This article reports on teachers’ perceptions towards English as a medium of instruction, and its impact on academic achievement. Current research indicates that most teachers support the use of English as a medium of instruction. However, there is limited research regarding teachers’ perceptions towards English as a medium of instruction in South Africa, particularly in quintile one schools. A qualitative study was used to collect data through interviews with ten intermediate phase language teachers (n=10) at a primary school in the township of Mamelodi. Data collected were analysed thematically to determine the perceptions of these teachers towards English as a medium of instruction. The key findings from the teacher interviews indicate that although teachers used English as the language of instruction, nearly all of the teaching occurred in the learners’ mother tongue. Future research should focus on how language teachers in quintile one schools can be equipped to best utilize both learners’ home languages along English to promote multilingualism in the classroom.

Authors:
Keamogetse Moganedi, University of South Africa, South Africa

About the Presenter(s)
Ms K Moganedi is currently a Junior Lecturer at the University of South African, South Africa.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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