#06 Afrikaans - Why are they STILL learning this?
6 February 2022 · 2 min · as at 2022-02-06
Presenter (host)
Listen to the episode on iono.fm · MP3
Episode analysis
Analysis by AI, drawn only from this episode; every point links to the moment it rests on.
The presenter asks as a parent why South African children still learn Afrikaans. Two experts answer. One says learning a second language matters for brain development. The other says Afrikaans is used because teachers and academic material are widely available, while both are scarce for Zulu. The experts describe extra Afrikaans lessons that start from the basics. They also explain the five-year window and 'immigrant Afrikaans' for children who arrive from other countries.
Key ideas
- One expert argues that learning a second language matters for brain development and for other skills that come with it. [00:12]▸ [00:12]▸
- Another expert says any language could serve. Afrikaans is used because teachers and academic material are widely available, while both are scarce for Zulu. [00:28]▸ [00:41]▸
- The host suggests Afrikaans is one of the easier second languages. An expert agrees, calling it well-established and easy for a child to learn. [00:43]▸ [00:47]▸ [00:48]▸
- An expert says children who have never done Afrikaans start from the basics and move gradually through the grades. [01:08]▸
- An expert explains that immigrants get a five-year window and a lower standard called immigrant Afrikaans. After that, mainstream Afrikaans second language is required. [01:28]▸ [01:28]▸ [01:38]▸
Lessons
- According to one expert, the choice of Afrikaans over Zulu comes down to how many teachers and how much material are available, not to the language itself. [00:28]▸
- An expert says children with no Afrikaans background can still catch up by starting from the basics and progressing grade by grade. [01:08]▸
- Parents of immigrant children should know that, according to an expert, immigrant Afrikaans lasts only five years before mainstream Afrikaans second language is required. [01:38]▸
Who it's for
Parents in South Africa who wonder why their children must learn Afrikaans, including parents of children who have never done Afrikaans or who arrived from another country. The next step for a parent is to book a free assessment at one of the ten Kip McGrath centres on kiplessons.co.za.
Facts stated in the episode
- An expert says immigrants have a five-year window to learn a second language in the South African school system. [01:28]▸
- A lower standard called immigrant Afrikaans exists; after five years, mainstream Afrikaans second language is required, according to an expert. [01:38]▸
Questions this episode answers
- Why do South African kids have to learn a second language at all?One expert says learning a second language is important for brain development and for many other skills that come with it. [00:12]▸
- Why do schools teach Afrikaans instead of Zulu?An expert says it could be any language. Afrikaans simply has more teachers and widely available academic material, while teachers and material for Zulu are scarce. [00:28]▸
- Is Afrikaans hard to learn as a second language?The host thinks it is one of the easier languages. An expert agrees, saying it is well-established and very easy for a child to learn as a second language. [00:43]▸ [00:47]▸
- Can a child who has never spoken Afrikaans get extra lessons?Yes, according to an expert. Such children start from the basics and move gradually through the grades. [01:08]▸
- What happens if my child moved to South Africa and has never learned Afrikaans or Zulu?An expert explains there is a five-year window and a lower standard called immigrant Afrikaans. After five years, the child must do mainstream Afrikaans second language. [00:56]▸ [01:28]▸ [01:38]▸
In their own words
Longer stretches of the conversation, word for word from the transcript, turn by turn.
Why schools still teach Afrikaans rather than Zulu
Note (AI): Covers the parent's core question and the experts' reasons: brain development, plentiful teachers and materials, and Afrikaans being an easier second language.
Presenter, host · [00:00]One of the questions I found myself asking during my children's school career, and I'm sure that many other parents have been asking the same question too, is why are our children still learning Afrikaans? …
Read the full passage (159 words, 00:00–00:53)
Presenter, host · [00:00]One of the questions I found myself asking during my children's school career, and I'm sure that many other parents have been asking the same question too, is why are our children still learning Afrikaans?
Unidentified speaker, guest · [00:12]It is important to learn how to learn a second language for brain development and for numerous amount of other skills that come with learning a second language.
