South Africa Grade 8 First Additional Language (FAL)

This course focuses on developing learners' proficiency in a language they are learning in addition to their home language. The curriculum aims to equip learners with the necessary skills to use the language effectively for communication, learning, and personal growth. The curriculum is text-based, communicative, integrated, and process-oriented.

Curriculum Aims

The South African curriculum aims to develop learners who are able to:

• Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking.
• Work effectively individually and in teams.
• Organize and manage themselves responsibly.
• Collect, analyze, and evaluate information.
• Communicate effectively using visual, symbolic, and language skills.
• Use science and technology responsibly.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems.

Language Skills

The FAL curriculum focuses on the following four interconnected skills:

• Listening and Speaking: Learners develop skills in understanding and interpreting spoken language, engaging in conversations, giving presentations, and participating in debates. They learn strategies for active listening, critical analysis, and effective communication.
• Reading and Viewing: Learners develop proficiency in reading and viewing various literary and non-literary texts, including visual texts. They learn to analyze genre, register, and purpose, and to become critical and creative thinkers.
• Writing and Presenting: Learners develop writing skills across diverse contexts and tasks. They learn the writing process, including planning, drafting, revising, and editing, and produce various text types, such as essays, letters, reports, and creative writing.
• Language Structures and Conventions: Learners develop knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation. They learn to use language accurately and effectively, and develop critical language awareness.

Learning and Teaching Support Materials

Learners should have access to:

• Prescribed language textbook (Teacher's Guide and Learner's Book)
• Novels, short stories, folklore, drama, and poetry
• Dictionary
• Media materials (newspapers, magazines, radio and television programs)

Teachers should have access to:

• Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS)
• Language in Education Policy
• Prescribed language textbook and other relevant textbooks
• Dictionaries (monolingual, bilingual, multilingual, thesaurus)
• Prescribed literature genres
• Variety of media materials
• Audio/visual aids
• Other media resources

Assessment

Assessment is continuous and includes both informal (Assessment for Learning) and formal (Assessment of Learning) methods. Regular feedback is provided to learners. Formal assessment tasks may include tests, examinations, practical tasks, projects, oral presentations, and written tasks.

Time Allocation

The recommended time allocation for First Additional Language in the Senior Phase is four hours per week. The content is taught within a two-week cycle.

This information is based on the available search results and the provided CAPS document. It is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the South Africa Grade 8 First Additional Language curriculum.