XHOSA 178

2024
SEMESTER PROGRAMME AND STUDY GUIDE

Lecturer: Prof Marianna Visser (mwv@sun.ac.za)

>>>>>> FIRST SEMESTER WRITTEN TEST ASSESSMENT DATES:

Middle semester test : Tuesday, 19 March, 17h45

End of semester test: Thursday,23 May, 09h00

>>>>>> SECOND SEMESTER WRITTEN TEST ASSESSMENT DATES

Middle semester test : Monday, 2 September, 17h45

End of semester test : Saturday, 9 November, 09h00

>>>>> CLASS TIMES of lecture periods (in Room 224, second floor of Arts
and Social Sciences Building) which students must all attend, among others,
to ask questions to me in person about the study content they watched as
explained in the video lectures (posted on SUNLearn) on the various lesson
topics:

Tuesdays, 10h10 – 11h00;

Wednesdays, 16h10 – 17h00 ( this class may be used especially for

continuous assessments);

Thursdays,15h10 – 16h00

>>>>> TUTORIAL PERIOD TIMES, ARE AT 11H10, 12H10, AND 13H10 ON

MONDAYS, OF WHICH ONE PERIOD MUST BE ATTENDED, ( IN ROOM 363 OF
HUMARGA) FOR:

(I ) Working through multimedia lessons to practice listening and speaking

skills ( approximately 20 minutes ) and,

( ii ) Watching video lectures in preparation for lesson content covered in

main classes ( approximately 30 minutes )

Students need to come to these classes to :

(I ) practice the lesson content by interacting with fellow students in

class, for which a P & P ( Preparation and Participation ) mark of 20 %
 (pro rata included in the semester test mark)will be earned throughout
the semester, and

( ii ) listen to more in-depth explanations on the lesson content I give ,

and ask their specific questions about the content of the lessons which I
explain in detail in the video lectures, which are watched in the Monay
tutorial periods, and are uploaded on SUNLearn to watch in self-study
time.

 Students will receive clear explanations of key aspects of the lesson

content for the various topics we do in both semesters, in the video
lectures, in which I give detailed explanations of the lesson content and
key grammatical aspects for understanding the content well and
working on it in a creative way for the purpose of doing assignments.

 Students are strongly encouraged to spend at minimum 3 hours per

week on watching the video lectures in self-study ( out-of class time)
each at least twice, and working (independently, on their own/ by
themselves, or with their study buddies).

 Students are especially encouraged to attend the classes, where I will

make some time for group work practice in which students can also
discuss with me sentences, they want to use in their assignments.

 Students must please make sure that they work in their own time, like
last semester, on the computer lessons for practicing pronunciation,
and reinforcing knowledge of the vocabulary and sentence structures.

 Students will do an oral test in the first and second semester , which
will count as a test mark of the written invigilated test written at the end
of the semester (on the date announced ).

>>>> PLEASE READ THIS SEMESTER PROGRAMME AND STUDY GUIDE

FREQUENTLY TO KEEP YOURSELF FAMILIARISED WITH THE DETAILS
OF THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE OF THE XHOSA 178
MODULE. KEEPING A PRINT-OUT AT HAND IS A GOOD IDEA.
For Xhosa 178 and Xhosa 188 ( a year module of 24 credits ) the description can be as follows:

240 hours time in total for the whole year ( 120 hours per semester) are entailed for all
Teaching, learning and assessment ( T L A ) activities ( both in-class and out-of-class) in the
module as a whole . This can be calculated as 10 hours per week for each of the 24 weeks of the
academic year. Of this 10 hours per week , in -class teaching , learning and assessment will
comprise approximately 4 hours, and out-of class ( self- study/ group-study ) will comprise
approximately 5 – 6 hours per week . The lecturer will give precise instructions in class on the out-
of-class self-study/ group-study students should do for preparing for in-class work in the various
periods of the week. This out-of -class preparation through self-study or group-study is required
for doing the required presentation and participation for the in-class work. This conducting of in-
class work ( i.e. Teaching, Learning and Assessment ) and out-of-class work is captured in a P & P
mark, referred to as the Preparation and Presentation/ participation mark that students can earn,
the precise details given in the module framework and by the lecturer in the lecture periods.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Welcome

