Academic literature on the topic 'Afrikaans language – Study and teaching (Secondary) – Evaluation'

Whatever the reason, underachievement in mathematics in South Africa is endemic and tantamount to a national disaster. Despite the transformation of education in South Africa, failure rates in mathematics at school and university remain unacceptably high, and the number of learners who leave Grade 12 with a pass mark in both mathematics and physical science is unacceptably low. Relatively little has been written about inadequate performance of Grade 4 to 7 learners in mathematics in South Africa, and even less about possible solutions to the problem. South African primary school learners’ lack of basic mathematics and vocabulary skills in particular is a source of major concern. In the first national systemic evaluation of learners’ skills in English, mathematics and science in 2001 Grade 3 learners achieved an average of 30% in mathematics. In the follow-up studies, Grade 6 learners achieved a national average of 27% in mathematices, in 2004, while nationally eighty percent of Grade 3 and 6 learners achieved less than 50 percent for mathematics and Languages in 2008. The finding that so many primary school learners today are not numerate or literate has a direct influence both on the teaching and the learning of mathematics. Everything possible needs to be done to change this situation. During the past 15 years, the research focus in mathematics has shifted to an examination of the influence of social, cognitive and metacognitive, conative and affective factors on achievement in mathematics. In this regard, it is of particular importance that an ongoing investigation into “other” aspects that impact on achievement in mathematics is launched, rather than to restrict the investigation to mere assessment of objectives that are aimed at continually evaluating cognitive progress in mathematics. There is sufficient empirical evidence that an adequate orientation to the study of mathematics correlates positively with high achievement in mathematics on secondary and tertiary levels. The aim of this research was to investigate the extent to which the performance in study orientation (Study Orientation questionnaire in Mathematics (Primary)) and knowledge of basic vocabulary/terminology in mathematics (Mathematics Vocabulary (Primary)) (vocabulary as one aspect of language in Mathematics) of Grade 4 to 7 learners predict performance in mathematics (Basic Mathematics (Primary)). Three standardised questionnaires were administered, namely the Study Orientation questionnaire in Mathematics (Primary), or SOM(P), Mathematics Vocabulary (Primary) or (MV(P), and Basic Mathematics (Primary) or BM(P). The participants consisted of learners in Grade 4 to 7 (n = 1 103) in North-West Province with respectively Afrikaans, English and Tswana as their home language. Results from the data, by calculating intercorrelations and stepwise regression, confirmed that learners’ performance in mathematics (BM(P)) can be predicted through their performance in the knowledge of basic vocabulary in mathematics (MV(P)), their “maths” anxiety, study attitude towards and study habits in mathematics (SOM(P)). The results can be implemented to improve learners’ performance in mathematics when teachers identify inadequate knowledge of basic vocabulary in mathematics as well as study orientation (for example, “maths” anxiety, study attitude towards and study habits in mathematics) in the early years of schooling. Learners’ scores can be checked to identify those requiring aid, support, remediation and/or counselling. An analysis of individual answers (particularly those where learner’s replies differ significantly in respect of the answers usually given by good achievers in mathematics) could be extremely useful. Enculturing learners to the vocabulary of mathematical language is an aspect of instruction that needs specific attention. The three questionnaires, which are administered in this research, provide mathematics teachers with standardised tools with which to make a simple systematic analysis of a number of important background particulars, feelings, attitudes, habits and customs with regard to the learner’s academic orientation in mathematics, as well as to their knowledge of basic vocabulary in mathematics that could be remedied when inadequate.

The use of humour to stimulate creative writing in the teaching of Afrikaans: a case study This article reports on of a qualitative research programme in which humouristic material was used as part of an Afrikaans language teaching programme. The primary participants in this programme were education students at Stellenbosch University who intend to teach Afrikaans in secondary schools. The ways in which humour can influence the classroom atmosphere and form part of cultural experience are also discussed. Specific attention is given to the use of humouristic material to facilitate creative writing as part of the relevant teaching programme. The humour of adolescents is discussed, especially the use of sarcasm and non-sense humour which can possibly contribute to discipline problems in the classroom. Finally, the researcher reports on the analysis of one of the students’ parodies as a case study. Analysis and interpretation of the parodic text revealed several forms of creativity – parody as burlesque, dialogue between codes, postmodern metafiction, manifestation of divergent thinking, and play with words and boundaries.

