Find your Afrikaans tutors near me in Brakpan

Afrikaans Lessons in Brakpan

Brakpan, officially declared a town in 1919, is part of the industrial and mining region of the East Rand area Gauteng. The area experienced rapid growth in the late 19^th century when coal and gold were discovered there. Large amounts of gold and uranium have, since 1978, been recovered from significantly large mine dumps – Brakpan has the largest such “tailing’ in the Witwatersrand.

So, it is in the mining town with a sizeable industrial zone, where you will encounter Afrikaans spoken by a large proportion of the population daily, either as a first or second language. Your learning Afrikaans will impact on the way in which you interact with native speakers in untold ways, inevitably removing barriers and establishing mutual respect and trust.

One of the first words, besides swear words, that you may encounter in a foreign language is a word related to food. Think of paella (Spanish), spaghetti and pizza (Italian), sushi and saki (Japanese), haggis (Scottish), scones and crumpets (English), tacos (Mexican) and curry (Indian subcontinent). So, too, can you associate koeksister and braai with Afrikaans and its speakers. A dish like bobotie, if not an Afrikaans dish, can actually be regarded as South Africa’s national dish, because it’s not commonly prepared elsewhere. Show your South African hosts that you are very aware of their culture and history by ordering pinotage as a drink. A cross between Cinsaut and Pinot noir, pinotage is a South African red grape variety produced in 1925, originally in the Stellenbosch area of the Western Cape.

So, val weg! Eet en drink lekker!

Do I Need Help With Afrikaans?

Studying any foreign language can be a daunting task, one with which you will require assistance. The ultimate way, to progress rapidly, is to enlist the help of a native speaker. The closer they are to being a teacher, the better! The danger with engaging with a non-professional is that he/she may impart to you many of their own misuses of the language and expose you to more vernacular and slang than to the grammatically correct version of the language. Some of the “street” language would probably be very helpful in certain situations, but not always appropriate in more formal settings.

Hoekom Wil Jy Afrikaans Leer?

Why do you want to study Afrikaans? This motivation or reason must be very clear and well-formulated. For instance, you must know up to what level of proficiency you want to take your studies.

You may, for instance, simply want to be more involved in conversations with colleagues at work. Their idle banter simply passes right over your head and it seems as if you’re missing out on a whole lot of fun. Alternately, you need a deeper grounding because you attend board meetings which are sometimes conducted in quite an elevated level of Afrikaans.

An Afrikaans tutor can greatly facilitate your learning and guide you in terms of the correct language to use in various situations.

Waar Gaan Soek Ek Hulp?

Help may be just around the corner. Numerous tutoring agencies as well as language schools can be found quite close to you. These institutions will engage you in sessions with fellow novices. If you’re not an introvert, this kind of setting would fit you like a glove.

Unisa (the University of South Africa) offers short courses in Afrikaans, as well as full academic degrees. These degrees could lead to you landing a job as a teacher, translator or as an interpreter in a court of law. The growing number of community newspapers, also requires Afrikaans-literate journalists.

Siyabonga Africa offers Afrikaans, among other subjects, to learners over the age of 21, who have not completed matric, for whatever reason. The course takes place, at their centre in central Brakpan, from September to May/ June when it concludes with a single examination per subject. Class tests are conducted during the term of study to test the knowledge each student has acquired.

Someone who is not that comfortable in group settings, would probably prefer a small group setting or individualised sessions with a private tutor. With knowledge being brought right into our homes on the super-highway, the Internet, as skilled tutor is just a click away!

Hooking up With an Afrikaans Tutor

“An agreeable companion on a journey is as good as a carriage” – Publilius Syrus

An accomplished tutor can make your journey through Afrikaans an enjoyable, comfortable (not disconcerting or unnerving) experience; much like a good, patient driving instructor. S/he will know the road to be travelled, the short-cuts, sharp bends and pot-holes.

Who will that instructor be? Who will put you in the pound seat?

Undeniably, that would be a native speaker of the language. One with teaching experience would, no doubt, be your best companion. A trained educator will guide you through a structured curriculum, which will ensure that the language skills which you acquire is relevant and not haphazard. S/he will help you establish a solid framework onto which future learnings can be attached. S/he will take you through your paces progressively as you are led to mastery through exercise which will focus on listening and comprehending, speaking and writing. It is good to know words, but far better to know how to string them together into meaningful sentences and statements.

One of the best routes to follow would be to seek out a highly competent tutor at Superprof.  The are a growing number of Afrikaans tutors in Brakpan, all of whom have received glowing reviews, for the professionalism, attention to detail and level of care, from their tutees. Superprof tutors are all vetted and qualified to teach Afrikaans from junior grades all the way up to matric and varsity level. Visit the Superprof website and scrutinise their profiles. You will find that it’s quite easy to compare the available tutors in terms of qualifications, experience, what they charge and if they can conduct lessons online or not.  

Want to try before you buy?

Currently, all Superprof tutors in Brakpan provide their first lesson free of charge. This grants you the opportunity to assess which tutor you feel would be compatible with your approach to learning and whose personality and experience would fit the criterion you have set for yourself. All in all, the Superprof website makes it easy for you reach an informed decision without much delay.

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