What is the BELA Act?  

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.

Nelson Mandela

South Africa has always been a land of many voices. Every street in Soweto, every taxi rank in Durban, and every classroom in the Eastern Cape carries the rhythm of multiple languages. For children, this is not only a reality but also a gift. When learners are encouraged to use their own languages at school and in tutoring sessions, their sense of confidence blossoms. This is where bilingual tutoring steps in as a powerful tool. By recognising the role of South African indigenous languages alongside English and Afrikaans, tutors can help learners succeed both academically and personally.

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The Value of Bilingual Tutoring

Bilingual tutoring means teaching and supporting learners in two languages. In the South African context, this often involves using the home language to build understanding, while also ensuring that English, the dominant language in higher education and business, is not neglected. A bilingual tutor might, for example, explain a maths problem in isiZulu, and then switch to English to ensure the learner can handle exam questions. This approach is not about choosing one language over the other. It is about creating a bridge so that the learner can walk confidently between both worlds.

In many schools across Gauteng or KwaZulu-Natal, teachers face overcrowded classrooms where it is difficult to provide the kind of individual support that children need. But, this is where private tutors are making a difference. An Afrikaans tutor online may use digital platforms like Zoom to reach learners in Cape Town who need help preparing for matric. At the same time, tutors who focus on learning isiZulu in Johannesburg are giving children the tools to feel proud of their heritage. Both types of tutoring are valuable, but when the two approaches combine, the results are remarkable.

How Bilingual Tutoring Works in Practice

In practice, bilingual tutoring is about flexibility.

Imagine a child in Mitchells Plain who speaks isiXhosa at home but learns in English at school. During tutoring, the child might struggle to grasp a new science term. By introducing the concept first in isiXhosa, the tutor gives the learner a solid foundation. Once the learner feels comfortable, the explanation is repeated in English. This way, the learner does not feel lost but instead experiences a sense of achievement.

Tutors often use strategies like scaffolding, where concepts are broken into smaller parts and explained gradually, or translanguaging, where both languages are used fluidly to ensure understanding. Here, a tutor might let a learner write a paragraph in their home language before guiding them to translate and refine it in English. The result is not only improved comprehension but also greater confidence when approaching new material. This method is particularly useful for bilingual students who are constantly navigating between two languages in their daily lives.

Advantages for Comprehension, Identity, and Performance

The most obvious advantage of bilingual tutoring is better comprehension. Learners who are taught in their home languages are less likely to feel overwhelmed and more likely to engage with the subject matter. Research has consistently shown that when children build strong foundations in their first language, they become stronger in additional languages too.

Yet comprehension is not the only benefit. Language is tied to identity. When learners in Umlazi or Polokwane hear their tutors using South African indigenous languages with respect and fluency, it sends a powerful message that their culture is valued. This validation boosts self-esteem. Instead of feeling that English is the only pathway to success, learners begin to see their own voices as powerful and worthy of recognition.

This also translates into exam performance. It makes sense that a learner who understands concepts clearly in their home language is better equipped to tackle exam questions in English. Many bilingual students show improvement not only in language subjects but across the curriculum once they feel confident in their ability to process information.

What is the BELA Act

Of course, no discussion about language in education today is complete without addressing the question: What is the BELA Act?

Firstly, it stands for The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act¹.

The new law has emphasised the importance of mother-tongue education, while also giving official recognition to South African Sign Language. By encouraging schools to extend the use of home languages, the Act aligns with the reality of our multilingual society.

For tutors, this presents both an opportunity and a responsibility. Parents all over South Africa are now looking for tutors who understand these shifts. They want reassurance that their children will not be disadvantaged by learning isiZulu or Sesotho, but rather empowered. By showing how bilingual tutoring complements the BELA Act, tutors give parents confidence that their children’s education is aligned with national priorities.

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Psychological and Academic Benefits

The psychological benefits of bilingual tutoring are profound. Many children feel anxious in the classroom when they cannot follow a lesson in English. This anxiety can lead to silence, withdrawal, and even a belief that they are not smart enough. When a tutor steps in and explains the same lesson in isiZulu or Tshivenda, the learner suddenly lights up. That moment of clarity replaces fear with confidence.

Confidence is essential not just for passing exams, but for thriving in life. For bilingual students, this supportive approach validates the full spectrum of their identities. They learn that switching between languages is not a weakness but a strength.

Best of all, the impact can be measured through academics. Learners who use bilingual tutoring often improve their marks significantly. An Afrikaans tutor online, for instance, might help a learner improve their language marks, but by doing so in a way that acknowledges the learner’s first language, the learner’s performance in other subjects also benefits. The ripple effect of confidence is clear.

Cultural Pride as a Source of Strength

Beyond academic results, bilingual tutoring taps into something deeper: cultural pride. In neighbourhoods like Alexandra or Khayelitsha, many families worry that their children may lose touch with their roots if they are educated only in English. By incorporating South African indigenous languages into lessons, tutors help children stay connected to their heritage. This creates not just confidence but joy. In this way, learners begin to see their languages as assets, not obstacles.

For example, when a child in Durban can move seamlessly from learning isiZulu with their tutor to completing their English assignments at school, they experience the best of both worlds. They become role models for peers, showing that embracing one’s culture can go hand in hand with achieving academic success.

Practical Advice for Tutors and Parents

For tutors, the key is patience and creativity. Using storytelling, music, or even local proverbs can make lessons memorable. For example, an Afrikaans tutor online might incorporate traditional folktales alongside grammar exercises, to create a balance between culture and academics. Similarly, a tutor focused on learning isiZulu in Pretoria could use local songs to teach vocabulary, making lessons interactive and fun.

Parents also play a role. By supporting bilingual students at home, they reinforce the value of using multiple languages. As a parent, you could read storybooks in isiXhosa before bedtime or encourage your children to write letters in Sepedi. Ultimately, the combination of family involvement and professional tutoring provides a strong foundation for success.

The Future: What is the BELA Act Going to Change?

There’s no doubt, South Africa’s education system is evolving. As the BELA Act brings renewed emphasis on multilingualism, there has never been a better time to celebrate the role of tutors. By integrating South African indigenous languages into their practice, tutors are not just helping learners pass exams. They are building the confidence of a generation that will lead with pride in who they are and what they know.

Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit

E.E. Cummings

Confidence grows with the learner who dares to read aloud in isiZulu, the student who finally understands a maths problem because it was explained in their home language, and the teenager who proudly identifies as bilingual. Each of these moments shows why learning in our many languages matters.

For South Africa, this is more than an educational strategy. It is a national empowerment project of epic proportions. Remember that every Afrikaans tutor online, every bilingual session, and every learner who gains confidence through learning isiZulu is contributing to a brighter future. By valuing the voices of all our children, we ensure that confidence becomes not just a personal trait, but a shared strength for the whole country. These are exciting times.