SA Journal of Education, Vol 41, No 3 (2021)

Educators as mediators in teaching English as First Additional Language in Grade 6 inclusive classrooms in South Africa

Margaret Chauke, Ramodungoane Tabane

Abstract


Educators are one of the stakeholders in the education system working to ensure learner success. According to the Minimum Requirements For Teacher Education Qualifications, educators must fulfil 7 roles in their quest to impart education. In the study reported on her, we investigated Grade 6 educators’ knowledge and use of mediation as one of their roles in teaching English as First Additional Language (FAL) in Grade 6 inclusive classrooms. We further investigated how educators responded to learners who had diverse learning needs in English as FAL in Grade 6 inclusive classrooms. Six educators who taught English as FAL were purposively selected to participate in this study. Data were collected using qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews and observations, in addition to document analysis. The participating educators indicated that large classes, a lack of training on inclusive education, and the scarcity of teaching resources made their mediation roles in teaching English as FAL in Grade 6 inclusive classrooms very challenging.

https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v41n3a1675

ORCiD iDs of authors:
Margaret Chauke – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6402-9801
Ramodungoane Tabane - https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2666-963X

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