Tuesday, 13 August
02 Nov 2015
How to help your kids with Afrikaans essays
Previously we looked at how you can help your child with comprehension homework. This week we focus on writing Afrikaans essays.
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Planning is the most important part of the writing process. With proper planning 80 per cent of the work is done. Different types of essays require different ways of planning. Let’s look at the narrative essay and the descriptive essay as examples.
Narrative essays
- Every story needs characters, a place, time, reason and events. We therefore use the “Take 5” hand diagram.
- Use your writing hand and trace your other hand on paper in pencil.
- Each of the five fingers has one of the following headings: who, where, when, what and why.
- Write two short sentences in the middle of the hand without any details about the subject of your essay. The five fingers constitute the required detailed content of your story.
- The idea is to have a brief plan and use keywords. Then before you write the first draft of your story, you already have all the elements in place.
Descriptive essays
- A descriptive essay is about something you see, hear, feel, smell or taste. So why not use your senses in planning it?
- Here you can use the spider diagram. Place the word, idea or scene you have to describe in the middle.
- Each spider leg represents a sense: sight, hearing, touch, feeling (figurative), smell and taste.
- Now connect keywords to each sense. You can now decide if you want to use a combination of all six senses or only one or two.
When you write your essay, don’t write it completely in English. The next tip is meant specifically for Afrikaans first additional language learners (but it can also apply to English first additional language learners).
- Plan your essay.
- Start your first draft. Write IN Afrikaans as far as possible; when you can’t remember the Afrikaans word, you can write the word in English. The idea is to think IN Afrikaans as much as possible.
- When you write your essay in English and then translate it, your syntax won’t make sense, because Afrikaans and English follow different sentence structures. Afrikaans follows the “stompi”-sentence construction. See below for what this means.
- When you’ve completed the essay, use a dictionary to translate the English words.
- When the words are translated and the word order has been checked, write your final draft as neatly and accurately as possible in your book.
- Make sure your essay has a heading and that you’ve written the word count at the bottom. These two elements give you easy points.
My biggest wish is that parents and learners would come to accept that Afrikaans is not a difficult subject, provided the necessary assistance and support is available in primary school and time is devoted to laying a good foundation.
Parents, please make sure your child knows their sound alphabet, not the capital pronunciation alphabet. A child reads with the sound alphabet. Your child has to read. Watching TV every night, even if it’s an Afrikaans soapie, won’t improve your child’s Afrikaans. By writing down words on paper, developing a vocabulary and using new words their knowledge of the language will improve.
A great influence in homework (and more so homework help for your child’s second language) is your attitude as a parent. If you like the subject and feel equipped to help with homework for the subject, your child will be more receptive to achieve in the subject. Unfortunately the opposite is also true. If you don’t like a subject, don’t feel competent to help with homework and your attitude suggests it’s not important, you do as much damage as a bad teacher. Our children look to us and learn from us.
Take a look at Rodney Atkins’ music video for Watching You ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VY4X7_qwK0 ).
* The “stompi”-sentence structure is followed mainly in Afrikaans. This means the sentence has the following order: subject, first verb, time, object, manner, place, second verb, infinitive.
-Marelize Swanepoel
Marelize Swanepoel has been an Afrikaans teacher for eight years and is currently based at Welridge Academy in Weltevredenpark, Johannesburg.
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Essay writing
Essay planning.
- Understand the purpose of the essay. Is it to explain a concept, argue a point, or analyse a text?
- Identify the central argument or thesis that you need to develop throughout the essay.
- Carry out effective research . Look for reliable sources that can provide evidence or ideas to back your thesis.
- Plan your structure . Each paragraph should generally introduce a new point that supports your argument.
Introduction
- Start with a grabbing statement to intrigue your readers.
- Introduce the topic in brief without going into too many details.
- Clearly state your thesis or main argument .
- Provide an overview of the points you’re going to raise in support of your argument.
Main Body Paragraphs
- Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to introduce the point you’ll discuss.
- Provide evidence or examples to support your point. Remember to reference your sources to avoid plagiarism.
- Explain how the evidence or example backs your point, making sure you’re always linking back to your thesis .
- Use transitional phrases to maintain the flow and coherence between the paragraphs.
