Language Barriers Essay

Introduction

Most learners in South African schools face language barriers in the classroom. Any learner who cannot use the language which they is most familiar with (usually the home language), is a disadvantage to the learner. These learners are unlikely to perform to the best of their ability. It is not just being able to use an effective communication medium in the learning situation that is at stake. The learners self confidence in society is also undermined if the home language cannot be used for learning. This disadvantage has cognitive, psychological, social and cultural aspects and all forms part in the ongoing failure of our education system.

Problem statement:

What experiences does IP learners have regarding language barriers in the classroom? For any kind of communication to be successful, it is very important that the receiver interprets the same meaning to the message as intended by the sender of the message. In certain cases communication are not perfect or successful because of translations. At times, some meaning is lost as the message encounters various barriers along its passage between the sender and the receiver.

We also need to understand that a developing child only fully understand their own native language at the age of 12 years. Taking this into account we must think of the 11 language in South Africa where a learner is placed in English school to become part of an international language system is very difficult for them. Studies showed children only master or become conversant with a second language at a very older stage in life. Some know cases is where Afrikaans parents has placed children in English school to make them ready for studies aboard has proven to be a failure. The parents speak Afrikaans at home ,but they expect the child to study in English. This influences the child emotionally and makes them feel