This study aimed at evaluating EFL textbook for secondary stage in Saudi Public schools. Participants consisted of (100) male teachers and (73) female teachers teaching secondary stage students in two cities: Madinah and Dowadmi. The tool of the study designed to cover five dimensions: layout and design, the objectives of the textbook, teaching methods and activities, language skills, and evaluation. The results revealed that EFL textbook for Saudi secondary schools needs more development to be more effective in learning and teaching EFL. Clarity of the textbook objectives was one of teachers’ negative comments about the current textbook especially female teachers who disagreed that the objectives were treated effectively in the current course. The content of the textbook is not helpful in applying teaching theories and practices. In addition, the content of the textbook has no helpful tests or procedures to evaluate the achievement of the students effectively.

Abstract Thirty years ago Australian researchers led the development of language and content integration in schools, advocating systematic teaching of language across the curriculum to meet the needs of English as an additional language (EAL) students. However, despite significant improvements in initial teacher education, targeted professional development and language-specific curriculum and assessment, this paper suggests that secondary teachers have gained only a superficial understanding of the language knowledge necessary to teach EAL students. Drawing on questionnaires, interviews, and observations, this case study of two secondary schools in Sydney reveals the majority of teachers report their perspectives and experiences of good teaching have equipped them with a repertoire of sufficient strategies to meet EAL needs, and they see little difference between teaching EAL and learners with low levels of literacy. This paper concludes a renewed focus on integrating language and content teaching and partnership models of professional learning and evaluation are needed.

This paper evaluates the scope and relative unfeasibility of communicative language teaching (CLT) that was introduced at higher secondary level in Bangladesh to innovate English language teaching (ELT) by replacing grammar translation method (GTM). To substantiate the evaluation, a survey intended to determine the feasibility and relative drawbacks of CLT was made. A total of 100 teachers and 100 students participated in the survey of 10 different colleges of Dhaka and Khulna metropolitan cities of Bangladesh and two different questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from randomly selected teachers and students. The study reveals that most of the EFL students in Bangladesh could not succeed in learning English language through CLT in spite of studying it for twelve years at their secondary and higher secondary levels. The paper also examines multifaceted problems affecting English language teaching and learning through CLT such as most of the classrooms of Bengali medium colleges are not well-furnished with modern language teaching equipment, lack of training and teaching materials, student’s lack of background knowledge, motivation etc. Therefore, the real outcome of CLT in Bangladesh could not meet the initial dream and promise with which it was introduced and eventually became inappropriate and ineffective.This article critically evaluates CLT focusing on multiple barriers and factors instrumental for the failure of the approach at higher secondary level in Bangladesh. Finally, the study concludes with several recommendations to promote English language teaching at higher secondary level in Bangladesh.

The use of Student Resource Centres to support L2 students' language learning is a very recent pedagogical innovation at the post-secondary level in language-teaching institutions in Canada. In this study the author reports very briefly on how to set one up and, then, goes on to survey student opinion on the role of self-directed learning in learning a second language. Information on topics such as type and suitability of material used, frequency of use, relation of self-study to classroom teaching gathered through a series of questionnaires and formal and informal interviews is analyzed and interpreted in a descriptive manner. The paper concludes with comments on the role of self-directed learning in L2 teaching and learning.

Recently, within the increasing implementation of the communicative language teaching (CLT) approach to teaching English as a foreign language (EFL), the Yemeni EFL secondary school curriculum has adopted the CLT approach. This qualitative exploratory case study aimed at examining whether or not the Yemeni English for Science and Technology (EST) senior secondary reading instructional implementation is a communicative-based instruction in nature as it is labelled. The data were collected from reading classroom observations and analysed in terms of student-teacher interaction pattern as well as teacher and learner roles based on Richards’ and Rodgers’ Model (2001). The coding scheme used for coding the features of the Initiation-Response-Evaluation method (IRE) and the Communicative Reading Instructional method (CRI) was developed from previous studies. The findings showed that the traditional IRE and the teacher role as a director are extensively represented in the Yemeni EST senior secondary school reading instruction more than the CRI. This finding contradicts the communicative-label of the Yemeni English language curriculum. The findings are discussed in terms of the alignment of the curriculum communicative-label with regards to the EST senior secondary school reading classroom instructional implementation. Keywords: Communicative Language Teaching approach (CLT); Initiation-Response-Evaluation Approach (IREA); Communicative Reading Instructional Approach (CRIA).

