Learner Support Enterprises

08/08/2026

Reading with comprehension

I have been around the block a few times (metaphorically) and yet it still astounds me that in most educational programs with regard to reading...the research shows today's young school going learners read without comprehension.

Surely the flaw is that when teaching the young learner to read it is imperative to teach the phonetics of a word. In so doing one is using the auditory modality together with the visual modality. Following phonetics comes the visual modality where a diagram or illustration is associated with the word presented. I recall in the 1960's and early 70's that young children had "rag books". A parent would show the picture of a tricycle and then say the word pronouncing every syllable. The toddler would then connect the word to the context by identifying his/her tricycle with the word and consolidation would be fostered by the mother repeating the word "tricycle" when the child climbed onto the three wheeler.

What do I deduct from this? The lack of time that parents of very young children spend training the remarkable plasticity of the young brain. If you spend the TIME with your young toddler you will save the MONEY of having to pay people like me (further down the line) who are professional learner support educators.

The old adage "bend the tree while it is young" still holds true. Babies in prams who are given cellphones to distract them are at a distinct disadvantage. Observation and engagement are powerhouses of learning.

17/06/2026

Accredited as an Educational Practitioner for Dyslexia

Nicolette, as a mutual close friend said yesterday, was "indestructible". She was fun-loving, robust in body and character. I later found out she had Greek ancestry. This came to light as she loved to host dinners and impromptu get-togethers. Her culinary skills were not to be outdone by her creativity (fine art) and her dedication as a teacher for almost 30 years.

She became my neighbour when she moved into my complex almost 15 years ago. We shared the same dedication to our respective feline pets, our love of the bouzouki in Greek music and our Christian faith. We were not similar in personality yet our interests intersected in several areas stemming initially from mutual friends. Our friendship grew as we became constant neighbours and Friday afternoon "wind-down" companions.

In 2024 Nicolette embarked on a certification course in the study and research of Dyslexia. She envisaged using it to supplement her remedial interest and application in educating children with this learning challenge. It was a courageous and challenging undertaking that she did with aplomb part time while simultaneously teaching full time. In December last year Nicolette passed her Dyslexia certification course with distinction. I witnessed her determination, her hard work and dedication throughout the two years. At the beginning of this year she was poised to apply all that she had learned for the benefit of children who suffered from this learning challenge.

She fell ill and suffered health setbacks. On June 16th 2026 Nicolette passed away. Her courage and doggedness in seeking medical help a tribute to who she was.

My tribute to this woman is to acknowledge that she tackled life head on and fostered friendships with people of all walks of life without expecting anything but their friendship in return. Avtio Nicolette until we meet again.

20/05/2026

Learners resist poetry.

In my 18 years of teaching poetry both in English and Afrikaans the resistance to poetry has escalated.

When I ask my students why they find analyzing poetry difficult their inevitable answer is"It's hard". If the focus is to garner marks poetry may well be challenging.

Poetry requires that one picks up on the thread of the poem, the sublimal message conveyed by words. The words are placed in such a way that the context is derived by knowing and understanding social and psychological constructs such as nostalgia, loneliness, love, etc. All that appertains to the human condition.

Poetry is a form of evangelism in the sense that the "fire" is caught (from the teacher) not taught. In plain language if the teacher is inspired by the poem then the likelihood that some learner' interest will be piqued.

To some very real extent the love of poetry depends on how well it is taught by a teacher who understands and loves poetry.

13/05/2026

Afrikaans FAL

I have been tutoring Afrikaans to school-going children for 18 years. Both as a locum teacher as well as a private tutor.

Every 5 years the setwork (voorgeskrewe boek) was changed. This trend has altered. Now almost every year the GDE changes the Afrikaans setwork for matrics.

In matric this year in state schools "Fiela se Kind" is the prescribed novel written by Dalene Matthee. This novel touches many themes prevalent in South Africa ...when it was written in 1985 and still today.

Sadly my current learners who are of the same ethnicity as the author herself are reluctant to read it. The learners find no joy in the underlining emphasis of an individual versus the State which is what their forefathers experienced firsthand.

As Dr Seuss writes: The more you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you will go.

Call now to connect with business.

08/05/2026

Recently on RSG program: Taalkunde

Afrikaans is a language that is both phonetic and strong on literal, visual impact.

