18 Questions
What is emphasized as a defining characteristic of being South African?
Being multilingual
What is the Department's position on bilingualism?
It should maintain home languages while providing access to additional languages.
What is the underlying principle of whichever route is followed in multilingual education?
Maintaining home languages while acquiring additional languages.
What approach does the Department's language-in-education policy advocate towards bilingualism?
An additive approach to bilingualism.
What should policy be guided by in terms of the delivery system?
Comparative research both locally and internationally
What right is vested in the individual according to the text?
The right to choose the language of learning and teaching
What is the main focus of the Ministry of Education's policy for language in education?
To promote and develop all official languages in South Africa
What relationship between languages and culture does the paradigm described in South Africa presuppose?
A multicultural society can have a core of common cultural traits while respecting sectional or communal cultures.
Why is additive multilingualism promoted as an approach to language in education?
To support cognitive growth and enhance learning among students
What is required for learners from Grade 3 onwards regarding language subjects?
Offer their language of learning and teaching plus at least one additional approved language as subjects
What is the basis for promotion in Grade 1 to Grade 4 (Std 2) according to the language policy?
Performance in one language and Mathematics
What is required for learners from Grade 10 to Grade 12 regarding language subjects?
Passage of two languages, one at first language level and the other at second language level
What is one of the key tasks assigned to the Department of Education in South Africa?
Promoting multilingualism
What has characterized the language-in-education policy in South Africa historically?
Racial and linguistic discrimination
Why is the new language in education policy considered integral to the South African government's strategy?
To build a non-racial nation and facilitate communication across language barriers
Why does the new language in education policy advocate for the learning of more than one language?
Because societal and individual multilingualism is a global norm
What cognitive benefit does the new education strategy aim to achieve through multilingual education?
Enhancing cognitive abilities through multilingualism
How does the new government's language policy differ from the inherited policies in South Africa?
It aims to promote respect for all languages used in the country
Study Notes
Multilingualism in South Africa
- The Department of Education aims to promote multilingualism as a defining characteristic of being South African.
- The goal is to counter ethnic chauvinism and separatism through mutual understanding.
Approaches to Multilingual Education
- Views on viable approaches to multilingual education range from teaching through one medium (home language) and learning additional languages as subjects, to structured bilingual education through dual-medium programs.
- The underlying principle is to maintain home language(s) while providing access to and effective acquisition of additional language(s).
Language-in-Education Policy
- The policy is guided by an additive approach to bilingualism, promoting the acquisition of additional languages while maintaining home languages.
- The right to choose the language of learning and teaching is vested in the individual, but must be exercised within the framework of promoting multilingualism.
Relationship between Languages and Culture
- The policy acknowledges a more fluid relationship between languages and culture, accepting that there is no contradiction between a core of common cultural traits and particular sectional or communal cultures.
Aims of Language Policy
- The main aims of the policy are to:
- Promote full participation in society and the economy through equitable access to education
- Pursue language policies supportive of general conceptual growth amongst learners
- Promote and develop all official languages
- Support the teaching and learning of all other languages required by learners or used by communities
- Counter disadvantages resulting from language mismatches
- Develop programs for the redress of previously disadvantaged languages
Languages as Subjects
- All learners shall offer at least one approved language as a subject in Grade 1 and Grade 2.
- From Grade 3 onwards, learners shall offer their language of learning and teaching and at least one additional approved language as subjects.
- All language subjects shall receive equitable time and resource allocation.
Promotion Requirements
- Promotion requirements for language subjects include:
- Performance in one language and Mathematics in Grade 1 to Grade 4
- Passing one language from Grade 5 onwards
- Passing two languages from Grade 10 to Grade 12, one on first language level and the other on at least second language level
Explore the importance and approaches to multilingual education in South Africa to promote mutual understanding and combat ethnic separatism. Delve into the cognitive benefits and cost-effectiveness of teaching through home languages versus learning additional languages as subjects.
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