Presenter, host · [00:22]But why Afrikaans specifically? I would have thought that, you know, bringing something like Zulu in would have been a better idea.
Unidentified speaker, guest · [00:28]It could be any other language. There are just more resources available for Afrikaans. There are lots of teachers. The material, the academic material is widely available, where in Zulu, your teachers are scarce and the material is scarce.
Presenter, host · [00:43]I think that Afrikaans is one of the easier languages to learn as a second language.
Unidentified speaker, guest · [00:47]Absolutely. It is a well-established language and becomes very easy for a child to learn as a second language.
Extra Afrikaans lessons and the immigrant five-year window
Note (AI): Explains support for children who are new to Afrikaans, including children from other countries, and the five-year rule before mainstream Afrikaans second language applies.
Presenter, host · [00:56]I know that you do extra English and extra maths lessons. Do you do extra Afrikaans as well? …
Read the full passage (176 words, 00:56–01:49)
Presenter, host · [00:56]I know that you do extra English and extra maths lessons. Do you do extra Afrikaans as well?
Unidentified speaker, guest · [01:01]We do provide extra Afrikaans.
Presenter, host · [01:03]All the way up to grade twelve, right from the beginning, for kids who have never spoken Afrikaans before in their lives?
Unidentified speaker, guest · [01:08]We have kids who come in, they've never done Afrikaans at all before, and we have to start from the basics and then move gradually through the grades.
Presenter, host · [01:17]Okay, so what happens if you have a child that has come from another country who's now going to high school and hasn't done any other language that's available here in South Africa, for instance, either Zulu or Afrikaans?
Unidentified speaker, guest · [01:28]There's a five-year window for an immigrant to learn a second language in the South African school system. Obviously, schools providing Afrikaans will then require Afrikaans as their second language, but there is a lower standard, which is referred to as immigrant Afrikaans, which we can also provide, but after five years, that child is required then to do the mainstream Afrikaans second language.
Quotes
“It is important to learn how to learn a second language for brain development”
“your teachers are scarce and the material is scarce.”
“It is a well-established language and becomes very easy for a child to learn as a second language.”
“There's a five-year window for an immigrant to learn a second language in the South African school system.”
“learning a language is the best way of getting your brain Working,”
What was said, by topic
Second language and brain development
“It is important to learn how to learn a second language for brain development and for numerous amount of other skills that come with learning a second language.”
“If your child needs some help with another language, and trust me, learning a language is the best way of getting your brain Working, get them in for an assessment.”
Afrikaans versus Zulu resources
“I would have thought that, you know, bringing something like Zulu in would have been a better idea.”
“It could be any other language. There are just more resources available for Afrikaans. There are lots of teachers. The material, the academic material is widely available, where in Zulu, your teachers are scarce and the material is scarce.”
Why learn Afrikaans
“I think that Afrikaans is one of the easier languages to learn as a second language.”
“Absolutely. It is a well-established language and becomes very easy for a child to learn as a second language.”
Extra Afrikaans lessons
“We have kids who come in, they've never done Afrikaans at all before, and we have to start from the basics and then move gradually through the grades.”
Immigrant Afrikaans rules
“There's a five-year window for an immigrant to learn a second language in the South African school system.”
“but there is a lower standard, which is referred to as immigrant Afrikaans, which we can also provide, but after five years, that child is required then to do the mainstream Afrikaans second language.”
Episode notes (as published)
From the episode notes published with the podcast.
Welcome to Kip McGrath Extra Lessons FAQ. The importance of learning a second language and why we STILL do Afrikaans. Do you have a question not answered here? Then please contact us via our website KipLessons.co.za Visit KipLessons.co.za if you're ready to book your child's FREE Assessment. Book your FREE assessment now · Book your FREE assessment now
Every quotation and passage on this page is copied word for word from the episode audio transcript and linked to the moment it was said. Quotations are never written or altered by AI; topic labels, passage notes and the episode analysis are AI-generated. Guest details come from the published episode notes or the guest's own words.
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