‘Literacy has been a perennial problem in South African schools and many English Second Language (ESL) learners struggle to read and write competently. The workshop was held to empower teachers with strategies to improve the reading and writing skill sets of their learners,’ said Sheik.
Teachers were introduced to a range of ideas and approaches to facilitate reading and writing in the Further Education and Training (FET) phase for ESL learners in an interactive and enabling environment. Among other topics, issues such as process writing; the genre approach to teaching writing; peer and group collaboration; and reading theories and their practical value were discussed.
Senior Education Specialist, Ms Dudu Mthembu said, ‘The workshop was impressive and fruitful. Teachers were motivated and the two-day session was well attended. The interest and engagement between the facilitators and teachers was great.’
A follow up session is planned for next year. The Municipal Library section of eThekwini Municipality has also expressed interest in Sheik conducting similar workshops at libraries to facilitate reading at grassroots level.