- Restate your thesis statement in a new light given the evidence you’ve discussed.
- Summarise each main point but avoid repeating your words exactly. Your conclusion should provide a fresh perspective on your points.
- End with a strong, conclusive statement that sticks with the reader. This could be an interesting fact, an important implication of your argument, or a call to action.
Revision and Proofreading
- Look for typos, grammatical errors, and punctuation mistakes.
- Review the flow and coherence of your essay. Check that your points follow one another logically.
- Ensure that each paragraph has a clear purpose and that it supports your overall thesis.
- Check your references and citations to make sure they’re accurate.
Remember that the art of essay writing involves presenting your ideas in a clear, logical, and engaging manner. Practice writing on a variety of topics to enhance your skills. Soon, you’ll find it easier to form strong arguments and express them effectively.
How To Write An Essay In Afrikaans?
Introduction
Writing an essay in Afrikaans is a great way to communicate your thoughts and ideas. It can also be used to demonstrate your knowledge of the language, as well as to reflect on cultural values and issues that are specific to South Africa. Unfortunately, many students struggle with writing essays in this unique language due to its structure and complexity. Fortunately, there are some tips that you can follow which will help make the process easier.
Tips For Writing An Essay In Afrikaans
Understand the language structure.
The first step in writing an effective essay in Afrikaans is understanding the language structure. Unlike English, Afrikaans has two verb forms – present tense (presente tyd) and past tense (verlede tyd). Both forms must be used correctly when constructing sentences during the writing process for it to flow properly. Additionally, there are three main parts of speech: nouns (naamwoorde), verbs (werkwoorde) and adjectives (bijvoeglike naamwoorde). Understanding how these elements should be combined will also help ensure that your essay reads smoothly throughout.
Research Your Topic
Before starting any kind of paper or assignment it is important to research the topic thoroughly so you have a good foundation on which to build upon when developing arguments or formulating opinions about it. There might already be existing literature around what you’re discussing so use this information wisely by reading up on other people’s ideas or theories related to it before forming your own conclusions or making suggestions regarding potential solutions if relevant.. This way you’ll have more facts at hand which can then be integrated into your essays effectively while avoiding any mistakes caused by incorrect assumptions made beforehand based solely off personal opinion rather than fact-based evidence from reliable sources such as academic journals etc…
Plan Out Your Ideas
Once all necessary research has been done, start planning out what points need addressing within each paragraph of your essay accordingto their relevanceand importancein relationto one another; i ewhich ones should comefirstsecondthirdetc.. This helpsyou stay focusedon topicsat handwhile still beingableto expressyourideas freely without getting sidetrackedonto somethingunrelatedor irrelevanthiswayyoucanbetterdevelopargumentsfor examplebybeingabletoshowhowonepointleadsdirectlyintothenextprovidingthereaderwithanextensiveanalysisoftheissueinyourpaper…
Use Appropriate Vocabulary And Grammar Onceyouhaveplannedoutyour outlineit’stimefocusingonlanguageuseWhenwritinganykindofessaybutespeciallyinaforeignlanguagelikeAfrikaansketyouneedtoconsiderthevocabularyusedAsmentionedbeforetherearetwomainverbformsinAfrikansthatneedbeappliedcorrectlywhenconstructingsentencesbothpresenttenseandpasttenseAdditionallytryincorporatingwordsfromotherSouthAfricanlanguageslikeXhozaZuluetcintoessaysmakeitmoreauthenticToavoidmakingmistakeswithgrammartryreadingwhatyouscribealoudsoyoucanpickupanyerrorsquicklyandfix thembeforesubmittingthefinalcopyofyourwork….
Conclusion WritinganessayinAfrikkansaschallengingbutnotimpossibleWithsomecarefulplanningresearchingappropriatevocabularyusageandanunderstandingofthelanguage’sstructuresuccessfullycompletingacademicpapersinafricanwillbesignificantlyeasierGoodluck!