A warm word of welcome to all students in the Xhosa 178 module. I hope that you
will enjoy studying this module as much as I enjoy teaching it to you. The Xhosa 178
module is aimed at equipping students with beginner-intermediary level
communication skills on a range of topics for social interaction, while at the same
time develop students’understanding of the word- and sentence building elements of
isiXhosa so that they can understand and produce in a creative way their own new
sentences to express themselves in isiXhosa. Although the grammatical system of
African languages, like isiXhosa, is very different from that of, for example, English
and Afrikaans, I hope you will thoroughly enjoy learning isiXhosa and the language-
related cultural aspects of the language.

My office is Room 524 (fifth floor) in the Arts and Social Sciences Building (corner of
Ryneveld street and Merriman Avenue). I will be available in this office, or the office
524) just before or after class times. For enquiries and consultations for students
who wish to direct their enquiries to me in person, in addition to an email enquiry can
be made at mwv@sun.ac.za.

1.2 Xhosa 178 is a fully face-to-face teaching module with accompanying

out-of-class video teaching and learning and computer lessons for
practicing pronunciation

1.2.1 The full lecture series of pre-recorded video lectures for the Xhosa 178
module is available to students to watch on SUNLearn in their own times of
preference to experience the teaching and learning, watching and working
through these video lectures in their own time, on their own (individually), or in
’study buddy’ pairs/groups, where they can interact and discuss the content
with each other. Thus, the main out-of-class mode of teaching and learning
will take place through use of pre-recorded video lectures, all available on
SUNLearn, and multimedia (computer) lessons, also available through
SUNLearn, for the practice of the listening, speaking and pronunciation skills
of the Xhosa lesson study materials, as outlined in more detail below. I advise
that students, in accordance with the semester programme topics and dates
given below, watch each video lecture (at least) twice on their own, and (at
least once) in their study buddy group, observing, of course, Covid-related
restrictions.

The video lectures are mostly 25 minutes in duration each. A study buddy group
ideally consists of two – six students (a bigger number of students in the study
buddy group may makes it difficult to find a time for all to get together. The
purpose of the study buddy group watching the pre-recorded video lectures is
for the study buddies to interact, discussing and explaining to each other
 some aspects of the lesson content, when pausing the video, and perhaps, if
the group thinks that they have one or more questions they wish to ask to me,
for one group member then to email their questions to me, which I will then
answer as soon as possible.

1.2.2 Students are especially encouraged to attend the weekly on- campus class
opportunities, on Tuesdays, 10h00 – 10h45, Wednesdays, 16h00, and
Thursdays, 15h00, in Room 224(second floor), Arts and Social Sciences
Building, where I will give some important information and explanations on
the various lesson topics. Students, who have any specific questions about
the Xhosa lesson content are welcome to ask their questions, and listen to
fellow class mates’ questions, and then may follow up with their own
questions. The attendance of the weekly classes, is thus very important for
the reason of students to ask questions about the work, as they have also
watched the weekly videos on each lesson topic and worked through the
class notes.

The term dates of the University are as follows:

Term 1: 13 February – 31 March

Term 2: 11 April – 19 May

Term 3: 24 July – 4 September

Term 4: 11 September - 27 October

1.2.3 Assessments will be done mainly through written assignments, as outlined in

the semester programme below. Two class tests , two middle semester
tests, and two end of semester tests (one at the end of the first semester, and
one at the end of the second semester) will be written on campus. The
precise content and outline of this invigilated on-campus test will be
announced well in time. This test will be mainly on the lesson content of the
last two lesson topics done in the first semester, i.e. Impilo (Health) and
Evenkileni (At the shop), with some content included from th first three lesson
topicson Ukwaziswa, Ukubulisa (meeting and greeting), and Imozulu
(weather). An oral test on-campus test will be done on the lessons of Amacala
and Indlu, shortly after completion of the lesson of Indlu. Information in this
regard will be communicated early in the second semester.

