LEARNING FOREIGN AND INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES: THE CASE OF SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES

LEARNING FOREIGN AND INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES: THE CASE OF SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES

Nkuna, Paul

Learning a language through another language is trivialto any type of language learning whether it may be the learning of a local or a foreign language. In South Africa the country’s language policy for higher education recommends the study of foreign languages (FLs) and indigenous languages.After a decade of its adoption, the learning of a foreign or indigenous language in that foreign or that indigenous language, respectively, at universities has been overlooked. In essence, the learning of foreign languages at the country’s universities dates back to the 19th century when the first higher education institution – the South African College was established. At that College a Department of General Literature that offered Dutch, English, Latin and Ancient languages, was established. English and Dutch teachers provided instruction in the English and Dutch language, respectively. The instructions involved theory, history and practice of English grammar and literature or Dutch grammar and literature. The learning of indigenous languages at the country’s universities began in the 20th century under the departments of Bantu Studies. They were learnt through English, and then later through English and/ Afrikaans. The instructions involved theory, history and practice of English grammar and literature. The aim of this study is to gain knowledge on the different approaches that may be used to learn a foreign language and an indigenous language. The study focuses on the complex challenges facing the country’s universities to adopt new, different and best models for the teaching of foreign and indigenous languages after many decades of using English and/ Afrikaans medium(s). A case study method is used for this study. The emphasis is on the learning of foreign versus indigenous languages in South African universities (SAUs). The paper comprises of an introduction, the theory of Grammar Translation Method (GTM), a case study on the learning of foreign versus South African indigenous languages (SAILs) at the SAUs, and a conclusion.

Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed

2014

3522