If you are supporting a learner through English and Afrikaans at school, then you already know that languages sit at the heart of academic success in South Africa. Whether your child attends a public school or a private school, language performance shapes confidence, results, and long-term opportunities. All of this means that CAPS languages are far more significant than a programme of assessment.
Why Language Skills Matter
Having strong English and Afrikaans can equip learners to:
Still, in a country where there are 12 official languages and many learners don’t use English and Afrikaans at home, navigating the Afrikaans and English requirements during school years can feel overwhelming, especially as learners move into the senior grades. The first step to overcoming the Afrikaans and English challenges in the formal curriculum is to understand how CAPS structures language learning.
Understanding CAPS Language Expectations
Through the CAPS framework, language subjects are designed to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in an integrated way.
By the time learners reach the Further Education and Training phase, expectations rise sharply, particularly for English and Afrikaans offered at Home Language or First Additional Language level.
Much like maths, language learning under CAPS is cumulative. This is why consistent support, both at school and at home, matters so much.
Skills built in Grade 8 form the foundation for the Senior Certificate, which means gaps left unaddressed early can resurface later as stress and under-performance.
If you would like a broader understanding of how CAPS works across different subjects, you may find it helpful to read our article, which explains the structure and intent of the system in more detail.
CAPS Language Goals Explained
At its core, CAPS aims to develop learners who can understand texts, respond thoughtfully, and communicate confidently. For example, in both the Afrikaans and English programme of assessment, learners are reviewed on their ability to:
- read for meaning,
- write coherently,
- speak clearly, and
- listen with understanding.
Importantly, these skills are not taught in isolation. Instead, a comprehension lesson feeds into writing, oral work strengthens vocabulary, and literature supports analytical thinking.
This integrated approach reflects real-life language use, but it can also challenge learners who prefer clear rules or struggle with abstract interpretation. An example of this is that under the formal curriculum, marks are earned not just for correct answers, but for insight, structure, and clarity of expression.
CAPS Language Paper Structure
As learners progress towards the Senior Certificate, language assessments follow a clearly defined structure.
Paper 1 focuses on comprehension, summary, and language usage. Here, learners must show that they can interpret texts accurately and manipulate language effectively.
Paper 2 centres on literature that requires deep engagement with prescribed set works.
Paper 3 assesses writing, which can take the form of essays to transactional texts.
Together, these papers form part of the overall programme of assessment that tracks progress across the year. Ultimately, internal assessments, class tasks, and examinations all contribute to final marks, reinforcing the need for steady preparation rather than last minute cramming.
Oral Assessments and Listening Skills
Like any language learning, oral work is a key component of English and Afrikaans under the South African CAPS curriculum. For instance, learners are assessed on prepared and unprepared speeches, as well as listening comprehension tasks. Orals are well known to fill even the most confident of us with dread and these assessments often cause anxiety, especially for quieter learners or those navigating multilingual environments. A simple intervention can be to enlist the support of an English tutor who can help to build invaluable structure, confidence, and delivery for oral assessments.
In schools across our rainbow nation, it is common for learners to speak multiple languages at home. Even so, Afrikaans and English fluency in the classroom can be demanding. Again, having academic support for oral work builds confidence that extends beyond school into interviews, presentations, and everyday communication.
CAPS Literature Set Work
For language students, literature plays a central role in CAPS languages, particularly in the senior grades. Prescribed texts are updated annually through DBE circulars. Still, recent years have included profound South African works such as Nothing But the Truth by John Kani, Tsotsi by Athol Fugard, and Fiela se Kind by Dalene Matthee. Besides their literary value, these texts are chosen to reflect local contexts and themes that learners can relate to.
Love it or not, the reality of studying literature under the formal curriculum requires more than memorising plots. During the process, learners must analyse characters, explore themes, and support arguments with evidence from the text. This level of engagement is essential preparation for the analytical demands of the Senior Certificate.
Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.
Rita Mae Brown
Common Challenges Learners Face
Literature aside, many parents notice that their children struggle with balancing grammar and comprehension. Others find essay writing particularly difficult, especially when ideas are strong, but structure is weak. An additional challenge is that in multilingual classrooms, learners may understand concepts but lack the vocabulary to express them confidently in English and Afrikaans.
Assessment pressure can also build as tasks accumulate within the programme of assessment. Without guidance, learners may not understand where marks are lost or how to improve specific skills which can lead to frustration and declining motivation.
How Targeted Support Makes a Difference
Additional academic support can be transformative, especially when a skilled tutor helps your child unpack texts, plan essays, and practise language skills in a supportive environment. For example, guided reading strengthens comprehension, essay scaffolding teaches learners how to organise ideas logically, and contextual vocabulary support is especially valuable for learners moving between Afrikaans and English at home and school.
Past paper practice is a powerful tool that helps familiarise learners with exam expectations and reduces anxiety around the Senior Certificate
For a broader view of how CAPS operates across subjects, you may also enjoy our articles which explore how skills development is structured in other learning areas, such as The CAPS Aligned School Curriculum for Maths.
CAPS and Long Term Academic Readiness
There’s no doubt that language proficiency under the formal curriculum has lasting benefits. Strong reading and writing skills support success in other subjects like History, Life Sciences, and even Mathematics, where word problems demand careful interpretation. CAPS languages also prepare learners for tertiary study, where independent reading and academic writing are essential.
Remember that your child is not just preparing for exams, but developing skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom and their Senior Certificate.
Understanding how CAPS compares to alternative pathways can also be helpful. In our article CAPS vs IEB Curriculum, you will find a clear explanation of how assessment approaches differ and what that means for learners.
Supporting Your Child With Confidence
Language skills open doors to all academic subjects, to improved social skills, future careers, travel and for success in life.
It’s worth remembering during the highs and lows of academic life that as a parent, you do not need to be an expert in English and Afrikaans to support your child effectively. What matters is awareness, encouragement, and access to the right help when needed. By understanding the programme of assessment, staying informed about literature requirements, and addressing challenges early through extra tuition and additional resources and tools, you give your child the best chance to thrive.
Ultimately, with persistent patience, practice, and the right guidance, CAPS languages become less intimidating and more empowering.
Summarise with AI:
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