1.3 Xhosa 178 is a flexible (continuous) assessment/evaluation module

The flexible evaluation/assessment system of a subject module like Xhosa 178

entails that the term ’assessment’ (not examination) is used. The assessments for
Xhosa 178 will be in the form of written assignments (4 per semester) that students
will need to submit, as outlined in the semester programme below. All these
assignments will contribute towards the semester mark and final mark (in November)
that students will obtain. There will be two semester invigilated sit-down tests on
campus. Furthermore, students’ P & P (Preparation and Participation ) to the
proportion of mark will cumulatively calculated in respect to their class attendance
participation.

1.4 Study materials for Xhosa 178

The study materials that you will use will all be posted on SUNLearn. Students can
fetch hard copies of the notes from Mrs. de Wet, the department secretary in her
office, Room 535, fifth floor, Arts and Social Sciences Building.

2.1 Xhosa 178 study notes books of lesson topics: Module 1&2 notes, Book 1
(first semester) and Book 2 (second semester, and Noun classes notes

You will find the following sets of study notes on SunLearn.

(i) IsiXhosa Modules 1 and 2. This is the set of notes from which we work in the
first three weeks of the first term (see semester programme below).

(ii) Xhosa 178 Noun classes/Naamwoordklasse. This is a set of notes from

which we will also work mostly in the first three weeks, and I will also often in
the video presentations refer to it and ask you to read it again.

(iii) Xhosa 178 Book 1 (first semester). The Book 1 contains the communication
topic lesson material that we will work from for the remainder of the first
semester after having done the lesson material in Modules 1 and 2, (i) above).

(vi) Xhosa 178 Book 2 (second semester). This book contains the study material
on the communication topics that we will work from in the second semester.

2.2 Videos giving explanations of study material

A series of videos in which I give explanations of the lesson material content in the
Modules 1 and 2 notes and in Book 1 and Book 2, as well as a video on the Xhosa
noun classes (which you can watch first) will be available for each communication
lesson topic as indicated in the Semester programme below. Watching each of these
videos at least twice, is essential for understanding the lesson material content,
since I focus in these video presentations on giving information and explanations that
are not in the study material books. While you are watching the videos, you can also
follow in your study notes/books, preferably from hard copy (printouts) made, as I
refer to specific parts in the notes, giving the page numbers. You can also practice
your pronunciation of Xhosa words and sentences as I explain them in the videos.
Each lesson topic has several videos, which you should all watch.

2.3 Computer (multimedia) lessons

You will also find on SUNLearn the links to the Xhosa computer lessons that
correspond to each of the lesson topics, as indicated in the semester programme
below for each topic. These computer lessons have the purpose of giving you
opportunity to practice your listening skills and pronunciation of the Xhosa words and
sentences that comprise the content of the respective communication lesson topics,
and also to process, internalise and reinforce the sentence structure and
grammatical elements of Xhosa expressed by the various sentences. In the
semester programme below, I will indicate in a column for each lesson topic the
corresponding computer lesson that you should work on in each specific week. You
should try to do each computer lesson at least twice.

→ PLEASE REMEMBER NOT TO CLICK ON THE’SUBMIT’ BUTTON AT THE

END OF THE COMPUTER LESSON, BECAUSE THEN IT WILL NOT BE
POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO REPEAT THE LESSON FOR SOME MORE
PRACTICE.

>>>> The computer (multimedia) lessons are important to work on every week,
together with watching the videos (uploaded on SUNLearn) and working through the
corresponding study materials but completing these computer lessons will not be
counting formally for obtaining marks.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPUTER LESSONS

The following steps can be followed to log into the computer lessons for isiXhosa
178:

1. Open your InetKey.

2. Log into your Sunlearn.
3. Open the isiXhosa Module 178.
4. On the left a list of all the isiXhosa modules will appear.
5. Click on the module that you want to do.
6. Click on the video that is listed under the module that you have chosen.
7. The video will appear on your screen.
8. Put your headphones on. Remember to set the volume on a suitable level.
9. Click on the record button and start recording your video by following the
instructions that will be given in the video.
10. After completing the recoding, click on the stop button.
11. Click on ’save’.
12. DO NOT click on ’add submission’ because then it will not be possible for you
to repeat the lesson for some more practice.
13. You can now log out.

Note: If you want to pause the video while recording, click on the ’pause’ button.
Only click on the stop button after you have completed the whole video.

