Selfgerigte tekskeuse vir Afrikaans Huistaal in die intermediêre fase met behulp van ʼn leesbaarheidsindeks

[English translation: Self-directed text selection for Afrikaans Home Language in the intermediate phase using a readability index]

  • Carmen Du Plessis North-West University
  • Elize Vos North-West University
Keywords: intermediêre fase, KABV, leesassesserings, leesbaarheid, leesbaarheidsindekse, leesprobleme, skoolhandboeke, tekskeuse, Afrikaans Home Language, Afrikaans Huistaal, reading problems, text selection, readability, readability indices, Misindeks

Abstract

[English translation of original abstract in Afrikaans]

Well-developed reading comprehension skills are emphasized across the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) of South Africa (DBE, 2011) as sufficient reading comprehension skills are central to successful learning in all subjects. Despite the high importance of effective reading and comprehension skills, the reading standard of intermediate phase learners remains alarmingly low when considering the results of international reading assessments. From these results, it becomes clear that learners do not have adequate reading comprehension when they are assessed on the content of a reading text.

Although clear criteria for text selection do exist, the cause of poor reading comprehension can possibly be attributed to inappropriate text selection. For this article, the readability level of prescribed texts as a possible obstacle was examined. Various readability indices were investigated, specifically, those that can be used for Afrikaans Home Language to measure textual complexity. The readability of texts in home language textbooks (intermediate phase) was calculated. The investigation was approached from interpretivism and is qualitative in nature. Firstly, an extensive literature review was launched into the reading situation regarding intermediate phase learners, texts, criteria for text selection, text readability, and readability indices. Secondly, the CAPS (Afrikaans Home Language, intermediate phase) was analysed to determine what the guidelines for texts, text selection and readability entail. Finally, CAPS-accredited textbooks were analysed to determine the readability levels of some texts in them.

The overarching themes that arose from the research data were used to make possible suggestions for Afrikaans Home Language teachers and textbook compilers regarding self-directed text selection for intermediate phase learners by using a readability index.

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Author Biographies

Carmen Du Plessis, North-West University

Carmen du Plessis is verbonde aan die Noordwes-Universiteit se Fakulteit Opvoedkunde. In haar hoedanigheid as lektor bied sy verskeie Afrikaanstaalkundemodules vir voor- en nagraadse onderwysstudente aan. Sy het ’n BA-graad aan die Universiteit van Pretoria voltooi (2011) en haar nagraadse studie by die NWU voortgesit waar sy ’n BA Hons (2012), MA (2015) en NGOS (2020) verwerf het. Haar navorsing fokus op die toegepaste taalkunde en die sosiolinguistiek in Afrikaans.

Elize Vos, North-West University

Prof. Elize Vos verwerf haar BA, HOD, BA Hons, MA en PhD aan die Noordwes-Universiteit. In 2011 is sy in die Fakulteit Opvoedkunde in die Vakgroep Afrikaans vir Onderwys aangestel. Haar navorsingsfokus is leesmotivering, selfgerigte leer en lees; kinder- en jeugliteratuur, Afrikaanse prosa en poësie en Afrikaansmetodologie. Verskeie artikels van haar is in geakkrediteerde vaktydskrifte gepubliseer; sy lewer gereeld referate by nasionale en internasionale konferensies; en begelei nagraadse studente.

Published
2022-12-05
How to Cite
Du Plessis, C., & Elize Vos. (2022). Selfgerigte tekskeuse vir Afrikaans Huistaal in die intermediêre fase met behulp van ʼn leesbaarheidsindeks: [English translation: Self-directed text selection for Afrikaans Home Language in the intermediate phase using a readability index]. Journal for Language Teaching , 56(2), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.56285/jltVol56iss2a5394