The needs of black farm school teachers in relation to using English as the medium of instruction.
Date
1992
Authors
Taitz, Lynette
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
The research, conducted as part of a project aimed at improving teachers' English
.skills, set out to answer the question: What are the needs of farm school teachers
in relation to the use of English as the medium of instruction? Clarification of this
question involved the examination of teachers' English proficiency, the teaching
of English as a subject and the.observation of the learning/teaching situation in the
farm school classroom. The research raised questions concerning the underlying
assumption that an English language intervention could bring about major change
in the classroom. As a result, further enquiries into the socio-economic context-of
the schools were instituted. In addition, the learning/teaching situation was
examined in the light of theories of cognition and change. A range of research
methods involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches were utilized to
penetrate this highly complex situation. The findings indicated a clear need on the.
part of ihe teachers for an English proficiency course. At the same time. the
findings also indicated most strongly that a fundamental change is needed in tne
teachers' understanding of their role if they are to become agents of significant
change.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education, University of the
Witwatersrand in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Education.
Keywords
Rural schools -- South Africa., Language and education -- South Africa., Blacks -- Education -- South Africa., Teachers, Black -- South Africa.