You know something. Chances are, if you’ve made it to the point where you’re reading this, you know a few things. Kodwa uyakwazi nokwazi na? Do you really really know it? The best way to see how well uyazi is to fundisa. Give it a go. Help someone else learn the thing you know so well, and it might get you to a different level of your own knowledge.
That’s pretty much exactly what I’ve been doing my whole life. At first, I was just the annoying kid filled with facts. Then I was the kid you could ask for homework help in the boarding house. And now I’m a kid that someone else is asking to develop a curriculum, for the teaching of isiZulu.
This aint my first rodeo, though. I developed a beautiful curriculum that was never fully realised when I taught Grade 6 to 12 between 2013 and 2015. And my content and techniques are developments of the way I’ve been teaching since about 2003, with additions and (mostly) mental constructions blooming out of the old structures that I used to teach myself Latin as a teenager.
So who’s asking? One is a longstanding client of mine, a brilliant human being who stuck with my lessons through lockdown and is now, I think I can safely say, my friend. She has asked for a comprehensive curriculum for next year’s lessons, and I feel that the time is right.
And the other? Well, rumours of Mabhengwane’s proficiencies have spread far and wide, and now there is an opportunity to collaborate on something wonderful with an innovative edtech company. I have to keep the rest under my hat, but kuzoba mnandi!
What do you think should be essential parts of a curriculum for adult learners wanting to understand isiZulu?
8 replies on “curriculum”
Parallel English and Zulu texts.
I’m on it mfowethu! I love your idea. I will do it as part of the curriculum, which will then be on offer to you and whoever else wants it!
My experience is limited but I agree with the suggestion above: parallel English and IsiZulu texts and the same for audio stories. I still remember the stories White Zulu told us during our classes years ago. 2023 will be a big year for my IsiZulu learning so count me in.
The “Asifunde IsiZulu” book published by Flame Tree Media is the main structured (written) course that I have experienced. It seems to cover all the right material but it does not leave me feeling as excited as my previous group course.
it is one of many wonderful books. yes. we had Masifundisani!
i look forward to it, mfowethu.
I noticed a while back that you wrote a parallel text in one of your blog posts a while back. It took me a while to realize it but the message got through eventually. Good luck with those dictionaries. It sounds like the work on dictionary D is the sort of epic personal battle that Homer would have captured well.
thank you mfowethu. the dictionaries have been taking all my time lately. but I’m back