3. STUDY HABITS FOR SUCCESSFUL LEARNING

(i) Regular weekly study of 3-4 days per week for 2-3 hours is essential to
understand and master the study content. In this way you will create the
opportunity to gradually process, internalize and consolidate your knowledge
and skills of isiXhosa which is important since language knowledge and skills
 gradually develops. Hence to enable yourself to do the assignments well,
regular weekly study on 3-4 days is essential.

(ii) As you work through the study materials on the content of the various
communication topic lessons, make notes of your questions and uncertainties.
You are welcome to discuss such questions and uncertainties about aspects of
the lesson content with fellow students in the WhatsApp group of the class.
(You will receive an e-mail with the e-mail distribution list of all students doing
the module, hence you can set up a WhatsApp group.) You can send your
questions to me by e-mail to which I will reply, and should you think other
students may be interested to see your question and my reply to it, you are
welcome to put it on the WhatsApp group. If, in your discussions about the
study content with other students on the WhatsApp group, there are common
questions or uncertainties about some aspect of the study content that you can
identify, the class representative (or any student) can e-mail the question to me,
to which I will give an answer that you can also put on the WhatsApp group for
all students to see. I can also explain more about such aspects of the work
about which you have questions in a follow-up video. You will quickly notice
from the videos that aspects of the Xhosa word and sentence building forms
are repeatedly explained with reference to a variety of example sentences from
the communication topic lesson.

(iii) Allow sufficient time to complete assignments: While interaction with fellow
students by e-mail or on the WhatsApp group is encouraged, also to discuss
and exchange views about the assignments that you will have to submit, it is
also important that students bear in mind that an assignment must be the
product of one’s own, independent, private effort. Thus, for example, it is fine
to discuss the meaning/translation of an English noun or verb in Xhosa, the
actual construction of the sentences of the assignments that you will write in
isiXhosa, must be the product of each student’s own, independent work. In this
regard I have trust in students’ integrity regarding submitting their own
independent work for assignments. In this regard, students should not
consider using Google translate for the purpose of writing their assignments,
for the obvious reason that this would then not be a student’s own independent
work – it would in fact, amount to plagiarism. Furthermore, the Google translate
programme is inaccurate in various respects of translation into isiXhosa. For
your learning of isiXhosa to take place effectively, the independent, private
writing of assignments is essential. Small errors of spelling and grammar are
not penalized.
4. STUDY PROGRAMME FOR FIRST SEMESTER
Week beginning Lesson topic in study Pages in study Video lectures Module Page of assignment
on notes books notes books (given by number in instruction in study
prof.Visser)to computer notes and due date
watch on lesson menu
SunLearn) ( for listening
and
pronunciation
practice)
12 February Module 1: Ukubulisa 1-16 (Module 1) Module 1, 1
(greeting) Ukubulisa, Part
1 and 2
Noun classes 1-9
19 February Module 2: Igama (name) Module 2, 2
Igama
Noun classes 1-9 (Module 1)
26 February Ikhaya (home) 29-41 Module 3 Ikhaya 2, 3 39 – 40, Book 1, Due
on 5 March
Noun classes 10-26 (Module 2)
agreement
4 March Ikhaya (home) Book 1: 75-129 Imozulu 2,3 (last part)
11 March Imozulu (weather) Book 1: 130-164 Imozulu 8, 9 (last part)
18 March Imozulu (weather) Book 1: 165-182 Imozulu 10 (last part) 164
Due on 21 March
25 March Impilo (health) Book 1: 187-209 Impilo 12
8 April Impilo (health) Book 1: 210-225 Impilo 12
15 April Impilo (health) Book 1: 226-238 Impilo 12 237-238, 259,
 Due on 21 April
22 April Evenkileni (at-the-shop) Book 1: 259-294 Evenkileni 13
29 April Evenkileni (at-the-shop) Book 1: 327-353 Evenkileni 13
8 May Evenkileni (at-the-shop) Book 1: 354-363 Evenkileni 13 358

