Using research to enable teachers in the foundation phase to understand why their learners could struggle to develop home language abilities

Abstract

Home language abilities are important upon entering school, when children learn now concepts and skills such as reading, writing and mathematics. The home language also lays the foundation for the development of a second language. In terms of the Constitution of
the Republic of South Africa, the use of the 11 official languages of South Africa has to be advanced and thus the right to be taught in one’s home language from Grade R to Grade 3 is protected in the South African policies. The author opines that children’s home languages are not always developed correctly and according to the standardised form of the various home languages. The importance of home language development will be discussed in this article and also the factors to be found in the home environment and in the school situation that could hinder and delay home language development.

Keywords: home environment, home language, home language development, parents’ influence, school environment, standardised  form of a language, teachers.