In a recent comprehension (begripstoets) the word: "paddavoete" (by deconstructing the composite word, "paddavoete") translated into English is "fins".

To give context: the phrase in the comprehension read: "snorkel en paddavoete" meaning snorkel and fins. The literal translation would read: "snorkel and frog feet". "Paddavoete are literally translated as frog feet" hence the proper translation into English, "fins". (The foot equipment used for diving into the sea).

Another word in Afrikaans that evokes visual imagery in its literal English translation is the word, "spookasem" literally translated into English is "ghost breath". The proper English translation is "candyfloss".

To all my Afrikaans students I reiterate that Afrikaans is a graphic language, rich in visual imagery and the spelling and speaking of it phonetic. It stirs the imagination and affords one the privilege of a First Additional Language that ensures the maintaining of one's overall aggregate especially for matric purposes.

10/09/2024

U3A speaker Becky Tobias - St Mary's for Girls and Jeppe Girl's High

I was invited to attend a talk by Becky Tobias, former headmistress of Jeppe High School for Girls, whose topic revolved around the two oldest schools for Girls in Johannesburg viz St Mary's and the aforementioned Jeppe Girls High.

Mrs Tobias furnished an informative and in-depth visual presentation of both schools. The way in which she portrayed the schools from their earliest years lifted the shroud of memories with which many of those seated in the hall of the Randjes Estate could identify.

As a current teacher myself I was intrigued by the challenges of the time. This included: during the Second World War when funding was at a all-time low, the moral and economic climate during The Great Depression as it affected South Africa and the issue of separating girl schooling from a previously co-educational system.

The presentation unfolded the many trials and tribulations of both Jeppe Girls High and St Mary's for Girls along the way. For example the demographics of the country especially from the 1950's through to the 1990's. Such issues prevailed upon the fortitude and ingenuity of the headmistress' who were undoubtedly women with purpose and vision often having to deal with gender bias.

In comparison the modern version of these two schools in Johannesburg both face no less complexity as demographics and economic forces play a pivotal role in shaping the profile of these two schools and the nature of student enrolments.

The interest groups formed in both schools proved to be additional "adornments" to the fastidious academic pursuit expected of their pupils by each and all the headmistresses that took over the baton of leadership.

Two of my close friends are both products of the schools respectively. Diane from Jeppe Girls High in the 1970's and Penny from St Mary's in the 1980's. They both have elements of being women of autonomy and leadership. As I listened intently to Becky Tobias regale us with facts and anecdotes of both schools I proudly thought of both them.

Birds of a feather do flock together.

27/08/2024

Afrikaans Setwork Grade 11 and 12 Read to Understand

Most of the students that I tutor fail to read and understand their Afrikaans setwork.

Reading in a foreign language can prove challenging. If you lack vocabulary and you have not had any phonetic training the task of reading in a foreign language gets increasingly more difficult.

Reading requires dedicated concentration and focus. It also requires the ability to understand the context of what you are reading.

My grade 11 student was reading to me yesterday. She has had phonetic training and she knows the story line of the novel. One would surmise that this would aid her in grasping the gist of what she is reading. Regrettably this is not the case.

First of all she is reading words in such way as if they are stand-alone and not as a group or phrase that imbues meaning. I as an experienced and prolific reader would not cope reading anything if each word I read is seen as an individual entity. In the latter scenario the meaning of what is being read is lost.

To read a setwork or prescribed book in a foreign language requires practice. Reading aloud is one of the best ways of learning to read in a foreign language.

I offer this exercise to any student, primary or secondary school level or tertiary level as part of my service as an experienced Learner Practitioner in the following languages: English, Afrikaans and French.

Please email me at [email protected] or contact me via facebook for an assessment

06/06/2024

For SACE (South African Council of Educators) I urgently require a criminal check certificate. Post net offers this service however over the last two days at various outlets in the north and north west areas of Jhb i have been unable to achieve the biometric test. I have contacted Afiswitch which is the portal through which Postnet faciltates this service to no avail. Can anyone assist me with another means of getting this done other than SAPS which takes 4 to 6 weeks to materialise. If anyone can verify that a certain Post Net has proved recentlysuccessful please let me know asap. I require 24 to 48 hours to have the certificate in hand.My email: [email protected]. Please help if you can.