IsiZulu and English in KwaZulu-Natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for English

In this article, factors inhibiting the use of mother tongue as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT) in rural foundation phase classes is investigated. I analysed qualitative data from focus group interviews with 20 foundation phase teachers that were selected through purposive sampling. Fin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nontokoza Mashiya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2011-12-01
Series:South African Journal of Childhood Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/71
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spelling doaj-07153f0d0a39449ebc8e8da8f59ba58f2021-02-02T00:16:31ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Childhood Education2223-76742223-76822011-12-0111e1e1310.4102/sajce.v1i1.7138IsiZulu and English in KwaZulu-Natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for EnglishNontokoza Mashiya0University of ZululandIn this article, factors inhibiting the use of mother tongue as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT) in rural foundation phase classes is investigated. I analysed qualitative data from focus group interviews with 20 foundation phase teachers that were selected through purposive sampling. Findings show that factors such as prior learner knowledge, better opportunities for children, time constraints, low self-concepts of African teachers, failure of the education system, teachers’ lack of proficiency in the language of teaching and learning, directly translated resources, lack of parental involvement in decision making, and ‘invisible’ school language policies inhibit the use of children’s primary language in the classroom. These nine factors are discussed and the article makes recommendations to suggest ways to alleviate these challenges.https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/71mother tongue teaching, foundation phase, rural schools, language in education policy , teachers’ self concept
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Nontokoza Mashiya
spellingShingle Nontokoza Mashiya
IsiZulu and English in KwaZulu-Natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for English
South African Journal of Childhood Education
mother tongue teaching, foundation phase, rural schools, language in education policy , teachers’ self concept
author_facet Nontokoza Mashiya
author_sort Nontokoza Mashiya
title IsiZulu and English in KwaZulu-Natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for English
title_short IsiZulu and English in KwaZulu-Natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for English
title_full IsiZulu and English in KwaZulu-Natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for English
title_fullStr IsiZulu and English in KwaZulu-Natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for English
title_full_unstemmed IsiZulu and English in KwaZulu-Natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for English
title_sort isizulu and english in kwazulu-natal rural schools: how teachers fear failure and opt for english
publisher AOSIS
series South African Journal of Childhood Education
issn 2223-7674
2223-7682
publishDate 2011-12-01
description In this article, factors inhibiting the use of mother tongue as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT) in rural foundation phase classes is investigated. I analysed qualitative data from focus group interviews with 20 foundation phase teachers that were selected through purposive sampling. Findings show that factors such as prior learner knowledge, better opportunities for children, time constraints, low self-concepts of African teachers, failure of the education system, teachers’ lack of proficiency in the language of teaching and learning, directly translated resources, lack of parental involvement in decision making, and ‘invisible’ school language policies inhibit the use of children’s primary language in the classroom. These nine factors are discussed and the article makes recommendations to suggest ways to alleviate these challenges.
topic mother tongue teaching, foundation phase, rural schools, language in education policy , teachers’ self concept
url https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/71
work_keys_str_mv AT nontokozamashiya isizuluandenglishinkwazulunatalruralschoolshowteachersfearfailureandoptforenglish
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