Essays / Should the mother tongue be the medium of instruction in South African schools? [2]

Please I need urgent proofreading!

The mother tongue is the first language(s) learnt as a child, rather than a language learned at school or as an adult (Cambridge Dictionaries Online, 2013). The term mother tongue originates from the notion that linguistic skills of a child are honed by the mother and therefore the language spoken by the mother would be the primary language that the child would learn. Just as Phillipson (1992:120) has said that, 'an apparently sound focus on the mother tongue as a medium of education does not in itself provide a guarantee of enlightened education', in this paper arguments supporting the non-implementation of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction in South African schools will be laid out.

One of the main factors militating against the application of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction is the multilingual setting in South Africa. It is a known fact to all that South Africa is a multilingual country adopting eleven languages: Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans, English, Venda, Setswana, as its official languages. From this arises the issue of the difficulty in choosing a single mother tongue i.e. single language policy as a medium of instruction in South African schools, which would suit every school context in South Africa (Felix Banda.2000). Furthermore, the implementation of the mother tongue instruction would result into the division of schools into different and respective language groupings as a result of the diverse mother tongue inherent to each pupil, which could possibly result to a sort of linguistic apartheid (Anthea Fraser Gupta.1977).

According to the Canadian linguist, William F. Mackey (1992:52), 'A language which lacks a well-established written form cannot be empowered which in turn jeopardises the potential status of such a language'. This quote beyond reasonable doubt shows that the non-availability of the developed written forms of the mother tongue languages militates against the mother tongue being the medium of instruction in South African schools. Regardless of the fact that the mother tongue can be used effectively as communication media during conversations taking place between two people, during cultural practices, and other events of this level, its application in presentation of ideas in academic or scholarly context cannot be functional (Alex Foley. n.d). Therefore this fact renders the adoption of the mother tongue instruction impracticable, in so far as the available standard written forms of these mother tongues sometimes differ from the actual dialects spoken by the aborigines.

Consequently, the administration of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction would reduce the international relations in South African schools. Taking the case of a tertiary education institution e.g. a university into consideration, in this case such an institution with a vast population encompasses students from different countries needs to make use of a medium of instruction comprehensible by not only South African students but also the international students at large. If any medium of instruction contrary to this is applied, there will be little or no interactions between the lecturers and the international student or at large the number of international student enrolled in such a university will diminish as a result of lack of understanding.

In light of the arguments presented in the paragraphs above, the application of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction would have more detrimental effects than it would beneficial ones. Therefore, it is the logical thing to have the new ways on how to improve the current method used in teaching in South-African schools in the mainstream of the debate, rather than having lots of efforts and resources wasted on issue which would add no value to the quality of the South African education system.

Undergraduate / I find the English people very fascinating; People you'd like to know/ GRINNELL SUPP [2]

One of the fascinating qualities of Grinnell College is the diversity of its student body. Grinnell students come from around the world and from innumerable socioeconomic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. What place, people, or culture would you like to get to know better and why? (approximately 250 words)

As a girl who loves exploring almost everything British, I find the English people very fascinating. A feeling of euphoria is bestowed on me when I am immersed in my collections of British historical novels. I mostly find myself being pulled, as an observer, into the world of the characters. From my enormous readings I envisioned the English people not only as people who are friendly and patriotic, but also people who take so much pride in their culture and way of life. And that is the reason why I have an enormous interest in observing and getting to know more about the English people. I was so eager to learn more of the English people that I almost got my enthusiasm killed on my way to realizing this. It all began on a typical Summer Saturday morning. My sister had asked me the previous day if I was interested in meeting up with some British girls who were friends with her old mates. In that moment all I could think of was how great of an opportunity that would be and I said yes with no hesitation. All seemed to be going on well enough until the arrival of the English girls. They were the complete opposite of the people I envisioned the English people to be: rude, arrogant and egoistic. I began to see to the reason why the English people are being stereotyped as rude, arrogant and was no different from those who see the English People only in light of their egoistic behaviors. But as luck would have it, my second encounter with an English girl, Anne, became my turning point. Consequently, she helped me realize that she just as most of other English people are not to be seen in light of the act of person who seemed to portray her country in a bad way. My encounter and experiences with Anne has helped revitalize my old eagerness to learn more of the English people's culture.