15 May Evenkileni Book 1 ( 364 -383) Evenkileni 13 358, Due on 19 May

STUDY PROGRAMME FOR SECOND SEMESTER

Week beginning Lesson topic in study Pages in study Videos to Module Page of assignment
on notes books notes books watch (on number in instruction in study
SunLearn) computer notes and due date
lesson menu
22 July Imoto (car) Book 1: 385-400 Imoto 7 (last part)
Egaragi (at filling station) Egaragi
29 July Imoto (car) Book 1: 401-421 Imoto 7 (last part)
Egaraji (at filling station) Egaraji
5 August Imoto (car) Book 1: 422-434 Imoto 7 (last part) Book 1: 420- 421
Egaraji (at filling station) Egaraji ( tasks dialogue
instructions with
English translations
provided- change date
 of 14 August at the
top to 13 Agust)
Due date 13 August
12 August Amacala (Directions) Book 2: 1-21 Amacala 14
19 August Amacala (Directions) Book 2: 22-38 Amacala 14
26 August Amacala (Directions Book 2: 29-52 Amacala 14 Book 2: 38, 41-42
(Due date: 29 August)
2 September Indlu (House) Book 2: 53-63 Indlu 15
16 September Recess
23 September Indlu (House) Book 2: 64-75 Indlu 15
30 September Indlu (House) Book 2: 76-88 Indlu 15 # See below.
Due date 8 October
7 October Impahla (Clothes, fashion) Book 2: 189-216 Impahla 16
14 October Impahla (Clothes, fashion) Book 2: 217-234 Impahla 16
21 October Impahla (Clothes, fashion) Book 2: 235-250 Impahla 16
23 October Impahla (Clothes, fashion) Book 2: 251-274 Impahla 16 258
Due date 25 October
# Indlu assignment: Describe 4 rooms in your (dream) house - provide sketches, (cartoon
pictures) or photos freely available on the internet of the different rooms you choose to
describe.

5. ASSESSMENTS: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

5.1 The due dates for submission of each assignment are indicated in the above
semester programme.
→ Please submit assignments at the office of Mrs de Wet exactly on the due date
for submission, or one day before, in room 535, fifth floor, Arts and Social
Sciences Building.

THE WIRTTEN ASSIGNMENTS ARE ASSESSED ACCORDING TO THE

FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

I Vocabulary

0 1 2 3 4 5
minimal extensive, rich variety

II Functions/Use of Language

0 1 2 3 4 5
few many

III Accuracy in Use of Basic Structures

(i.e., subj-verb, noun-adj, agreement, basic word order, negation)

0 1 2 3 4 5
very poor, few errors,
interferes does not interfere
with communication with communication

IV Fluency

0 1 2 3
none groping, slow occasionally fluent confident, language
flows effortlessly

V Pronunciation/Intonation (in oral assessments)

0 1 2 3
no effort to use poor, greatly occasionally does not interfere
target language interferes with interferes with communication
sounds communication
VI Reaction/Appropriateness of Response

O 1 2
no reaction sometimes appropriate appropriate

VII Creativity/Recombination of Learned Material

0 1 2
no attempt some attempt frequent attempts

5.2 The assessments will all be written assignments, as indicated on the semester
programme plus one on-campus invigilated test at the end of each semester,
and an oral test in the second semester.

5.3 Calculation of final mark for Xhosa 178

As explained in Section 1 above, Xhosa 178 is a continuous, flexible year module,

hence the final mark is obtained in November. In June, a progress mark will be
obtained, calculated from the four written assignments submitted in the first
semester, each which will be of equal weighting, to the proportion of 20%, class
tests to the proportion of 20 % calculated with the two semester tests of the
proportion of 50 % , and P& P ( Preparation and in-class Participation ) mark, to the
proportion of 10 %.

This progress mark of the first semester is then calculated in a 50:50 ratio with the
mark obtained in the second semester through the four written assignments
submitted (each counting of equal weight i.e. 20%), plus the semester tests
(consisting of a written part (40 %) and an oral (10%)) to calculate the final mark
obtained for Xhosa 178).

5.4 IMPORTANT: ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE SUBMTTED ON THE DUE

DATES INDICATED IN THE SEMESTER PROGRAMME TO QUALIFY FOR
OBTAINING A FINAL MARK.

