UKZN Language Specialists Attend Symposium at University of the Free State

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Three language specialists from UKZN’s School of Arts, Ms Mary Bloem (isiZulu), Mr Sicelo Shabalala (isiZulu) and Dr Alexandra Stewart (French) were invited to attend a symposium on foreign language acquisition practice in Southern Africa at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein.

The symposium brought together experts in isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, South African Sign Language, Dutch, French, and German from tertiary institutions in South Africa, Lesotho, and Namibia to discuss the need to develop a framework of reference for language acquisition at university level for the southern African context.

Keynote speaker Dr Michelle Joubert outlined the value of such a framework, stating that it is through language that students access and mobilise knowledge.

‘The formulation of this document would assist in management of the quality of teaching and learning across institutions, and in the production of competent graduates, as well as be a means of championing plurilingualism by reinforcing a learning-based approach which advocates for social justice in the learning space and promotes a decolonised curriculum. While it is often seen as peripheral, language learning is firmly at the centre of all learning at university level,’ said Joubert.

According to Stewart, sufficient time was set aside for discussions on the practices employed in the different institutions, as well as for deliberations on benchmarking in language learning in southern African universities and on how to create and strengthen connections across institutions.

‘UKZN language specialists are keen to play a significant role in promoting this project to establish a framework of reference for languages in southern Africa within tertiary education,’ she said. The organisers of the symposium called on other institutions to offer their support for the initiative.

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Photograph: Supplied