AFL1501 STUDY GUIDE.
,Module Overview -- Getting started
0.1 Welcome to the module
Welcome to the module, Language through
an African lens
Welcome to AFL1501: Language through an African lens. In this module, we look at the
process of language learning and use from an African languages perspective.
This module is a signature module. It is set on NQF level 5 for 12 credits in the field of
Communication studies and language within the sub-field of Language.
It is useful to those of you who need to develop competencies in interacting successfully in
a multi-cultural society. These competencies include the ability to demonstrate sensitivity to
your own language usage and that of others and interact across cultures with knowledge and
respect. It enables you to understand the culturally diverse South African society better, and
empowers you through this understanding to contribute to reconciliation and to improving
interpersonal relations in the country. The purpose is to improve your knowledge of each
other in pursuit of creative co-existence, effective cross-cultural communication and nation-
building.
On completion of this module you should be able to demonstrate linguistic and cultural
diversity awareness and sensitivity in order to enhance personal relations in day-to-day
situations. You should be able to interact across cultures in a respectful way while
appreciating your own linguistic and cultural background in relation to the languages and
cultures of others.
There are no prescribed works for this module. You should feel free to read and use the
resources referred to. The myUnisa website is of fundamental value for this module. You
need to visit this site for AFL1501 frequently -- try to come online at least once a week.
You will need to participate in the discussions that may arise and get the necessary
feedback from the lecturers on topics such as online activities, assignments, discussion
forums and the final portfolio project. All of these will be explained in the next sections.
We wish you success on your journey!
,0.2 Module Information
How this module is organized
This module will be useful to students who want to develop competencies in interacting
successfully in a multi-cultural society. These competencies include the ability to
demonstrate sensitivity to one's own language usage and that of others. It also helps us to
interact across cultures with knowledge and respect. For this reason, many students who are
majoring in subjects like Psychology, Criminology, Sociology, Health Sciences,
Communications, Social Work, Political Science often take this module. And, of course,
many students who study languages will take this module.
Listen to the audio clip which gives you an overview of the module [You can also
download and listen to the audio later by clicking on the link "here" underneath the media
graphic]:
Click here to download the audio file
By exploring some of the languages spoken in the country (as well as their associated
folklore, popular culture, modern spoken idiom and literature), our method is to gain access
to beliefs, customs, values, interpersonal attitudes and perceptions. These are then
connected to a number of central concepts in the typical life-world of South Africans which
are often cause for misunderstanding. These central concepts are the basis for the Units in
this module:
Unit 1: Language as a process
Unit 2: How language signifies attitudes and world-view
Unit 3: Language and identity
Unit 4: Language and interpersonal interaction
Unit 5: Ubuntu - Self and Other
Purpose of this module
Students who successfully complete this module will be able to demonstrate linguistic and
cultural diversity awareness and sensitivity in order to enhance their interpersonal
, relationships in day-to-day situations. In addition, successful students will be able to
interact across cultures in a respectful way while appreciating their own linguistic and
cultural background in relation to the languages and cultures of others.
The module is delivered via myUnisa, the Internet, peer group interaction, and community
engagement in some of the activities. Lecturers and teaching assistance will interact with
students on myUnisa and via email.
Outcomes of the module
For this module, there are four outcomes that we hope you will be able to accomplish by the
end of the course:
Specific outcome 1: Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity of linguistic and cultural
diversity in order to enhance personal relations in day-to-day situations.
Specific outcome 2: Demonstrate respect for diversity within a multi-cultural society as
expressed through language.
Specific outcome 3: Interact across cultures in a respectful way.
Specific outcome 4: Appreciate own cultural background in relation to the cultures of
others within a multi-cultural society.
0.3 Studying this module online
How to study this module online
At the time of registration, you received a tutorial letter 101 in print hard copy. (It is usually
also available on myUnisa, under Additional Resources if you want to read it online.) This
is the only tutorial letter that you will receive in the post, regarding this module. All of the
rest of your study materials and activities will take place online, with myUnisa, email and
the internet.
This module will only be offered online. This means that there are some changes in the way
we teach, and some changes in the way you will learn. In this section, we will start to
explain some of these differences.
