Exploring The Possibility of Using Khelobedu As A Medium of Instruction: Teachers And Subject Advisors’ Perspectives

Tsebo Ramothwala; Itani Peter Mandende; Madoda Cekiso

doi:10.36923/jicc.v24i3.895

Open Access Article Education

Tsebo Ramothwala ⁽¹⁾ , Itani Peter Mandende ⁽²⁾ , Madoda Cekiso ⁽³⁾

1. Department of Applied Languages, Tshwane University of Technology

2. Department of Applied Languages, Tshwane University of Technology

3. Department of Applied Languages, Tshwane University of Tshwane

https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v24i3.895

Issue
Vol. 24 No. 3 (2024)

Submitted
2024 March 28

Accepted
2024 July 1

Published
2024 September 1

Keywords:

Khelobedu, Sepedi, medium of instruction, linguistic barrier, official languages

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Abstract

The study sought to elicit the perceptions of teachers and subject advisors towards the use of Khelobedu, which is a dialect, as a medium of instruction. This study followed a qualitative approach, through which data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 8 Foundation Phase teachers and 2 subject advisors in Mopani District. The study revealed that teachers and subject advisors are of the view that Khelobedu would benefit the learners optimally if it can be used as a medium of instruction (MoI). The teachers’ stance on Khelobedu as MoI was also motivated by the fact that they encountered problems when teaching Khelobedu-L1 learners in Sepedi. Thus, its use as MoI is likely to assist Khelobedu learners in overcoming the linguistic barrier, facilitate learning, and enhance their understanding.

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Authors

Tsebo Ramothwala

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2380-5982

ramothwalat@gmail.com (Primary Contact)

Itani Peter Mandende

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2656-0482

Madoda Cekiso

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7681-077X

Author Biographies

Tsebo Ramothwala

Tsebo Ramothwala is a lecturer in the Education Foundation Department, at the Tshwane University of Technology. He holds a PhD. degree in Applied Languages from the Tshwane University of Technology. His research areas of interest include mother tongue education, language attitudes and translanguaging. Ramothwala is an advocate for mother-tongue-based education.

Itani Peter Mandende

Itani Peter Mandende is a lecturer in the Department of Applied Languages, Faculty of Humanities, at the Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Onomastics from the University of South Africa. His research areas of interest include Sociolinguistics, Language and Culture, Folklore, and African literary studies.

Madoda Cekiso

Madoda Cekiso, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Applied Languages at Tshwane University of Technology. His areas of specialization are Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics, and Onomastics.

Ramothwala, T., Mandende, I. P., & Cekiso, M. (2024). Exploring The Possibility of Using Khelobedu As A Medium of Instruction: Teachers And Subject Advisors’ Perspectives. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 24(3), 119-128. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v24i3.895

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