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How to Improve your Skills in Afrikaans Second Language Writing
13 October 2020
7 minutes reading time
- 01. How to Get Started
- 02. Watch Afrikaans Films and Series
- 03. Read to Write
- 04. Read Newspapers and Magazines in Afrikaans
- 05. Read Novels and Poetry
- 06. Writing in Afrikaans
Marvin couldn’t help but smile when he read young Dane’s essay in which he explains that he had seen a suspicious car “there under.” He was busy making English essays when he came across this direct translation from his learner’s native Afrikaans. Such errors are a natural occurrence when one is speaking a tongue foreign to you, as you may first be formulating your thoughts in your mother tongue and then translating them into a second language, such as Afrikaans. The most difficult thing to do, is to imagine your brain as a blank slate onto which this new language has to be written, along with its different word order, spelling, grammar and idiom.
How to Get Started
Uit die staanspoor, (one of many Afrikaans phrases meaning from the very start or the get-go), an almost peerless way to improve your skills in Afrikaans is to work with a native Afrikaans-speaker.
If you choose to immerse yourself in the Afrikaans language by spending time with a family, you would not only be learning and utilising the language daily, but also learning interesting ways in which Afrikaans is used by first-language speakers as well as their traditions, customs, cuisine and dress code. Initially, observing them run over words at a canter or gallop may be intimidating. However, with the passing of time, with encouragement from your hosts, you will soon be joining in full and, hopefully, fluent, intelligible conversation. This is a very good way to learn Afrikaans, as you will be working with a family which also speaks English and is very conversant with Afrikaans and many of its intricacies.
Another brilliant way, of gaining traction in Afrikaans, is to work closely with a native Afrikaans speaker in a method called language exchange. In this approach, half the time is spent speaking your mother tongue and the other half is spent using the mother tongue of your partner. In this way, you are learning Afrikaans , for example, while you’ll be helping your partner acquire English.
Watch Afrikaans Films and Series
A wonderful way to expose yourself to Afrikaans, in a non-threatening way, is to watch Afrikaans news, movies and soapies. You can always check your understanding of the news by watching it with a native speaker or by checking the English news later on. You could also copy down new words you’ve heard and check them out in your tweetalige or verklarende woordeboek .
Many Afrikaans soapies carry sub-titles which would help your interpretation of whatever situation is playing itself out on “the box”. Viewing movies and soapies or other series can be used to inform the way you utilise Afrikaans in a formal, as opposed to, an informal setting. There are a number of Afrikaans soapies on air, either on the free-to-air format or via a subscription service. Either way, you’ll be able to view and hear spoken Afrikaans daily, generally displaying a very good use of the language in day-to-day settings. You can, additionally, tune your radio in to one of a number of Afrikaans radio stations and listen at home, in your car or even on your phone. This is a great way to stay up to date with what’s happening in the world, in a totally different format!
Read to Write
Indisputably, the basis for a lot of learning is reading. This is why looking for information is called research (re-search). Generally, before the advent of the Internet, people did research by scouring through volumes of books and encyclopaedias. Even in our modern age of technology, many students can still be encountered poring over volumes of books in libraries. Reading is an invaluable skill which has an undeniable impact on the learning of any subject – even maths has a reading component.
As soon as you start reading you will be faced with Afrikaans spelling, which generally, is not difficult or complicated. For the most part, words are spelled, more or less, in the way they are spoken. Certain letters take on a different sound when they have a caret above them. An example of this is the “ê” as found in the words sê (pronunced like share without the “h”) and lê (as in lair... not liar ). Others announce the introduction of a separate sound within the word, as in geëet (ge – eet) and voël (pronounced “foo”+ “will”). These little idiosyncrasies will, in due course, become second nature to you as you progress through your learning material with greater confidence every day.
The more one reads, the quicker and deeper your understanding of texts in all their different formats: books, newspaper articles, documents, contracts, advertisements, etc.
So, too, will it influence your writing immeasurably as words, ideas, idioms, writing style and sequencing of ideas will readily spring to mind. You would have become wired to write!
Read Newspapers and Magazines in Afrikaans
A great springboard would be to start reading Afrikaans magazines, – the Huisgenoot, Sarie, Rooi Rose and Weg! – newspapers and novels. Here, again, you are exposed to writing which will influence yours in one way or another. Once you have decided on a magazine, you will be drawn to a particular writer and/or the particular topic they tend to write about and possibly their writing style.
