The use of English and isiXhosa in teaching and learning Physical Sciences in four schools in King Williams Town education district of the Eastern Cape: a case study

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dc.contributor.authorSibanda, Busanien
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-14T01:44:45Z
dc.date.available2026-08-14T01:44:45Z
dc.date.issued2013en
dc.description.abstractThe present study investigates the use of English and isiXhosa in teaching and learning Physical Sciences in four King Williams Town schools. Physical Sciences educators and Grade 11 Physical Sciences learners were interviewed to find out about their perceptions with regard to the language(s) used in the learning and teaching of the subject Physical Sciences. The same educators and learners were also observed to find out their actual language practices in class. The findings revealed that English was the preferred medium of instruction in the learning and teaching of Physical Sciences, even though the majority of learners had low proficiency in English. Both teachers and learners extensively use code-switching to bridge this language gap in order to improve the learning of content. The choice to use isiXhosa to bridge the English second language barrier was influenced by the language profile of the learners. However, even in lessons in which teachers used code-switching, the participation of learners in class discussions was very low because the delivery of the lessons was still teacher-centred. The National Department of Education assessment policy seems to limit schools toward adopting English as the LoLT even though learners in these schools were isiXhosa first language speakers. The fact that all assessment are done in English leads to school adopting English on LoLT. Schools adopted the English only policy as way of promoting learners’ learning and understanding of English, so that the learners are not disadvantaged by the English language factor when writing examinations.en
dc.format148 leavesen
dc.formatpdfen
dc.identifier.citationSibanda, Busani. 2013en
dc.identifier.othervital:16222en
dc.identifier.otherhttp://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019733en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/4745
dc.language.isoEnglishen
dc.publisherUniversity of Fort Hareen
dc.publisherFaculty of Educationen
dc.rightsUniversity of Fort Hareen
dc.titleThe use of English and isiXhosa in teaching and learning Physical Sciences in four schools in King Williams Town education district of the Eastern Cape: a case studyen
dc.title.alternativeThe use of English and isiXhosa in teaching and learning Physical Sciences in four schools in King Williams Town education district of the Eastern Cape: a case studyen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.typeMastersen
dc.typeM Eden

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