Overview of the online tools
,Module Overview -- Getting started
0.1 Welcome to the module
Welcome to the module, Language through
an African lens
Welcome to AFL1501: Language through an African lens. In this module, we look at the
process of language learning and use from an African languages perspective.
This module is a signature module. It is set on NQF level 5 for 12 credits in the field of
Communication studies and language within the sub-field of Language.
It is useful to those of you who need to develop competencies in interacting successfully in
a multi-cultural society. These competencies include the ability to demonstrate sensitivity to
your own language usage and that of others and interact across cultures with knowledge and
respect. It enables you to understand the culturally diverse South African society better, and
empowers you through this understanding to contribute to reconciliation and to improving
interpersonal relations in the country. The purpose is to improve your knowledge of each
other in pursuit of creative co-existence, effective cross-cultural communication and nation-
building.
On completion of this module you should be able to demonstrate linguistic and cultural
diversity awareness and sensitivity in order to enhance personal relations in day-to-day
situations. You should be able to interact across cultures in a respectful way while
appreciating your own linguistic and cultural background in relation to the languages and
cultures of others.
There are no prescribed works for this module. You should feel free to read and use the
resources referred to. The myUnisa website is of fundamental value for this module. You
need to visit this site for AFL1501 frequently -- try to come online at least once a week.
You will need to participate in the discussions that may arise and get the necessary
feedback from the lecturers on topics such as online activities, assignments, discussion
forums and the final portfolio project. All of these will be explained in the next sections.
We wish you success on your journey!
,0.2 Module Information
How this module is organized
This module will be useful to students who want to develop competencies in interacting
successfully in a multi-cultural society. These competencies include the ability to
demonstrate sensitivity to one's own language usage and that of others. It also helps us to
interact across cultures with knowledge and respect. For this reason, many students who are
majoring in subjects like Psychology, Criminology, Sociology, Health Sciences,
Communications, Social Work, Political Science often take this module. And, of course,
many students who study languages will take this module.
Listen to the audio clip which gives you an overview of the module [You can also
download and listen to the audio later by clicking on the link "here" underneath the media
graphic]:
Click here to download the audio file
By exploring some of the languages spoken in the country (as well as their associated
folklore, popular culture, modern spoken idiom and literature), our method is to gain access
to beliefs, customs, values, interpersonal attitudes and perceptions. These are then
connected to a number of central concepts in the typical life-world of South Africans which
are often cause for misunderstanding. These central concepts are the basis for the Units in
this module:
Unit 1: Language as a process
Unit 2: How language signifies attitudes and world-view
Unit 3: Language and identity
Unit 4: Language and interpersonal interaction
Unit 5: Ubuntu - Self and Other
Purpose of this module
Students who successfully complete this module will be able to demonstrate linguistic and
cultural diversity awareness and sensitivity in order to enhance their interpersonal
, relationships in day-to-day situations. In addition, successful students will be able to
interact across cultures in a respectful way while appreciating their own linguistic and
cultural background in relation to the languages and cultures of others.
The module is delivered via myUnisa, the Internet, peer group interaction, and community
engagement in some of the activities. Lecturers and teaching assistance will interact with
students on myUnisa and via email.
Outcomes of the module
For this module, there are four outcomes that we hope you will be able to accomplish by the
end of the course:
Specific outcome 1: Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity of linguistic and cultural
diversity in order to enhance personal relations in day-to-day situations.
Specific outcome 2: Demonstrate respect for diversity within a multi-cultural society as
expressed through language.
Specific outcome 3: Interact across cultures in a respectful way.
Specific outcome 4: Appreciate own cultural background in relation to the cultures of
others within a multi-cultural society.
0.3 Studying this module online
How to study this module online
At the time of registration, you received a tutorial letter 101 in print hard copy. (It is usually
also available on myUnisa, under Additional Resources if you want to read it online.) This
is the only tutorial letter that you will receive in the post, regarding this module. All of the
rest of your study materials and activities will take place online, with myUnisa, email and
the internet.
This module will only be offered online. This means that there are some changes in the way
we teach, and some changes in the way you will learn. In this section, we will start to
explain some of these differences.
Overview of the online tools
