scholarly journals Using group work to harness students’ multilinguistic competencies for a better understanding of assignment questions

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manduth Ramchander ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Group Work ◽  
First Language ◽  
Business Communication ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Language Usage ◽  
Multilingual Students ◽  
University Of Technology

In South Africa, it is readily acknowledged that there is an absence of pedagogy to inform multi-language usage for students for whom English is not a first language. Equally noteworthy, is that while group work has been used extensively as an active learning methodology, which has not been explored to the same extent is the manifestation of translanguaging when working in groups. This study explored how best to harness students’ multilingual competencies for a better understanding of assignment questions. The population comprised of first year Business Communication students at a university of technology. A mixed method research design revealed that when multilingual students engaged in group work, there was a tendency of gravitation towards translanguaging which resulted in students having a better understanding of assignment questions. It was concluded that group work can serve as an enabler for translanguaging, harnessing students’ multilingual competencies for a better understanding of their work.

Enhancing Student Learning Through Scaffolded Client Projects

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-51
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Tomlinson
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Business Communication ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Workplace Communication ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Community Partners ◽  
Course Objectives

This article reports on the current status of client projects (CPs) in business communication courses, provides a scaffolded model for implementing CP, and assesses student learning in CPs. Using a longitudinal mixed method research design, survey data and qualitative materials from six semesters are presented. The instructor survey indicated need for a model for CPs, assistance identifying community partners, and advice on tailoring CPs to course objectives, all of which are provided here. Results from assessing the model’s application indicate that students expressed higher levels of confidence as communicators and felt better prepared to engage in workplace communication.

scholarly journals Instructional language dilemma and challenges in Ghana's education system: any prospects?

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 153-172
Author(s):  
Y.A. Ankomah
Keyword(s):  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
College Of Education ◽  
First Year ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Language Usage ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
English Usage ◽  
Main Medium

language plays a pivotal role in educational provision and its quality as it is the main medium that facilitates communication between the learner and the teacher. Since the introduction of the first official school language policy in 1925, there has been the dilemma of what nature the policy is to take, spanning from first language as medium of instruction for the first three years of primary school, through first language usage for the first year only to an all-English usage for the first year only to an all –English usage throughout school. The study was a baseline cross-sectional survey on the perceptions of stakeholders on the language of instructions in Ghanaian basic schools. Eighty seven respondents comprising 36 pupils, 36 parents, nine teachers and three heads from three basic schools and six tutors from a college of education were interviewed on their views and perception on the used of the local language as medium of instruction in basic schools. The literature and the present study reveal that currently stakeholders will not support one exclusive language, English or Ghanaian first language, as medium of instruction at the early stages of school due to entrenched perceptions, not withstanding whatever possible advantages there may be. The obvious choice is a mother tongue-based bilingual arrangement that effectively combines the advantages of Ghanaian first language and English. But its success calls for commitment by policymakers and other stakeholders.

scholarly journals Human Beings and Safety: The Role of Community Safety Structures in the Fight Against Crime, Msinga Local Municipality, Dundee, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-32
Author(s):  
S. B. Singh ◽  
L. M. Zondi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Violent Crimes ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
Building Community

This article analyzes the significant role played by community safety structures in Msinga Local Municipality. The motivation behind this study was based on safety within the selected community, considering the increase in violent crimes there. It is rooted in the National Developmental Plan (NDP) of attempting to build safer communities by 2030, by building community participation in community safety. In ensuring that the aim of this study was achieved, a mixed method research design was used, which assisted the researcher to focus on both contesting the existence of community safety structures and exploring their significance in Msinga Local Municipality. Overall, the finding of this study revealed that community safety structures play a vital role in preventing crime within Msinga Local Municipality.

scholarly journals First-Year Students’ Views on Prescribed Book for Translation Practice: A Case Study of a South African University of Technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Mnguni
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
First Year ◽  
Language Practice ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Translation Practice ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Cultural Experiences ◽  
Official Languages

Translation as a field of study is fairly new in South Africa because before 1994, the official languages were English and Afrikaans and everybody was expected to know and use those languages. Consequently, there is not much about translation practice that is written by South African authors. Following this, translation books from outside South Africa are generally used and prescribed, thus stifling inherent experiences, since little is written by the South Africans themselves.  A total number of 46 language practice students participated in this quantitative study. This study explored challenges encountered by first year language practice students, when using their prescribed book, at the Central University of Technology, Welkom Campus. Results indicated that students were not benefitting maximally from using the prescribed book, which is by any standard an excellent book. The socio-cultural experiences of the students were missing, thus prevent students’ from mastering the subject content better. From the data collected, it is recommended, amongst other recommendations, that a bias towards books reflecting South African experiences be prioritized as well as also allowing students to participate in making book choices.

Levering Critical Collaboration

2017 ◽  
pp. 169-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Lara Crosby ◽  
Adam C. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
First Year ◽  
Collaborative Processes ◽  
Interdisciplinary Design ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
The University

This chapter presents an intervention in Design Thinking, a first year interdisciplinary design subject at the University of Technology Sydney. Over two iterations of this subject, researchers reframed the ‘group work' component as critical collaboration, drawing from the momentum in the design professions for more participatory and collaborative processes and the increasing acknowledgement of design as being critical to sustainable human futures. The online self and peer assessment tool SPARKPlus was used to change the way students approached collaboration and then reflected on it following their experiences. In this model, self and peer assessment is used as a leaver to encourage critical thinking about collaboration, rather than as a hammer to enforce participation.

scholarly journals The impact of an academic reading programme in the Bachelor of Education (intermediate and senior phase) degree

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Candice Livingston ◽  
Betsie Klopper ◽  
Sanet Cox ◽  
Corrie Uys
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Reading Speed ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Academic Reading ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Bachelor Of Education ◽  
Sequential Explanatory Mixed Method ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Method Model

Research regarding the academic reading load experienced by first year students at universities in South Africa indicated that students are woefully under-prepared to deal with this load as they have limited reading experiences and strategies. This led to the implementation of an academic reading programme at a university of technology. In order to measure the impact of this academic reading programme, a sequential explanatory mixed-method model was designed to determine if the reading programme had led to any significant gains in reading speed and reading comprehension. The results of the empirical study indicated that the academic reading programme improved reading speed whilst maintaining comprehension.

scholarly journals THE POTENTIAL OF AFRICAN RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGES AS A TOOL FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 1501-1506
Author(s):  
Linda NOMPUMELELO ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Sampling Design ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Religious Tourism ◽  
Convenience Sampling

Religious pilgrimages are components of religious tourism and a revenue generator for different countries. The study aims to explore the contribution of African religious pilgrimages towards tourism development of the study areas. Sequential exploratory mixed method research design was applied in this paper. The study used a convenience sampling method of the non-probability sampling design in selecting 210 respondents. Additionally, convenience sampling was used in selecting 40 participants that were readily and easily accessible in the study area. Lastly, the elucidates that there is a need for tourism development for African religious pilgrimages.

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