The personal experience essay in isiZulu as reflection of the writing competence of grade 12 learners

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the application of various approaches to teaching communicativewriting skills in senior phases of learning. The main aim is to investigate how theseapproaches are adopted to instil competence in the communicative writing skills of grade12learners ofisiZulu first language. Various approaches to writing skills are discussedand explored in order to make suggestions to educators' effective ways of teaching andlearning communicative writing skills. Assessment criteria for written work are alsopresented to guide educators on how the written work is assessed. In order to ensure thatthe communicative writing skills are taught and learned effectively up to norms requiredby the Department of Education; the approaches to teaching communicative writingskills are discussed in relation to both the critical outcomes and the specific outcomes forthe learning field Languages, Literacy and Communication as specified in theCurriculum 2005 (1997).The idealized writing curriculum proposed by Grade and Kaplan (1996) is also presentedin relation to the specific outcomes that need to be achieved in the Languages, Literacyand Communication learning field. The aim of presenting this writing curriculum is toenable the educators to teach communicative writing skills effectively and to be ableto compete in the urban, technological, international world that requires competentwriters.In order to investigate the needs and problems that appear to constitute obstacles inteaching and learning communicative writing skills effectively, survey interviews wereconducted with the respective educators; and written reports were requested from theeducators who were participating in facilitating the process of writing the IsiZulu essaysof Grade 12 learners for analysis. In this study, these essays are analysed and assessed.The findings based on this research are presented explicitly to identify the obstacles thateducators and learners experience during the writing practices. Recommendations aremade as regards positive and constructive changes in the teaching and learning of thecommunication writing skills in the senior phases of learning in South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University