TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

The teaching of the English language remains a great challenge to many educators in schools in the Mpumuza area, due to their lack of proficiency in the language, as well as a lack of knowledge of the methodology to use when teaching second language English. 

The programme has been running for the past 6 years, and involves children from privileged schools in the Hilton area preparing lessons and then teaching these lessons to small groups of children in the schools in Mpumuza.  To date, one high school (Grace College), and one primary school (Cowan House) in the Hilton area are involved in this programme.  They teach English to children at Nobanda Primary School and Mountain Home Primary School respectively.  This programme has been created by a member of the iThemba Projects staff who has a background in the education field.  Approximately 300 children and 11 educators are currently benefitting from this programme. 

Basic vocabulary and English communication are the focus of these lessons, and educators in the schools have been encouraged by the improvement in spoken English, as well as a new desire in the children to learn English.