Language Empowerment at Good shepherd Primary School Huntley Street / Grahamstown – Makhanda

French and Francophone Studies enlivens learning with exciting cultural experiences

 

The academic year for the French and Francophone Department commenced with a vibrant community initiative at Good Shepherd School in Huntley Street / Grahamstown - Makhanda. Led by Professor Arthur Mukenge, head of the Department, the program aimed to introduce young learners to the French Language in an engaging and interactive manner. Beginning with basic greetings, the session swiftly progressed to more advanced topics such as self-introductions and learning numbers in French.

This academic year 2024, French 3 and Honours students were given the opportunity to teach grade 3 (three) learners. On weekly basis, they take turns leading lessons for the grade three (3) learners under the supervision of Professor Mukenge and Ms. Imkhitha Macanda.

However, Ms. Beng Molodi from French 3 kicked off the program and the first lesson, by imparting basic French vocabulary on “Salutations and welcome” (bonjour et bienvenue!); of course, she focused on greetings and encouraged the learners to engage with each other in class practice.

The enthusiasm among the learners was noticeable, with Sharon expressing her excitement about learning to speak the language; “I want to learn French so that I can speak to Kilian Mbappe when I go to France one day”, she said. Ms. Beng found the experience surprisingly rewarding, noting the well-behaved nature of the primary school learners.

In the following week, Mr. Lesedi Makhene continued the momentum by re-teaching the grade “threes” how to introduce themselves and teaching them how to count in French (from zero to ten). He, also, found the learners proactive and engaged, relishing the teaching experience. The Community Engagement initiative at Good Shepherd Primary School has been a resounding success, with both learners and teachers enjoying the experience as win- win experience promoted by RUCE (Rhodes University Community Engagement). The positive impact on the grade “threes” has been evident, leaving a lasting impression on their educational journey, furthermore their future.

The French and Francophone Department should be commended for its dedication to community outreach and providing enriching
educational opportunities. This event highlights the transformative, inclusive and decolonization power of education and its ability to unite communities. It serves as a reminder of the importance of such initiatives in fostering a culture of learning and growth.
The program will continue until the end of the academic year 2024. The remaining French students are enthusiastic about its continuation. They anticipate that the learners will grasp the fundamentals of the language. “We hope that the learners will use the basic skills of the language or even continue studying it in the future because the world is changing” Paul
added.

By Urielle Kayumba