Angela Wilson runs an English literacy programme at the Riversands Primary School to help make it easier for the children to learn a second language
Angela Wilson saw a need for a literacy programme at a school within her nearby community. She decided to get involved in one designed to focus on second language learning. The majority of the children in the school are first language Tswana.
This is where English becomes a confusing language for the young children, the English vowels (a, e, i, o, u) are different sounds to those of the same letters in Tswana.
“Only those Grade 1 pupils who may have attended a Grade R year preparing them for Grade One, or pupils who may have access to English programmes on TV, or parents who speak some English to them at home will have the vaguest idea about the sounds that letters make in English.”
“It becomes very complicated as the sounds we have in English, for example ‘a’ for apple, ‘e ‘ for elephant, ‘i’ for ink, ‘o’ for orange and ‘u’ for umbrella are very different sounds to the Tswana sounds for the same letters.”
The primary school has a massive amount of students. Classes in Grade 1 have up to 85 learners each. It is a daunting task trying to teach that many students at such a young age. The programme also selects 42 of the weakest students in Grade 2, to take part in a one-on-one reading programme.
Volunteers come to the school twice a week and sit with a child for 30 minutes, teaching them the basics of reading. They also have the chance to do basic phonics work, writing skills and a literacy game/and story. Angela runs a programme that makes a real difference, it offers an opportunity that would otherwise not be there. She has watched it grow over the last six years and now it is taking a big step into the future.
“This year, with the introduction of an online reading programme (An Australian programme called Reading Eggs) by The Click Foundation, the reading skills at Riversands have definitely improved. The Grade Rs, 1s, and 2s have had two lessons a week, using headphones, thus hearing the sounds that the letters make, and hearing words being read.”
“It is a phenomenal programme, very stimulating, self-corrective, and sets each pupil at his own level, restarting them at that level once they log in again. For the first time in six years at Riversands, the dedicated volunteers (some of whom have been helping for a few years now) have noticed a marked improvement in the Grade 2’s reading (it is now September)!”
“The children are SO enthusiastic to learn and flourish with the assistance of the volunteers who believe that commitment, patience and encouragement bring about excellent results”.
The proof will be in the pudding in February next year. Angela hopes that the Grade 1’s, starting Grade 2 next year, will show the ability to read from day one. If they have managed to lay that foundation, the children will be able to learn more in-depth language skills. Learning to read is just the foot in the door.
The programme is always in need of volunteers willing to sit and read with the children. To get involved with the literacy programme, contact Angela via email here or visit the website.
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