? By the way 1 + 1 = 2, it will never change no matter it is in Zulu, Afrikaans, Sotho or German. - Jafta |
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SCHOOLING
04/04/2008 12:22
Quote: "By the age of 10, they can't speak their mother tongue." Pick a point. If the above is true, there should be no problem in understanding and learning in English, surely. If your problem is purely with the English language in this country, you should make that your point. This point to this article is "all over the show". - LW |
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Arnt Maths and Sience
04/04/2008 12:24
A european thing that the africans hate so much ? ? I say if you want to learn somthing that is not part of your culture or roots,Learn to adapt. Only the strong survive only the whise itself !! Sorry that the way it is ,,, - charlie |
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No hope for mother tongue...
04/04/2008 12:30
Mother tongue is falling behind (already has), why is the English language also used in mother tongue, cause the language is not developing at all... Let?s see what is Broadband in Zulu, probly eBroadband. I got one question, if I can speak Zulu, can I get myself an AA (Affirmative Action) job? If so, then it?s not a bad idea to learn it then. - Guess |
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Nothing to do with Language
04/04/2008 12:31
When I was in grade 10 we had to chinese pupils join our school. They could barely speak English. By the time they matriculated, they were straight-A pupils! - jason |
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Language
04/04/2008 12:31
And I quote: "by age of 10 the kid can't speak or read his mother tongue anymore". Surely learning in English should not pose a problem then? Is the problem the English language, or that the learners don't understand it? The points are contradictory. - lw |
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English
04/04/2008 12:33
How many things can be done in this would by only being able to speak one of the other 9 official lanuages, it is time to face a fact the English is spoken world wide and should be taught in all South African schools. You would find that some of these children parents will also benefit from this as they too will be given the opportunity to learn to speak English. - Honey Bun |
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Languages
04/04/2008 12:34
You make a valid point, Tsholofelo, and here is my possible solution. Get someone within the school to translate and type out the physics, matchs, etc. textbook into the preferred language and distribute these to the learners. Then they can have both the original and translated texts in front of them, assisting them in learning the subject and at the same time seeing the terms used in the "foreign" language. Win-win? - Dave Robbins |
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Memory subjects
04/04/2008 12:35
According to your article there are two types of subject?s memory and ?thinking and analysis?. If you just memorize books full of information what is the use. All subjects consist of thinking and analysis especially subjects as biblical studies. If you don?t think about and analyze what you are learning why bother. - Watta |
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So sad
04/04/2008 12:35
that some fellow countrymen's analysis/comments in this space lacks credibility and solid foundation. Firstly, you find people assuming that african languages doesn't have names for numbers and they start unpacking on that. Secondly, you find people that assume that Tsholofelo said that the language for business (english) should change and they start unpacking on that. That's a horrible distortion that's always consistent in this space. People don't consider the basics before commenting - Brian |
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Learning?
04/04/2008 12:38
I was fortunate in the sense that I have an English father and an Afrikaans mother. My dad insisted his children spoke english as a home language though, purely for when we enter the business world, and now as a working professional he was absolutely right to have done so. My parents still made sure I could speak Afrikaans well too, in school I had to take many classes in Afrikaans co's the English classes were so small. Don't be stupid, force your children to speak english as soon as possible. - Kiefie |
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Blame it on the constitution
04/04/2008 12:39
Sad to say, but here is a negative spin on our singing, dancing, bells-ringing, progressive and all inclusive constitution. It's one thing to say that we have 11 languages and need to give them equal precidence - the reality is that it is both impractical and unaffordable to apply this equitably in the education system. - bokkie |
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My two cents
04/04/2008 12:41
South Africa is not a very literary country. The culture of learning and reading is not growing in this country, therefore there are not many people who will write books in their mother-tongues.
Afrikaans maybe seen as an 'oppressor' language but I am able to converse and communicate with Dutch (sometimes German) speaking people which helps in a globalised economy. The question is: How are you going to compete with other countries when people only speak a regional language? - xp |
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Afrikaans & English less than 20%....
04/04/2008 12:41
....and the rest? 15% Zulu, 18% Xhosa, 24% Sotho (imaginary numbers, by the way). To prove the point - mother tongue & English earlier in life, the universal language (English) in secondary education.
My dad devoted his life in compiling an English-Tsonga dictionary. Guess what - NOBODY (ja, not even any university) is prepared to spend money to get that published. Shame... - Jo |
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Hypocrite
04/04/2008 12:41
I think you're a hypocrite to write this article in English. You shouldn't address the English about this. You should get your Minister of Education to sort you out... no, wait, she's English too, or at least she sounds English... or is that the "American" accent you speak of, gone wrong? - Euan |
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English?
04/04/2008 12:42
I was in the Netherlands and people couldn't or refused to speak English. There are probably more people on Earth that are capable of speaking Afrikaans than Dutch and yet the Dutch manage just fine. SO all this "English is an international language used for business" is a load of crap. If you need to speak to someone in Chinese get a translator! So stick to mother tongue. Ek is ook nogals Afrikaans. - European-African |
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English
04/04/2008 12:42
English is the superior language in the world and SA. Thats just the way it is, accept and move on ;) - dhv |
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11 Official
04/04/2008 12:42
What a shock our first day at Technikon was. Most of our subjects were not presented to us in our mother tongue. It was a struggle, but being thrown in at the deep end, we swam like crazy. I then wondered how much easier life would have been that first year if we were actually exposed to being teached Maths, Accountancy etc. in English. I know it is only one of the official languages but most of our text books came from America. Keeping them away from English will worsen the problem. - CJ |
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Good point, but...
04/04/2008 12:45
Very excellent point, but i must stress that the trading language is in fact English! Without this you WILL struggle! I am Afrikaans and struggled with all my subjects as they were all in english! But i still got my 80% in maths AND science! Why? Because of hard work! - Big R |
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Agree 100%
04/04/2008 12:49
Lets have all our text books in Zulu and Xhosa and make these languages the only medium of teaching in our classrooms ? what will the results be like then. Imagine trying to study in a language which is as foreign to you as French - how can you then expect to succeed. I have much respect for Zulu and Xhosa students who still succeed by overcoming this mountain like obstacles ? MUCH RESPECT TO YOU ALL. - colin |
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African Languages
04/04/2008 12:50
How is South Africa / Africa going to beg for financial aid in an african language. The rest of the world wont know what is being said ;) - english rules!!! |
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Brian
04/04/2008 12:50
Brian--it takes more than the ability to count up to 5 to survive in the 21st century--and in any case the Tsotsitaal you quote is derived from English. Another lame excuse for the failure ot black Africa to perform. Stop your racist fiddling of the facts. Thanks. - Gysbert |
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Even those who hate English, do speak it
04/04/2008 12:50
Even Robert Mugabe who so filled with hatred for the English and the Americans, does most of his political rally's in English. English is also the last thing that happen to any country before the moral system starts falling apart. - Sam |
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