DIPLIMA IN GRADE R TEACHING

ASSIGNMENT 2: 2 APRIL 2024

THIS ASSESSMENT COVERS UNITS 3 & 4

MODULE NAME INTRODUCTION TO THE LANGUAGE AND

LITERACY LANDSCAPE IN GRADE R
MODULE CODE R-LLL 120
NQF LEVEL 5
EXAMINER MR B. AKONTOH
INTERNAL MODERATOR MS M. BARBERIS
ACADEMIC HEAD MR H. KRUGER
TOTAL MARKS 100

PURPOSE: The purpose of this PDF is to do preliminary work on your assessment in

preparation for online submission.

INSTRUCTIONS:
a) Read each question carefully and look at the mark allocation to guide your
response.
b) Answer all questions in English, except for the language modules. The
language to use when answering the questions for the language modules
will be stated in the front matter, e.g., answer in
ASSESSMENT PAPER

Afrikaans/isiXhosa/isiZulu/Sepedi/Setswana.
c) Attempt to complete all questions. Do not leave questions unanswered.
d) All submitted answers must be written in your own words. Evidence of
plagiarism and improper paraphrasing will be further investigated.
e) Using artificial intelligence (such as ChatGPT) to produce content and
images and then represent these as your own work is considered a
severe irregularity that will be penalised accordingly.
f) Include in-text references where applicable (including referring to the
CLG), as you will have to declare your sources at the end of the paper. The
list must be made in accordance with the Harvard-style Referencing Guide
employed by SANTS.
g) Refer to the Student Orientation Booklet on MySANTS regarding the
information on referencing and plagiarism.
a) Use a separate document to draft your rough answers.
b) Hereafter, copy your answers to the platform using Google Chrome or
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Firefox as your web browser.

c) Carefully check each response before submitting any assessment, saving
as you complete each question.
d) Please note that online submissions should be conducted through your
laptop computer, desktop computer, or tablet. If possible, avoid the use of
your cell phone.
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 e) Please take note that only one submission per student will be allowed.
a) Should you experience any challenges, notify SANTS immediately.
b) You can also consult your MySANTS Student Manual and the SMS you
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were sent linking to the Guide on how to complete an Assignment:

https://lms.sants.co.za/Files/Students.pdf.
c) Login to MySANTS, select Enquiry and then insert your query to receive
support.
d) Support is ONLY available from 8:00 to 16:00 on weekdays.

QUESTION 1 24

Before answering the questions below, read Unit 3, Section 1, ‘Theoretical perspectives
of language acquisition’ in your R-LLL 120 Curriculum and Learning Guide (CLG) and
then answer the questions that follow using your own words.

1.1 Discuss the Behaviourist view (perspective) on how humans acquire the ability to
use language in one paragraph. Include three key ideas related to this theory (6
marks) and refer to both classical and operant conditioning (4 marks). (10)

1.2 Explain two key points of Chomsky’s Theory of Universal Grammar (4 marks)
using your own words. Discuss Chomsky’s criticism of Skinner’s Behaviourist
perspective (4 marks) and indicate whether or not you agree with Chomsky’s view
by providing a relevant reason (2 marks). Note that you will be penalised if you
copy directly from any source. (10)

1.3 Drawing from what you have learnt in this section, suggest two ways in which you
as the teacher can help young learners further develop their primary language
skills (listening and speaking) at school by providing practical examples that you
would implement during a lesson. (4)

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 QUESTION 2 21

Before answering the questions below, read Unit 3, Section 2, ‘Perspectives of literacy
teaching and learning’ in your R-LLL 120 Curriculum and Learning Guide (CLG) and then
answer the questions that follow using your own words.

2.1 Cindy has recently begun to teach her Grade 1 class reading and writing
instruction, which focuses on improving the reading and writing skills of learners.
She has started teaching phonics and wants her learners to eventually gain
meaning from texts but is unsure of the best approach to use. She has come to
ask you for advice on how to go about it. Address the following in your response:

• Explain what the skills-based approach means using your own words (1 mark).
• Describe the steps that she can implement to teach literacy based on the bottom-
up model using the skills-based approach (10 marks).
• Also, include one associated class activity that she could do with her learners at
each step ( 5 marks).
• You will be penalised if you copy directly from any source. (16)

2.2 Drawing on Steven Pinker’s (1994) view regarding the importance of language
knowledge, indicate whether you agree or disagree with this view (1 mark).
Provide your own view on whether it is more difficult to teach a young learner to
read and write than it is to teach them to speak and listen (4 marks). Pinker’s
statements can be found on page 66 of your CLG. (5)

QUESTION 3 29

Before answering the questions below, read Unit 4, Section 1, ‘The importance of
planning a language and literacy programme in the Grade R’ in your R-LLL 120
Curriculum and Learning Guide (CLG) and then answer the questions that follow using
your own words.

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3.1 Daily planning promotes stimulating interactions between the teacher and the
learners while accommodating different learning preferences. It allows for the use
of a variety of instructional approaches in the Grade R (Akontoh, 2022). Based on
this statement, describe how you would plan for the lessons you intend to teach
by mentioning three key factors that you would consider during the planning phase
of the lesson. (6)

3.2 Progression means that a learner advances satisfactorily and smoothly from one
academic point to another as development takes place. Explain the aim of
progression (2 marks) and mention three ways that you would try to ensure that
all learners in your classroom will meet the required standards to progress at the
end of the year (6 marks). (Consider the factors used to measure progression in
your response). (8)

3.3 You have been asked to speak to parents and caregivers at a meeting. You must
explain to them what it means to assess (3 marks) as well as the distinction
between assessment of learning (4 marks) and assessment for learning (4
marks). You must also give an example of each type of assessment. (2 marks).
Conclude your presentation with a comment about the importance of assessment
(2 marks). (15)

QUESTION 4 26

Before answering the questions below, read Unit 4, Section 2, ‘Levels of planning’, and
Section 3, ‘Planning for integration’ in your R-LLL 120 Curriculum and Learning Guide
(CLG) and then answer the questions that follow using your own words.

4.1 You have decided to conduct a puppet show in order to introduce learners to the
topic of listening and speaking. Create a narrative text in which you describe the
four main phases that will take place when you are going to teach the lesson. Use
the outline for a lesson plan as provided on pages 88 and 89 of the CLG then

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 determine the phases from this template (4 marks) and then highlight two key
points for each phase (8 marks). (12)

4.2 The illustration below suggests how the four major language skills are taught
interdependently (integrated) during a lesson. Evaluate the image below and explain
your own understanding of the term interdependently (2 marks) and how teachers should
approach teaching language and literacy skills in the classroom based on this illustration
(4 marks). (6)

ABAQ AL-ILM International School (2021)

4.3 Using the following poem, describe what you would have the learners do so that
multiple basic communicative skills are integrated during a single lesson. (8)

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Watts, M. (1957). A Little Seed

TOTAL: 100