Goeie Dag! Guten Morgen! Holla! Bon Jour!
To learn a foreign language at an early age, or not?
“Research shows that learning a second language boosts problem-solving, critical-thinking, and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration, and the ability to multitask. Children proficient in other languages also show signs of enhanced creativity and mental flexibility.” (Lead with Languages website).
There is much debate around the topic of teaching young children a second language. On the one hand, there is the argument, that children should first be proficient in their own language, before they learn a second language. For many students in our school, English is a second language, so do we add additional languages or not?
As I have been watching my Year 2 class tackle both Spanish, German and Afrikaans with enthusiasm and ever-increasing conversational skills, I believe that there is a place for additional languages in a young child’s life. The earlier they are exposed to hearing these additional languages, the easier it will be for them later in their school years, should they wish to choose the language route in our Cambridge curriculum.
Kim Coetzer
Year 2 Teacher
Scrumptious Lessons In The Afrikaans Class… “KOS-TEMA”
During Term 3 the Year 8 classes discussed and studied food as a topic area.
Throughout some of our lessons, talking about our favourite tasty treats, made us very hungry. (Especially the lessons before break time.)
Wat is jou gunsteling kos? (What is your favourite food?)
- Sushi is my gunsteling kos in die hele wêreld. Maar dit is ‘n bietjie ryk as jy te veel eet. (Rylee Howes)
- Hoender en groente is my gunsteling kos. (Keno Theart)
Wat is jou gunsteling ongesonde kos? (What is your favourite unhealthy food?)
- My gunsteling ongesonde kos is ‘n hoenderburger en skyfies. (Philade Luthango)
Wat is jou gunsteling gesonde kos? (What is your favourite healthy food?)
- My gunsteling gesonde kos is vrugte. Vrugte smaak baie lekker. Ek hou van lemoene, appels, kersies, aarbeie, piesangs en druiwe. (Layla Moodley)
Wat is die vreemdste kos wat jy al geëet het? ( What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?)
- Die vreemdste kos wat ek al geëet het, was krap. Dit is vreemd, omdat jy eers die skulp moet kraak voordat jy by die vleis uitkom. (Vincent Chamunorwa)
Watter land dink jy het die beste kos? (Which country do you think has the best food?)
- Ek dink Suid-Afrika het die beste kos, want ons het biltong, koeksisters en lekker braaivleis.
(Nandi Buthelezi)
Watter kos weier jy om te eet? (What food do you refuse to eat?)
- Ek hou regtig nie van aartappels nie. Ek eet langtand daaraan. (Oscar Berger)
Wat bestel jy gewoonlik by ‘n restaurant? (What do you usually order at a restaurant?)
- Ek bestel gewoontlik stokvis en skyfies by ‘n restaurant. (Kian Frauendorf)
Here is a recipe for proudly South African “ Soetkoekies”
Smaaklike ete!
Carmen de Villiers
High School Afrikaans Teacher
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Learning New Languages in Year 1
Students at Blouberg International School learn a number of languages from Year 1, including Spanish, German and Afrikaans. One of the benefits of learning another language is improved academic performance in areas such as Maths, reading comprehension and vocabulary tests.
In Year 1 the focus is on having fun while learning a new language. In our lessons the students learn poems, sing songs, listen to stories and role play. We try to encourage the students to speak to each other in Afrikaans, practising the new vocabulary they learn.
Language learning tip: We find it to be very beneficial when our students use their newly acquired Afrikaans to converse to Afrikaans speaking members of the community, read Afrikaans stories and watch Afrikaans programmes on television.
Nelson Mandela is believed to have said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart”.
Mrs Ann Cordner
Year 1 Teacher