The Methods of Teaching Xhosa as a First Language in Standard 10 in Transkei

Abstract

The principal purpose of the study was to identify problems encountered in the teaching of Xhosa as a first language at the matriculation level in the senior secondary schools. During the investigation, it became evident that suitable ways of improving matriculation results in Xhosa and discovering the attitudes of teachers of Xhosa towards the subject, had to be examined. In order to place the whole scenario in clear perspective, certain background information had to be gathered, viz, the qualification of teachers responsible for the teaching of Xhosa together with statistics relating to examination results in Xhosa in Std 10 during the period 1984-1988. The instrument for the research method were questionnaires to teachers, principals, students and parents. In order to emerge with as accurate information as possible in conducting this research, various factors that might inhibit the teaching of Xhosa and the attitude of students and teachers were taken into consideration.