Undergraduate / WHY YALE SHORT ANSWER; 'Fred Plaut Recording Studio and The Shubert Centre' [4]

As an international student who has always longed to experience the cultural diversity America has to offer, Yale's location in New Haven, the cultural center of Connecticut, will enable me experience that cultural diversity.

Consequently, the specialization of Yale's Psychology program in research of clinical psychology, among others and the musical resources such as The Irving S. Gilmore Music Library, The Fred Plaut Recording Studio and The Shubert Centre for Performing Arts, that Yale and New Haven provide will make it possible for me to pursue my passion for a Psychology and Music double major.

Undergraduate / "Working at my father's real estate office" - My Princeton Summer Essay [6]

I started writing this essay some few minutes ago and this is what I've got so far. Proof reading, reviews and feed backs on it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance xD.

During the summer 2011, I worked as full-time assistant at my father's real estate office. Waking up at 6:00 am and thinking about all the paper-works I will have to sort through during my day at the office was more fulfilling than spending the day at the beach with some friends. Not only was I able to get more acquainted and build some friendships with the workers, but I also learned lots from my various visits to the Court house and sitting through some tenancy court hearings.

However I tried a different approach towards spending my summer 2012. During my first summer week, I devoted on focusing more on getting my body into good shape, building up and organizing my work out routine, not that I have not always done that, but this time I had so much fun doing that. During the consequent weeks, my siblings and I met up with our cousins. Due to the fact that it was our first time seeing them since they relocated to Nigeria, we stayed for some weeks and had some memorable time catching up on the various events happening in our respective lives. I also had some alone time to catch up on reading some British historical novels, which by the way was the highlight of my summer 2012.

Undergraduate / Yale Is A Match Made in Heaven. Short answer to the why yale question. [2]

I really need honest reviews for my short answer.
As I'm above the character limit by 49 characters, any suggestions on how to make my answer meet the required character limit would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

The college of my dream has always been the one where I would be excited to go to lectures because of the relationship- the passion to unravel the twisted principles of the power of the mind -between me the professors.

A Yale professor of Psychology, Professor Marvin Chun who said, 'I came to Yale for the students...I try to teach each student as somebody who is going to do something very meaningful and influential in life', shares that relationship with me.

Thus, Yale is a match made for me in heaven, because Yale manifests all I want in a college: excellent professors like Marvin Chun, who possess great passion and dedication of lecturing their students

Undergraduate / A Blessing In Disguise (determination and interdependence) - common Application [NEW]

Hello everyone, this is a revision of my previously posted essay for the common app. Reviews left would be highly appreciated,thanks.

Ever since I was young, I have watched my mother portray determination and interdependence, from living and raising her daughters in a polygamous home where there was no hint of love to traveling to a foreign country to set her roots. Though she was faced with odds from home, she did not let the odds become a hindrance to her ambition. Coming through these challenges in an unfamiliar country has been one of her most influential motivational factors on me. One of her innate qualities that never cease to amaze me is her determination that reflects in all her decisions.

My decision of studying abroad almost seemed like an impossible goal, even though I knew from the onset that it is what I really wanted. I was dealt with a big blow that almost crushed me , the very first time I ever let myself believe that I could depend on someone I called my father. It was too late before I realized that my father has not been in support of my career choice and my choice of studying abroad. It was only then that I learned the importance of determination and interdependence that my mother has always portrayed.

My mother was the only one who was there for me emotionally all through the way when I shot the whole world out, the only one who saw through that dark heart, a girl who has been badly betrayed by someone she taught cared about her. She was the one who was there all through the way when I was fighting my inner demon and who saw to it that I pulled myself through. I remember her saying, "Rebecca all I have tried to teach you and your siblings is that you can succeed with or without anyone's help. Maybe what you are going through is destined to be, so you could see the importance of the independence I have always portrayed. I know you can get through this, I have seen you get through situations tougher than this. Now all I am asking you to do is take that year that you will be losing as a gap year, to figure out what you really want. So, the choice is all yours; you are either going to let that betrayal bring you down or going to let it strengthen you. But whichever decision you make during that gap year, you will have my full support".

As a result, I was not surprised when she gave her whole support in every way possible, when I showed the determination to go to college in a culturally diverse country.

Gazing at the mirror, I see a girl who is reaching out for her goals and whose mother will always be ready to guide her through whenever it seems right. A girl who knows that the world is hers for the taking -thanks to her mother's support and dictum: 'determination is the key'.