Afrikaans for Education
Overview
Afrikaans is one of the youngest languages in the world, and was (like Hindi, Modern Hebrew, and Indonesian) established as a fully standardised language during the 20th century. Afrikaans can be taken as a university subject in, amongst others, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and USA. Afrikaans is one of the 11 official languages of South Africa and is the mother tongue of the majority of the students studying on the Potchefstroom campus of North-West University.
Knowledge of as many languages as possible is a great asset for teachers in a multi-lingual country such as South Africa, and in an increasingly globalised world, therefore it is expected of education students to be able to teach through the medium of more than one language. There is also a good deal of research done about teaching through the medium of a second or third language, as well as the actual teaching of second and third languages –the former especially in the subject English, and the latter especially in the subject group Afrikaans and Tswana.
Degree options
- Bachelor of Education (BEd)
- Postgraduate degree options
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
English for Education
Overview
English is one of the most widely used languages in the world and serves as a global language of communication in education, research, commerce and technology. In South Africa, English is one of the 12 official languages and is used as a language of learning and teaching and assessment in schools and higher education institutions. For many learners, it functions as a second or additional language.
In a multilingual country such as South Africa, knowledge of more than one language is a valuable asset for teachers. Education students are therefore expected to develop the ability to teach effectively through the medium of English, either as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language, depending on their phase specialisation.
The English for Education programme at North-West University equips prospective teachers with sound disciplinary knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge and practical classroom competence. Core modules include:
ENIP (English First Additional Language – Intermediate Phase) – focusing on the teaching of English as a First Additional Language in the Intermediate Phase, with emphasis on language development, literacy and methodology.
ENFI (English Home Language – Intermediate Phase) – addressing the teaching of English Home Language in the Intermediate Phase, including literature, language structure and literacy development.
ENGV (English – Senior and FET Phases) – focusing on advanced language study, literature, and the teaching of English in the Senior and Further Education and Training Phases.
ENAC and ENTL (English across the curriculum) – a module that focusses on the ability to evaluate, select and apply appropriate methods to teach English across the curriculum within a content subject
ENGD (English Didactics) – developing pedagogical strategies, curriculum knowledge, assessment competence and reflective practice for English education.
The programme also engages with research on multilingual education, literacy development, and the teaching of English in diverse South African classrooms, preparing future teachers to respond effectively to linguistic and contextual complexity.
Degree options
Setswana and African Languages for Education
Overview
The Subject group offers five languages for Education – Setswana, Sesotho, Sepedi, isiZulu and isiXhosa – contact and distance learning. According to the North-West Provincial Language Act, Afrikaans, English, Setwana, Sesotho and isiZulu are the languages of the province. The fact that many prospective students who apply for various qualifications and practicing teachers choose to qualify and upgrade their professional qualifications with us, we saw it a need to extend the subject group by including Sepedi and isiZulu, especially for us to respond to the Minister of Education and Arts and Culture's call to develop indigenous Languages.
The Subject group aspires to offer high quality innovative teaching and learning that is driven by self-directed learning, blended learning, and research that integrate the aspects of diversity, Ubuntu, and Indigenous Knowledge to the benefit of South African learners.
Degree options