Developing the language of argument: a bilingual approach

Abstract

Instruction in bilingualism was initiated at Rand Afrikaans University's (currently the University of Johannesburg) foundation course, Afrikaans as Akademiese Taal (Afrikaans for Academic Purposes), in response to the context challenges of a parallel-medium university and the multilingual South African community. The course equips students to construct meaning in their primary language in an academic environment, aiding the process of assimilation of information in a predominantly English-medium studying context and the representation of knowledge in field-specific Afrikaans.