5.5 Mrs De Wet (ktdw@sun.ac.za), who is the department secretary and course
coordinator will regularly post the marks obtained by students on SunLearn.
You should look on SunLearn approximately 2 weeks after the date of
submission for every assignment to make sure that the mark obtained for an
assignment (which I return to you by e-mail after marking it) is accurately
captured on the mark list. (It is rare for an error to occur, but you should
nevertheless make sure that the mark you obtained is accurately captured and
report it to me and Mrs De Wet if you find an error.) Mrs de Wet’s

6. OUTCOMES (OBJECTIVES) / UITKOMSTE (DOELSTELLINGS)

Students will be able to demonstrate the following in the communication themes in in

the first semester on (i) greeting, introductions, asking well-being, (ii) describing
weather conditions, (iii) talking about health, (iv) health conditions, and (v) buying
groceries, and in the second semester on (i) the motor vehicle and the filling station,
(ii) directions and road directions, (iii) the home and descriptions of its contents, (iv)
the hotel and booking a room, (v) clothes and description of appearance, and (vi)
degree studies and description of subjects:
Studente sal in staat wees om die volgende vaardighede te demonstreer in die
kommunikasie-temas in die eerste semester oor (i) groet, bekendstelling, vra na
welstand, (ii) beskrywing van weersomstandighede, (iii) praat oor
gesondheidskondisies, en (v) koop van kruideniersware, en in die tweede semester
oor (i) die motor en vulstasie, (ii) rigtings en padaanwysings, (iii) die huis en
beskrywings van inhoud, (iv) die hotel en besprekings van plek, (v) klere en
beskrywing van voorkoms, en (vi) graadstudie en beskrywing van vakke:

 Listening / Luister
 Identify core vocabulary items with respect to the abovementioned topics/themes
in a variety of contexts.
Identifiseer kern woordeskat items t.o.v. die bogenoemde onderwerpe/temas in’n
verskeidenheid kontekste.
 Show comprehension of a series of two or three instructions/descriptions.
Toon begrip van’n reeks van twee of drie instruksies/beskrywings.
 Show comprehension with respect to the identification and description of people
and objects.
Toon begrip t.o.v. die identifisering en beskrywing van persone en voorwerpe.
 Listen and understand simple descriptions, operations, actions and scenes.
Luister en verstaan eenvoudige beskrywings, handelinge, aksies en tonele.
 Show listening comprehension when given oral and graphic (picture) proposals.

Toon luisterbegrip gegee mondelinge en grafiese (prent) voorstelle

 Speaking and oral interaction / Praat en mondelinge interaksie

 Name general objects. / Benoem algemene voorwerpe.
 Participate in short dialogues. / Neem deel aan kort dialoë.
 Provide simple descriptions of common objects and operations/actions.
Gee eenvoudige beskrywings van algemene voorwerpe en handelinge/aksies.
 Request goods, services and objects. / Versoek goedere, dienste en voorwerpe.
 Make statements on opinions and preferences. / Maak stellings oor opinies en
voorkeure.
 Answer questions and provide details of simple descriptions on the basis of
listening content.
Beantwoord vrae en gee besonderhede van eenvoudige beskrywings n.a.v.
luisterinhoude.
 Make enquiries and answer questions on preferences/opinions regarding self and
other people.
Doen navraag en beantwoord vrae oor voorkeure/menings van jouself en ander
persone.

 Writing / Skryf
 Write down short, familiar sentences that are dictated.
Skryf kort bekende sinne wat gedikteer word.
 Write short dialogues and paragraphs on well-known topics/themes.
Skryf kort dialoë en paragrawe oor bekende onderwerpe/temas.
 Reading / Lees
 Read short (3 to 5 sentences) paragraphs and answer yes-and-no questions and
specification questions.
Lees kort (3 tot 5 sin) paragrawe en antwoord ja-nee-vrae en spesifikasie-vrae.
 Read sentences on a variety of topics that have been mastered orally.
Lees sinne wat mondelinge bemeester is oor’n verskeidenheid onderwerpe
 Read longer, familiar texts and understand core content of paragraphs.
Lees langer bekende tekste en verstaan kern inhoud van paragrawe

Do your best, enjoy learning Xhosa 178, and take care.

Kind regards

Prof Marianna Visser

(mwv@sun.ac.za)