English reading and writing performance of Xitsonga-speaking Grade 7 learners in township schools: A case study

dc.creator	Eleanor M Lemmer
dc.creator	Tintswalo V Manyike
dc.date	2011-08-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-08-12T11:20:06Z
dc.date.available	2015-08-12T11:20:06Z
dc.identifier	10.5785/26-1-12
dc.identifier	0259-2312
dc.identifier	2224-0012
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/953c1797b8f94bbf9890f02b274839ec
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/28046
dc.description	<p><em>A clear preference for English as language of teaching and learning (LoLT) is evident in most South African schools. However, discrepancies exist between language policy aims and educational outcomes with regard to the successful acquisition of English among English second language (ESL) learners. Effective participation in all learning activities is closely linked to learners’ proficiency in the LoLT; poor English proficiency leads to underachievement across the curriculum. In the light of this, a case study as conducted to investigate the English reading and writing performance of Grade 7 Xitsonga-speaking learners in three selected township schools in the Tshwane metropolitan area, Gauteng Province. Firstly, a literature review was undertaken to explore the importance of reading and writing skills in the classroom with particular reference to the demands made on ESL learners. Following this, standardised tests were used to assess the learners’ English reading and writing performance. Findings indicated that learners performed poorly in both reading and writing; however, no significant relationship could be demonstrated between reading and writing, possibly due to the nature of the components of the test. The overall lack of reading and writing competence in English holds implications for learners’ academic achievement in all learning areas in situations in which English is used as the LoLT.</em></p>
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	Stellenbosch University
dc.relation	http://perlinguam.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/12
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/0259-2312
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2224-0012
dc.source	Per Linguam : A Journal of Language Learning, Vol 26, Iss 1 (2011)
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	English reading and writing performance of Xitsonga-speaking Grade 7 learners in township schools: A case study
dc.type	article