isiXhosa FAL – changing the narrative

I fell in love with isiXhosa after taking it as an FAL in Grade 8. Everyone thought I was mad when I decided to take it because there was and there continues to be a huge misconception that it is simply impossible for a white person to study it and pass. My thoughts were always, “what is this difficulty relative to?” Is it any harder than taking physics? Or maths? Although taking it was a big challenge at the start, (as is learning any foreign language) isiXhosa was especially challenging at the start for me as I had no prior foundation, unlike what I had had with Afrikaans. However, the rewards of learning isiXhosa certainly outweighed the challenge.

Learning isiXhosa is not just learning the language, it is also learning about a different culture, one that was very different from my own. For me, the most rewarding aspect of learning isiXhosa was the simple power to even just greet someone in their own language. To see someone’s face light up when they see the effort you make to learn their language is a satisfaction that is hard to describe. While this is undoubtedly a great feeling, it is equally sad that it is such a shock that it is a white person who is making the effort. This is something I hope that people will realise, and look past their preconceptions to change the narrative about isiXhosa as it is not that difficult to learn.

Enkosi kakhulu titshalakazi Ndlebe!

Written by Grace McKinnell, St Cyprian’s School, Matric 2023

Please follow and like us: