INTERPRETING SYSTEM BENEFITS TEACHING STUDENTS

Groundwork is being done by a group of students at the Faculty of Education. The 35 first year students are the first to train for the Foundation Phase in Education on the Mafikeng Campus. In practice this means that after completion of their studies obtaining a B Ed degree, they will be teaching children from Grade R, (that can be either in a primary school or in a pre-school) to Grade 3. Currently Early Childhood Development (ECD) is under the spotlight seeing that there is an increasing realization that unless the educational foundations are securely in place, the subsequent building will be liable to collapse, and therefore training of the ECD teachers to a high standard is a priority.

What makes this class of 2010 even more unique, is that classes are being presented concurrently in English and Setswana by making use of an interpreter, which is another first for Mafikeng. According to Mrs Myrtle Erasmus, who is spearheading both the Foundation phase and the interpreting project, a need was identified especially with Setswana speaking students with regard to the technical contents of textbooks. It is also important that students, who are going to teach in Setswana, receive their classes in that language to acquaint themselves with the terminology.

The Module for Numeracy is being presented in English by the B.Ed. coordinator, Ms. Helen Thomas and interpreted into Setswana by Mr. Watson Leepo.

If this pilot project is successful it will surely be rolled out to similar classes and other faculties. This will ensure good quality and professional graduates.

Gepubliseer deur Koos Degenaar op 17 Junie 2010.