Go fenya dikgwetlho tsa go kwala tlhamo ya dipuo tse dintsi – Overcoming challenges of writing a multilingual essay
My experience of writing a multilingual essay mostly felt like I had bitten off way more than I can chew. While I can speak 6 South African Languages, I am only able to read and write 3 in the most basic/beginners’ level. Being tasked with writing a multilingual essay, the first thing that I noticed […]
Ukuqalela ngokutsha: Starting Over with Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education
On 12 March 2026, the Western Cape branch of the Literacy Association of South Africa (LITASA) held its Annual General Meeting, featuring a panel discussion that felt, for many in the room, like a long-awaited turning point. Titled Ukuqalela ngokutsha (starting over), the discussion centred on the implementation of mother tongue-based bilingual education (MTbBE) in […]
How Do You Celebrate International Mother Language Day? Come to Langa
When people ask me how International Mother Language Day should be observed, I now have an answer: come to Langa. This year, the Ibuyambo Book Festival happened on the same weekend as International Mother Language Day, and without overplanning it, we found ourselves embodying exactly what the day calls us to do. Imagine walking into […]
Multilingual Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4-6 Terminology List
The National Language Services (NLS) of the Department of Arts and Culture produced a multilingual terminology list containing the source language terms in English with equivalents in the other four official target languages. The following languages are included in the list: Sesotho, Sepedi, Setswana, Afrikaans and English. Click here to access the list.
Multilingual Mathematics Dictionary Grade R-6
The Terminology Coordination Section’s (TCSs) primary focus with the school projects is the documentation of existing terminology, and facilitation of the development of terminology in the African languages for new concepts that appear in the teaching materials for Grades 1 to 6. The following languages are included in the dictionary: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Siswati […]
Multilingual Arts and Culture Intermediate Phase Terminology List
The Arts and Culture Intermediate Phase project was initiated by the National Language Service (NLS). The terms were excerpted from a combination of Arts and Culture Learner’s Books, Teacher’s Guides & Manuals, Arts and Culture journals and magazines, etc. The list currently comprises 550 terms. The concepts are presented in 11 official languages of South Africa. […]
Multilingual Life Orientation Intermediate Phase Terminology List
The Life Orientation Intermediate Phase project was initiated by the National Language Service (NLS). The terms were excerpted from a combination of Life Orientation Learner’s Books, Teacher’s Guides & Manuals, etc. The list currently comprises about 1079 terms. The terms are available in 11 of the official languages of South Africa. Click here to access […]
Multilingual Resource List
Click here to access a list of multilingual materials and resources about multilingual education in South Africa curated by the bua-lit team.
Open letter to Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube on MTBBE
The bua-lit collective and its affiliates have written to the Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube highlighting the importance of Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education. The letter urges the Minister to ensure Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education is a core priority of the Department of Basic Education. Read the letter, published by the Daily Maverick, here.
Halala Dr Molate! Celebrating isiXhosa, siSwati and translanguaging in PhD graduations
At the UCT Spring graduation ceremony of 10 September, we celebrated not only the awarding of her doctorate to our bua-lit collective member, Dr Babalwayashe Molate, but also the oration of both her and Dr Msakha Mona’s PhD titles in isiXhosa, siSwati and translanguaging. Dr Xolisa Guzula (our current chairperson of bua-lit, and also a […]
