Abstract
This article reports on the evaluation of the Pharos Junior Bilingual Dictionary based on the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). The CAPS document was released in 2011. The Pharos Dictionary was released in 2018 and indicates on the cover page that it is “CAPS suited for Primary School”. The aim of this article is therefore to answer the following questions, “What requirements are stated in the CAPS document regarding the use of a bilingual dictionary for learning and teaching Afrikaans as a First Additional Language?” and “To what extent does the Pharos Junior Bilingual Dictionary fulfil the requirements of the CAPS document?”
Although the use of a dictionary is mentioned numerous times in the CAPS document and is also seen as core learning material for school learners, there is no reference to a specific dictionary that is needed in an additional language classroom. My opinion is that it would be beneficial to recommend a specific dictionary to primary school additional language learners. By doing this, the teacher can be sure that the dictionary that is consulted during lessons does fulfil the requirements of the CAPS document. It would be more likely that the learners will be able to use this dictionary with greater ease, as it meets the requirements of the CAPS document. I am therefore researching whether this Pharos Dictionary meets the requirements set in the CAPS document and whether it is suited for primary school additional language learners.
This study makes use of a qualitative descriptive methodology. With document analysis, an investigation is launched into the requirements stated in the CAPS document with regard to the learning of Afrikaans as a first additional language (FAL). The focus of this study will be on the language learning of senior intermediate phase learners (Grades 4–6). Thereafter, the Pharos Dictionary is studied through content analysis to determine whether this dictionary meets the requirements set in the CAPS document.
The CAPS document can be seen as a guideline for teachers that they can use to plan their content for class lessons. There are four sets of skills according to which an Afrikaans EAT curriculum must be planned: listening and speaking, reading and viewing, writing and presenting, and language structures and conventions.
According to the CAPS document, a dictionary is needed to capture the order of the alphabet, the spelling of certain words and the meaning of difficult words, and to expand the vocabulary of the learners. The use of a dictionary in a classroom will make learners more confident in using a dictionary in the future and it will also promote a dictionary culture among the learners in the classroom.
The Pharos Dictionary states that it primarily focuses on primary school learners (Grades 4 to 7). It is, however, not limited to this group of learners, as home language learners and older learners will also benefit from using this dictionary, which contains 5 000 words in their most recent form. This is to ensure that when learners use the dictionary, they are introduced to words as they are used in everyday life. The user guide of the dictionary gives a step-by-step directive to show the user how the dictionary works. It also lists all the elements that appear in the dictionary. These elements are linguistic elements such as homonyms, homophones, syllables, intensive form, cross-referencing, keywords, word families, abbreviations, collective nouns, and example sentences.
One of the requirements mentioned in the CAPS regarding language learning is that a dictionary should primarily help learners to capture the order of the alphabet. The words in Pharos are presented alphabetically. This presentation contributes to learners being able to grasp the alphabet system, as required by CAPS. CAPS further requires that learners must consult a dictionary if they are unsure about the spelling of certain words. Pharos mentions that the dictionary contains information boxes with grammatical and language usage tips, which offer learners the opportunity to eliminate confusion between words. Pharos also presents example sentences in the dictionary articles to show learners in which context the word can be used. This helps learners to understand the meaning of an unknown word, as well as experiencing the context in which this word would be used. The learners’ vocabulary is therefore improved by mastering unfamiliar words. An improved vocabulary is another requirement set by the CAPS document. The CAPS document suggests that each learner sets up his/her own dictionary in Grade 4 and continues to supplement it until Grade 6. This can help to create and establish a dictionary culture among the learners. By creating their own dictionary, learners learn how a dictionary works, how to work with a dictionary and to enhance their dictionary skills. The learner will be able to use the dictionary with ease in the future, as he/she knows how a dictionary works.
From the analysis of the Pharos Dictionary, it is clear that the dictionary is an excellent resource for learners in an EAT classroom. The dictionary offers the user a well-structured user guide that ensures that all the elements that may appear in a dictionary article are described. The main finding is that the Pharos Dictionary meets the requirements set out in the CAPS document. This dictionary is suitable for primary school Afrikaans first additional language learners.
A lesson plan that teachers can use is also presented. This lesson plan aims to contribute to introducing dictionaries to primary school learners in the classroom. This plan was developed according to the task-based approach, which consists of a pre-task, a task cycle and post-task (Willis 1996:155). The lesson consists of an introduction and a discussion of the different types of dictionaries, a practical exercise and then a short discussion to make sure that the learners understand what they have learned. In the last part of the article, a conclusion is provided as to whether the Pharos Dictionary does meet the CAPS requirements regarding language learning for Afrikaans EAT for Grades 4 to 6 learners.
Keywords: Afrikaans First Additional Language (FAL); bilingual dictionary; content analysis; Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS); document analysis; Pharos Junior Bilingual Dictionary; senior primary phase
Lees die volledige artikel in Afrikaans
’n Evaluering van die Pharos Junior Tweetalige Skoolwoordeboek volgens die KABV-vereistes