CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS
5.3 Reflection on the research
From the process of engaging with students in focus groups, it would seem that for multilingual possibilities to emerge it is valuable to have space and time to engage in discussion, especially when new issues are being considered. Through this research students in particular were afforded an opportunity to reflect on language issues and consider alternative viewpoints on this issue. If NMMU or any institution wants to take language issues seriously, some mechanisms for real engagement that involve reflection should be considered. These students themselves recommended in engaging in more readings, having critical speakers to challenge common place understandings of language. This could include the language practitioner engaging with students and facilitating reflective experiences regarding language positioning.
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APPENDIX B: Letter to students
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University P.O.Box 77000. Port Elizabeth.
South Africa
Dear Students
My name is Natalie Adams and I am researching the language policy at NMMU and your experiences of language in your studies.
Some of the areas I would like to explore are:
How do students feel about the university‟s policy of using English as the language of learning and teaching
Would students like isiXhosa and Afrikaans to be used alongside English as a language of learning and teaching? Why
To what extent could isiXhosa and Afrikaans to be used at the NMMU? ( Study materials, tutorials, exam question papers or used as a language of learning and teaching alongside English
Are students aware of the NMMU language policy? If so, where did they access the language policy and what do they understand by it?
What are the attitudes towards this policy?
Are there any constraints/benefits of the language policy?
I would like you to participate in a focus group discussion of these issues and share your thoughts. This discussion would be tape-recorded and should last between sixty and ninety minutes. The discussion will be transcribed and shared with you for verification but no names will be recorded and you may withdraw from the research at any time without any consequences.
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I need your consent to use your comments in the focus group discussions, so please complete the consent section below.
I,……… consent to participate in the focus group discussion on my experience of language in my studies and my understandings of the language policies.
I understand that this will be used for research purposes and may appear in journal articles but I will not be identified by name.
Signature:________________________________
Date: ___________________________________
125 APPENDIX C: Letters to lecturers
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University P.O.Box 77000. Port Elizabeth.
South Africa
Dear Lecturer
Multilingualism Research: Ms N Adams MA Applied Language Studies
My name is Natalie Adams and I am researching the language of learning and teaching ( LOLT) and the overarching language policy at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). The main purpose of the research is to identify students‟ and lecturers‟ perceptions of the language of learning and teaching at the university.
I would like to interview you and the questions I will ask will mainly focus on your language background as well as your experiences teaching students who are not English first language speakers.
I cannot foresee any risks resulting from your participating in this project. I will use pseudonyms when referring to yourself and I will also share my results with you once all the data have been collected. Once, we have completed our interview, I will transcribe it and would ask you to confirm that the transcriptions are an accurate reflection of the actual event. Information that you share with me will only be seen by me and two supervisors.
If you have any further questions relating to your participation in this project, please feel free to contact me .My contact details are:
Ms Natalie Adams Office J07 North Campus
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 041 504 3228
Yours sincerely
Ms N Adams
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APPENDIX D: Letter to language development
practitioner
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University P.O.Box 77000. Port Elizabeth.
South Africa
Dear Language Development Practitioner
Multilingualism Research: Ms N Adams MA Applied Language Studies
My name is Natalie Adams and I am researching the language of learning and teaching ( LOLT) and the overarching language policy at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). The main purpose of the research is to identify students‟ and lecturers‟ perceptions of the language of learning and teaching at the university.
I would like to interview you and the questions I will ask will mainly focus on your attempts to facilitate the promotion of multilingualism at the NMMU.
I cannot foresee any risks resulting from your participating in this project. I will use pseudonyms when referring to yourself and I will also share my results with you once all the data have been collected. Once, we have completed our interview, I will transcribe it and would ask you to confirm that the transcriptions are an accurate reflection of the actual event. Information that you share with me will only be seen by me and two supervisors.
If you have any further questions relating to your participation in this project, please feel free to contact me. My contact details are:
Ms Natalie Adams
Office J07 North Campus
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 041 504 3228
Yours sincerely Ms N Adams
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APPENDIX E: Questions used in focus group 1
FOCUS GROUP 1 - STUDENTS
1. What motivated you to study at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University?
2. What kind of school did you attend before coming to the NMMU? (Former Model C, Former DET/ township/ rural, Private,
Former House of Delegates, Former House of Representatives)
3. When did you start using English as LOLT? Do you think it was a good choice,