25th Annual Student Research Conference
English or Bust? - Language of Instruction in South African Schools
Lena G. Benoit
Dr. Elaine McDuff, Faculty Mentor
South Africa has struggled since the end of Apartheid with the structure of their schools and the importance of language to the education of their students. Due to the hegemonic rule of Whites during Apartheid in large part through education, there have been backlashes against mother tongue education (MTE) Blacks and Coloreds. This projects seeks to explore the decision and ultimately the consequences of the chosen Language of Instruction (LOI). Through both a look at the South African system as a whole and the specific experiences gained during an internship in a South African school, this project attempts to examine the struggles between what is best for the individual students and the country as South Africa attempts to move forward.
Keywords: South Africa, Education, Language , English, Schools, Internship, Teaching, Student
Topic(s):Democracy and Human Rights in South Africa
Education
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 101-8
Location: VH 1324
Time: 9:10