Retired principal launches book to help improve English skills
The shocking results of an international study on the English reading skills of South African learners, prompted a retired principal to publish a book to help improve the English skills of readers.
P G (Pat) Naidoo, former principal and senior English educator of Silver Heights Secondary School, recently launched the book at the Maritzburg Golf Club. The launch was attended by family, friends and prospective buyers.
According to the Progress in International Reading Study, which was conducted in 2016, South Africa's grade 4 and 5 learners achieved the lowest mean scores compared to other countries in the world.
Naidoo said that he decided to pen the book because of the dearth of knowledge in schools.
“I was galvanised into action in 2016 by the shocking newspaper reports on literacy in South Africa. These reports were based on the results of The Progress in International Reading Study, an international study of reading literacy which is conducted every five years. It targets grade 4 because it is premised on the idea that a child who is functionally illiterate at age 9 will remain so in the future,” said Naidoo.
He added that the findings were shocking.
“The findings showed that South Africa’s grade 4 and 5 learners achieved the lowest mean scores compared to other participating countries. I then looked at the Senior Certificate Examiners reports for English. What struck me immediately was the similarity of the reports to the ones that I read when I was teaching senior English, 45 years ago,” he said.
Naidoo said that his book is designed to develop the skills of learners. “It is intended to assist during this time of crisis in education and to develop their skills. It uses a genre or text-based approach to develop these skills, which is basically the same approach of the CAPS curriculum used in schools today,” said Naidoo.
He added that the target audience for the book is anyone who is willing to improve their skills of the English language.
“The book aims to make people proficient in the English language. When we say that someone is proficient in a language, we mean that they have a high level in all skills. In the book, I refer to English language learners, so our target group is all those who wish to improve their command of the English language - whether they are still studying or working,” said Naidoo.
He said that the book aims to help people upgrade their skills.
“My belief accords with international practices in teaching and learning English. Readers of the book will improve their proficiency in English by developing their critical thinking skills, learning how to think logically and boosting their general knowledge and vocabulary,” said Naidoo.
The book consists of 126 lessons and is composed of three units.
Naidoo added that the book has a variety of uses. “The book can be used in classrooms and parts of it can be used in different courses. It can also be used when you are writing an essay,” he said.
Naidoo said that the book is a tool to help people understand and become proficient in English.
The book retails for R280.00 and can be bought via Naidoo. He can be contacted on 084 255 8378 or 079 516 9892.