FAQs

FAQ's
 

Q: I want to learn an African Language. Which one should I choose?

A: Which language you choose depends mainly on where you plan to live or work after completing your studies. Zulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa and it is used as a lingua franca (a common language used by speakers of different languages) throughout southern Africa. Zulu is also the language spoken by the largest number of people in the Gauteng province and is one of the official languages of this province, as well as of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (Pretoria). Sepedi (Northern Sotho) is the dominant language in the Limpopo province and you will also be able to use it in the North West province. In addition, Sepedi is one of the major languages spoken in Pretoria and is one of the official languages of communication of UP. Sepedi and Setswana are closely related languages. Setswana is mainly spoken in the Northwest province and also in Botswana and parts of Namibia. It also has a strong presence in Pretoria, Soshanguve and Hammanskraal. 

Q: Which of the African languages is the easiest?

A: They are all equally difficult, but fun to learn!

 

Q: After completing the beginners' modules (SEP 110, STW 110 and ZUL 110), will I be able to speak the language?

A: You will be able to conduct a simple basic conversation: greeting, asking for personal details, making simple sentences in the present, past and future tenses, asking basic questions, etc. You will also be equipped with the basic tools that will enable you to improve your language abilities on your own, even after you have completed the course. How well you speak the language in the end will depend on how regularly you use it!

Q: My home language is Zulu. Does the Department make provision for students who are mother-tongue speakers of Zulu?

A: Yes. The only modules that mother-tongue speakers are not allowed to register for are some of the beginners' modules. If you are a mother-tongue speaker of Zulu or passed it as first or second language in Grade 12, you can register for the beginners' modules in Northern Sotho (Sepedi) or Setswana, but not for the beginners' modules in Zulu. Also, you may not take both Zulu and Ndebele together for degree purposes.

Q: My home language is Northern Sotho (Sepedi). Does the Department make provision for students who are mother-tongue speakers of Northern Sotho?

A: Yes. The only modules that mother-tongue speakers are not allowed to register for are some of the beginners' modules. If you are a mother tongue speaker of Northern Sotho or passed it as first or second language in Grade 12, you can register for the beginners' modules in Zulu, but not for the beginners' modules in Northern Sotho or Setswana. Also, you may not take Northern Sotho (Sepedi) and Setswana together for degree purposes.

Q: My home language is Setswana. Does the Department make provision for students who are mother-tongue speakers of Setswana?

A: Yes. The only modules that mother-tongue speakers are not allowed to register for are some of the beginners' modules. If you are a mother tongue speaker of Setswana or passed it as first or second language in Grade 12, you can register for the beginners' modules in Zulu, but not for the beginners' modules in Setswana or Northern Sotho (Sepedi). Also, you may not take Northern Sotho (Sepedi) and Setswana together for degree purposes.

Q: My home language is Ndebele. Does the Department make provision for students who are mother-tongue speakers of Ndebele?

A: Yes. The only modules that mother-tongue speakers are not allowed to register for are some of the beginners' modules. If you are a mother-tongue speaker of Ndebele or passed it as first or second language in Grade 12, you can register for any of the modules in Ndebele, or for the beginners' modules in Sepedi or Setswana. You are however not allowed to register for the beginners' modules in Zulu. Also, you may not take both Ndebele and Zulu together for degree purposes.