Exploring New Scientific Methods in the Teaching and Learning of Sesotho
Keywords:
Teaching and Learning of Sesotho, Technology, Digital, Teaching and Learning Approaches, Indigenous Languages
Abstract
Teaching and learning of languages especially modern languages, be they L1, L2 or L3, continue to evolve and shift from the traditional approach where the physical instructor was key to the educational process to contemporary interactive digital approaches that give the learn a certain amount of confidence and autonomy. However, this is not the case in Lesotho where the approach in the teaching and learning of Sesotho has arguably been traditional, despite the fact that Sesotho is not only the official language but also the only indigenous language spoken across the country. This article concerned with problems related to teaching and learning of Sesotho through the use of traditional methods. It argues that contemporary approaches would render the language much more accessible to the masses locally and internationally, particularly in the information age. Secondly, new methods would help re-document the language with all the indigenous knowledge and savoir-faire proper to the language and culture of Basotho. The article explores possible avenues of electronic language documentation and digitisation with the aim of improving the teaching and learning of Sesotho in formal academic establishments and in informal settings generally meant for foreign agents working or representing international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the rural areas of Lesotho. This is where citizens may know how to read and right but not be particularly conversant in the second official language - English. Finally, the article advocates for collaboration between computer scientists and linguists with the objective of developing an on-point Sesotho language software that supports regulated online language learning platforms.References
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9. Grenoble, L.A. (2010). Language Documentation and Field Linguistics: The State of the Field. In Grenoble, L.A., and Furbee, N.L. (eds.), Language Documentation: Practice and Values, p.290. Netherlands: John Benjamins Publishing.
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11. Konar, N. (2011). English Language Laboratories: A Comprehensive Manual. New Delhi: Learning Pvt. Ltd.
12. Kumar, E. (2013). Natural Language Processing. New Delhi: I.K International Publishing House Pvt Ltd.
13. McNiff, J., and Whitehead, J. (2005). Action Research for Teachers: A Practical Guide. New York: David Fulton Publishers.
14. National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council, (1966). Language and MACHINES: Computers in Translation and Linguistics. Washington DC: Printing and Publishing Office.
15. O’Neill, G., and McMahon, T. (2014). Student–Centred Learning: What Does it Mean for Students and Lecturers? Available from: http://www.ucd.ie/teaching/t4media/Student20Centered%20Learning%20Article.pdf [10 July 2019].
16. O’Sullivan, M. (2004). ‘The Reconceptualisation of Learner-centred Approaches: A Namibian Case Study,’ International Journal of Educational Development, 24, 585-602.
17. Raselimo, M., and Thamae, C.G. (2018). ‘Content Analysis of the LGCSE Geography and Sesotho Syllabi for Alignment with the Lesotho Curriculum and Assessment Policy,’ South African Journal of Education, 38(3), 1-10.
18. Rehm, G., and Uszkoreit, H. (2012). ‘Language Technology Support for Swedish,’ in Rehm, G., and Uszkoreit, H. (eds.), The Swedish Language in the Digital Age, pp.52-66. Berlin: Springer.
19. Sebotsa, M., and Leshota, L. (2018). ‘Translation as an Indispensable Weapon in the Fight Against HIV and AIDS in Lesotho,’ Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 36(4), 329-339.
20. Sebotsa, M. (2016a). La Contribution de la Traduction à l’Expansion Lexical du Sesotho. PhD Thesis, Université Lumière Lyon 2.
21. Sebotsa, M. (2016b). ‘Translating Extra-linguistic Culture-bound Concepts in Mofolo: a Daunting Challenge to Literary Translators,’ Tydskrif vir Letterkunde, 53(2), 105-116.
22. Sporleder, C., Bosch, A. van den, and Zervanou, K. (2011). ‘Language Technology for Cultural Heritage, Social Sciences and Humanities: Chances and Challenges,’ in Sporleder, C., Bosch, A. van den, and Zervanou, K. (eds.), Language Technology for Cultural Heritage: Selected Papers from the LaTeCH Workshop. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
23. Walia, D. (2010). ‘Technology and English Language Teaching: The Significance and Challenges,’ in Shafaei, A., and Nejati, M. (eds.), Annals of Language and Learning: Proceedings of the 2009 International Online Language Conference (IOLC 2009), p.38. Florida: Universal Publishers.
Published
2020-09-30
How to Cite
Sebotsa, M. and Koele, M. (2020) “Exploring New Scientific Methods in the Teaching and Learning of Sesotho”, Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 3(1), pp. 115-127. doi: https://doi.org/10.53974/unza.jlss.3.1.452.
Section
Humanities