These sentiments were echoed by educators who were in attendance at the 2017 Language Festival Competition, hosted by the Department of Education at the President Hotel in Bloemfontein.

Chido Malunga, a teacher at St Peter Claver School in Kroonstad, says although her pupils are not reading enough, she is trying to inculcate a culture of reading among her students by incorporating gadgets into her classes. Malunga says that students have developed shorthand because of technology, but she believes that students can use technological advancements to their advantage. The students can record themselves reciting some of their work, and use the recording as a memory tool.

Malunga is one of many teachers from around the Free State who are in attendance with their grade 4-7 students at the provincial leg of the language competition, the primary level students will be competing in four categories namely: Spelling Bee, Reading and Book Review, Poetry and Debating. While Malunga applauds the festival organisers for prioritising language, she also believes that initiatives like these will develop their self-confidence. Boitumelo Mofolo, a teacher at Our Father’s Academy in Bloemfontein, says one of her students came up to her and told her that she enjoys the spelling bee because she has discovered words she never knew before, She now even knows their definitions.

Mofolo, a teacher at Our Father’s Academy in Bloemfontein, acknowledges that the challenges that teachers in public schools face are somewhat different for her because Our Father’s Academy is an independent school. However, she finds herself also trying to incorporate aspects of drama into her language classes, so that her students are engaged and are willing to go read for themselves after class. She, for example, introduces cliff-hangers when reading stories, eliciting excitement from the class.

The teachers collectively stated that an outing like this is an incredible opportunity on its own. Some of these children come from impoverished households, so the fact that they get to spend two nights in a hotel, and get full meals throughout the day is a dream come true for them. They believe that this will encourage more students to join public library clubs in their areas.

Keketso Ramorobi, a grade 7 learner at Thusanong Primary School in Odendaalsrus, recited her book review for the judging panel and her peers, the moral of the book she read, was that hard work trumps natural talent, “so if you want to become successful at anything, you have to work hard, never assume you know everything,” says Ramorobi. Yamkela Ndevu, a grade 7 learner from Malebaleba Public Primary school in Odendaalsrus says he chose a book on bullying for his book review because most bullies are actually intimidated by other children, hence the bullying. The results of the grade 7 book reviews will be announced at the prizegiving to be held on September 8th.

Ziruo Wang and Monique Smith, both grade five learners at Ladybrand Primary School, were announced as winners of the Spelling Bee and book review categories respectively. The two eleven-year-olds’ mothers were present at the competition in support of the girls. The prizes awarded to the top three children in each category are, ironically, technological gadgets. The third prize is a portable DVD player, second prize is a smart phone, and first prize is a tablet.

OFM News