Page 77 - Research & Innovation Report 2020
P. 77
EDUCATION
that isiXhosa first-language speakers are taught foundation In response, the National Education Evaluation and Development
mathematics in isiXhosa to properly understand it, and that Unit says that terminology has been developed in South Africa
teachers are well prepared to be able to teach it well. The literature for mathematical entities and operations in African languages.
shows that children taught in their home languages in the first However, educators seem to find these unfamiliar and confusing.”
three years of schooling develop good self-esteem and confidence
about learning.” Another issue Bangiso-Fihla wants to reflect on is that “even when
you are teaching in isiXhosa, the workbooks and teacher guides
However, she says, it’s not simple or straightforward. “Many are either in English or they are in isiXhosa but the language is not
teachers have expressed difficulty teaching mathematics in home the same isiXhosa we speak and use in class. Also, one word in
languages. Part of this difficulty results from the limited lexical isiXhosa can mean so many things. Perhaps it’s an issue of dialect
capacity of home languages for mathematics and science terms. and this is part of what I want to research.”
“Too often children are not engaging with
the content and I think it’s very important
that isiXhosa first-language speakers are
taught foundation mathematics in isiXhosa to
properly understand it ... “
| 75
|75
