Research Articles (DLLS)

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Browsing Research Articles (DLLS) by Author "Smit, Talita C."

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    Academic literacy: What's in a name?
    (Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2008) Smit, Talita C.
    An alarming number of scholars have discussed Southern African students’ low proficiency in academic literacy on entering tertiary institutions. This article will take an in-depth look into the current interpretation of what constitutes academic literacy. It will, furthermore, look at the relationship between critical thinking and autonomy in learning. The changing profile of Namibian university students, their ethnic, social and academic identities and the marked influence this has on designing courses to integrate them into a predominantly Western academic culture will be discussed. The focus will be on the Namibian students’ need for direction and support in developing proficiency in critical literacy. Suggestions on how English for Intellectual Purposes can support courses in English for Academic Purposes will be given. Further research into the specific needs and strengths of first generation students is, however, necessary. In the course of lecturing university students in Namibia, I have increasingly become aware that no matter what method of instruction is followed, students still seem to be bewildered at the end of a semester course in English for Academic Purposes (hereafter EAP), offered as an introduction to their academic studies. Conversations with lecturers from other faculties also indicate that students do not seem to gain much from EAP courses. Otaala (2005) has found that most of those students who participated in a survey indicated that they did not experience lasting gains in academic proficiency even after attending courses to develop literacy skills. On the other hand, there appears to be constant upgrading and redefining of EAP course material in an attempt to satisfy the students’ academic needs. Artificially loading courses and extending their duration, however, seem to be contra-productive. An innovative approach towards academic literacy is needed if students should derive lasting benefits; however, some of the qualities in the successful student profile, such as the development of critical thinking skills and self-reliance, defy easy reduction to attainable course goals and would be difficult to quantify within an assessed syllabus. This is not to say that such a syllabus cannot be divised, but only that it might not be possible to subject it to the same constraints and objectives (Sowden, 2003) set for existing EAP courses. Language courses which aim to promote learner autonomy need to incorporate means of transferring responsibility for aspects of the language that the learners process (such as setting goals, setting learning strategies and evaluating progress) from the teacher to the learner (Cotterall, 2000). However, before an informed solution to the current dilemma in EAP skills teaching can be suggested, it is necessary to consider the term literacy in depth.
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    Language identity of first-generation students entering higher education in Namibia and its impact on learning
    (Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2011) Smit, Talita C.
    In Namibia, the accent of Higher Education is increasingly moving towards the provision of access opportunities to previously disadvantaged students. Most students, currently entering Higher Education at the University of Namibia, are First-Generation students whose parents did not participate in tertiary education. First-Generation entry has been investigated to some extent in First World countries; however, there does not appear to be relevant research done on First-Generation entrants in the Namibian context. Although experience indicates that the general profile of Namibian First-Generation entrants corresponds with those studied internationally, there are marked differences in their demographic identities. It is thus necessary to look at a group of First-Generation students at the University of Namibia who have achieved the prescribed entry requirements to enter Higher Education, but whose low marks in English Second Language disqualify them from entering degree programmes. Their lack of academic English skills is often regarded as their only problem and hardly any effort is made to investigate their personal strengths or to assist them with developing critical literacy skills. This article will discuss the language identity of these First-Generation entrants as English Second Language speakers and the impact it has on the acquisition of those academic and critical thinking skills necessary for successful tertiary study.