Textbook materials continue to play an important role in foreign language teaching and learning classroom. Textbooks are significant because these materials are considered elements in the field of foreign language learning. Teachers are often engaged in the application of textbooks for common teaching goals. Although the significance of the application of textbooks is accepted, ideas on whether textbooks could assist or hinder the teaching–learning process seem polarizing. This study employed a Likert scale survey to collect data on the evaluation of Japanese for busy people I: Romanized version (3rd Edition), a Japanese language textbook for new learners. The survey checklist yielded a highly unusual result, that is, all the participants advocated the use of the textbook. This study was conducted in the Greater Boston region in Massachusetts, MA, USA. Upon investigation, over 30 language learning centers, nearly 20 postsecondary institutions, and above 20 secondary schools were determined to be offering Japanese language courses. A total of 49 participants responded to the survey. None of the participants provided negative comments about the textbook. In addition, over 90% of the participants believed that the textbook materials and exercises were organized, contemporary, and applicable.

This paper presents a study on assessing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ language proficiency in Benin secondary schools. Assessment and evaluation are indispensable components of English language teaching. Assessing students is crucial to both learners and teachers themselves in the sense that its basic function is to improve learning. However, much awareness has not been raised on the key roles of assessment in Benin secondary schools. This study aims at investigating how effective teachers’ assessment of their learners’ language abilities is in EFL classroom and to explore EFL learners’ attitude towards assessment. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, 56 EFL teachers and 458 lower intermediate and upper EFL learners in the Atlantic region in Benin participated in this study. The field study revealed that many teachers wrongly mistake assessment for test and thus use both terms to mean the same thing. Teachers have not been able to see tests as a way of assessing their teaching methods and upgrading their students’ language skills. Besides, most teachers stated that testing is the only tool they use in assessing their learners’ language proficiency and it is mostly for the purpose of assigning grades at the end of the terms. Students declared that most tests consist of grammar questions. As this study draws attention to the close relationship between assessment and teaching, training workshops have been recommended to guide and train teachers on how to effectively assess their students so that teaching and learning in the EFL classroom meet expected objectives and goals.

AbstractIntroduction: The earth has entered a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene demonstrates how human activities have changed the world negatively by causing several environmental issues such as global warming. Therefore, it has become an important problem for people. Education should be reconsidered according to the new epoch to deal with it. There is a trans-disciplinary call for this issue. In relation to this call, the present study has aimed to evaluate the new English language teaching program (ELTP) for lower secondary school (5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades) in terms of the Anthropocene in Turkey.Methods: The present study was designed as a qualitative study. The data collection tools were the new ELTP for lower secondary school and the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade English language course books prepared according to the new program. The data were analyzed through documentation analysis. Triangulation and thick descriptions were used to make the study trustworthy.Results: The documentation analysis of the data has showed that there are six themes related to the nature in the new ELTP for lower secondary school: theme 9 (the animal shelter) in the 5th grade; themes 4 (weather and emotions) and 9 (saving the planet) in the 6th grade; themes 4 (wild animals) and 9 (environment) in the 7th grade; theme 10 (natural forces) in the 8th grade. The learning outcomes and language skills of each theme were prepared according to the contents of the themes. Theme 9 in the 5th grade shows how human activities can affect the environment positively. Theme 4 in the 6th grade indicates how the environment can affect people. The rest demonstrate how human activities have affected the nature negatively and how people can save the nature.Discussion: Theme 9 (saving the planet) in the 6th grade, themes 4 (wild animals) and 9 (environment) in the 7th grade, and theme 10 (natural forces) in the 8th grade explain how several environmental issues have occurred owing to human activities, how these issues have affected the nature and human lives negatively, and how people can deal with these issues. Theme 9 (the animal shelter) in the 5th grade informs students about how human activities can affect the nature positively, and theme 4 (weather and emotions) in the 6th grade about how the environment can affect people. Through these themes, the new ELTP for lower secondary school can enable English language students to understand that people are a part of the nature, have the power to change the environment, and can live with the environment in balance.Limitations: The curriculum evaluation is only related to the new ELTP for lower secondary school (5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades) in Turkey.Conclusion: The Anthropocentric evaluation of the new ELTP for lower secondary school has shown that it can raise English language students’ awareness of the relationship between people and the nature and their effects on each other.