This will encourage you to stay the course and complete reading the entire article or series of articles. We would suggest that you have a tweetalige woordeboek (bilingual dictionary) at hand. Of course, nowadays, many publications can also be accessed online , facilitating the enjoyment of magazine and newspaper articles wherever you have cell-phone reception.
Read Novels and Poetry
If you have a smattering of Afrikaans as a background, you may want to delve deeper into the treasure trove of Afrikaans literature available: novels, poetry, prose and drama.
Poetry, with is rhythm and rhyme, casts a quick spotlight on the use of the language, in that it is much shorter than a novel, drama or biography. The light, of course, can shine with quite a great intensity as the poet plays either with words or with their multiple meanings and/or inferences. The type of poem – serious, fun, historical – can be chosen on the basis of what you feel you would like to engage in at that particular point. All in all, this will prove to be another wonderful way to engage with what is regarded as the youngest official language in the world.
Once you have achieved a greater deal of proficiency in Afrikaans, you can advance to reading more voluminous texts. Afrikaans has many great writers , some of whom have received legendary status in the country, given the fact that many of them have been studied by learners at schools for close on to 100 years, at least. They are also proudly quoted by Afrikaners, who are very passionate about their language, culture and traditions. Great Afrikaans books have been authored by the likes of N.P. van wyk Louw ( Raka ), Dalene Matthee ( Fiela se Kind ) and Deon Meyer ( Ikarus and Onsigbaar ). They head up a list of distinguished writers who have achieved great literary recognition in South Africa and even abroad.
You will find that these writers have excelled at crafting poetry, novels as well as short stories, as in the case of S.J. Naudé, whose debut publication, Alfabet van die Voëls, achieved critical acclaim, as did his novel Die Derde Spoel (The Third Reel). As indicated, this last-mentioned text is written in both English and Afrikaans and, if one has a mind to, could be read concurrently, the English version casting light and translation on the Afrikaans.
Search for grade 1 Afrikaans lessons here on Superprof.
Writing in Afrikaans
You are now ready to start composing texts in Afrikaans, having immersed yourself, through reading, in the warmth, rhythm, vocabulary and idiom of the language. You would also have encountered different writing styles and may have started to gravitate towards the style of one or more of your now-favourite authors.
A fun way to get started would be to write notes or little poems to friends and Afrikaans-speakers you know. Their responses would soon indicate to you how quickly your learning is progressing, or not.
A good way to start is to write an Afrikaans letter to your tutor, a friend or a colleague, who can then critique your rendition objectively (at least ask them to). They will then be able to advise you on how to set out the letter and the correct language to use when greeting a male or female addressee.
Search for Afrikaans tutorials here on Superprof.
Further, they will also guide you, in terms of how to close your letter. You will also receive guidance on how to structure a friendly (personal) letter as opposed to a business letter. This would be an excellent way to start off your first ventures into the world of writing in Afrikaans as your texts do not have to be lengthy and you would have some knowledge of letter-writing from doing so at school in your mother tongue. This exercise should definitely prove to be a confidence booster! Another interesting way to get started is to try your hand at poetry.
Longer texts, like essays, can now be attempted. Here, at least, you can fall back on the skills you employed in creating texts in your home language. Utilise those skills to plan your essay so that there is a wonderful, fluid flow to your composition (pardon the pun). Now the idioms, turn of phrase and Afrikaans vocabulary you have gleaned from your listening, reading and viewing will all come into play and flavour your writing in your own inimitable ( onnavolgbaar ) way.
There is no doubt that co-operation with a skilled tutor, knowledgeable in Afrikaans, will, no doubt, soon have you on a star-ward bound trajectory! Superprof have wonderful, highly skilled tutors who can help you on your way. Simply visit their website to set you off on the right foot. Voorwaarts!
Search for Afrikaans lessons for beginners here on Superprof.
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Trevor Jacobs
Career teacher turned writer. Passionate about family, running, and the great outdoors.
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Afrikaans Essay Examples
The controversial history and impact of afrikaans in south africa.
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language that is spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and to a lesser extent in Botswana and Zimbabwe. In my Afrikaans essay, I will examine the language's controversial history and its impact on South African society. Afrikaans is one of the...
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