THE SOLUTION TO AFRIKAANS AS SECOND LANGUAGE

Afrikaans as second language persists as a problem in Cape Town’s predominantly English-speaking suburbs. Parents realise too late that their children are struggling as the development of language skills is a long-range, meticulous process that requires more consistent immersion than what the school class schedule allows.

Afrikaans as Second Language grades are hugely consequential and affects students at the top of their grade, right down to students who struggle academically. For the top learners, their Afrikaans battles may:

• cost them their competitive A average and academic honours;
• affect university entry into a competitive faculty;
• affect scholarships based on average matric marks;
• affect access to more affordable university residences.

For others, it may:

• make a difference of passing Matric;
• being demoted to a lower set of learners in their grade;
• demotivate the learner across all subjects.

The Building Blocks

There are several essential building blocks required to bring a learner’s Afrikaans up to par with their other subjects and to eventually complete Grade 12 Afrikaans with similar success. Given the average class size and limited weekly meeting times at school, it becomes quite a formidable task for most teachers to cover the syllabus and offer struggling students any extra help.

• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Comprehension
• Literature (Novels, short stories, dramas and/or poetry)

The emphasis on each of these elements vary according to the learners’ grade level.

The Early Action Afrikaans Approach

We have seen learners improve their Afrikaans grades by as much as 50% within one year (27%-77% in one particular case) through:

• Consistent work
• A safe and friendly learning environment
• An immersive programme

Hence, our learners meet in person, in small groups of no more of 12 people, to focus on the aspects of most importance to their grade level. Between classes, small worksheets are assigned.

Discounted Cost

Private tutoring costs R350/hour. Working in small groups is not only the most effective pedagogy, as it allows groups to conduct conversations in Afrikaans. It also allows us to make this immersive Early Action Afrikaans programme available at a significantly discounted rate of R200/lesson. 

Early Action Commitment

Experience over the past few years of tutoring has shown us time and again that the key to success is consistent work. And consistent support and encouragement by parents. There is no silver bullet with Afrikaans tutoring where a parent can call us two weeks before final exam and ask us to try and help their child.

For this reason, we have discounted our price to make it affordable for those parents who are serious about helping their children get a head start to sign up for the whole year. R200 per week. Presented by experienced teachers.

Our Early Action Afrikaans programme runs through the week for all grades. Sign you child up today, as languages learning cannot wait for the last minute.

www.fastclass.co.za. Go to the yellow sign-up tab. Remember to write down the Small Group Session number for the day and time you wish your child to attend. Now complete the Google Form and hit SUBMIT.

Schedule of Small Group Class Times

– Foundation Phase Grades (13.30 straight after school)

– Grades 5 to 7 between 15h30 – 17h30

– Grades 8 – 12 after sport between 17h30 – 20h00

*****