How Can I Help My Child With Their Afrikaans FAL Homework?

Are you stuck when it comes to your child’s Afrikaans FAL homework? English-speaking parents might find their child’s Afrikaans homework challenging.

Cecile Smith*, author of Woemaboeke, gives some practical tips on how you can help your child with their Afrikaans homework:

Tip #1 Learn your Afrikaans question words

Make sure you learn the English definitions of Afrikaans instruction and question words. You will use these words from Grade 1 to 12. Invest in the time to know your work back-to-front!

Tip #2 Have realistic and specific goals

Learning a new language takes time. Realistic expectations will avoid dissapointments. Ask your child to memorise a few question words each week. Show you appreciate your child’s effort when goals are met.  Reward your child when specific milestones are met.

Tip #3 Listen, read, and watch Afrikaans

Watch a television show or listen to a podcast on a subject that interests you and your child. It doesn’t matter if there are sub-titles. To hear the words in Afrikaans still help!

Tip #4 Find a conversation partner

Have an Afrikaans neighbour? Know someone in the office? Make friends and ask them to speak Afrikaans to you in a casual setting. This way you learn by “doing”. Studies show a good balance between hearing and speaking is needed to learn a new language.  In the words of the philosopher, Confucius: “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

Tip #5 Use flashcards

Help your child by making flashcards. This can be a useful tool when repeatedly done as a language exercise. Did you know that when you buy a Woema ePub on the itsi store, a functionality will allow you to automatically make electronic flashcards from the copy in the ePub? 

Tip #6 Read (a)loud

Read out loud some words or sentences in Afrikaans. Practice a dialogue in Afrikaans with your child, for example, making turns to read. Focus on your pronunciation and how to recognise the meaning of words. Don’t start with the most difficult book and don’t forget to have fun!

Tip #7 Revise when it’s time for the exam

Reduce anxiety and prepare for tests and exams. My best revision tips:

• Let your child write these revision tests under “exam conditions”.

• Keep time! The tests will tell you how much time you have.

• Keep the memo to yourself! Let your child mark the test with you only when he or she has completed the test.

• Make sure they know why they got questions wrong. Revise your words again.

* Cecile Smith is the author of Woemaboeke and previous Afrikaans First Additional Language teacher of 20 years.