IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature
Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025): IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Lite

Afrikaans First Additional Language teachers’ experiences teaching online during COVID-19 at two public high schools in Gauteng, South Africa

Drake, Nesta (Unknown)
Lautenbach, Geoffrey Vaughan (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Oct 2025

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across South Africa were forced to turn to online education. As with other subjects, Afrikaans First Additional Language (AFAL) teachers had to find ways to continue teaching their learners online under COVID-19 restrictions. For many, this was a daunting task and unfamiliar territory. This research explores how AFAL teachers from two public schools in Gauteng Province experienced online teaching during COVID-19. For this research, seven participants were selected through purposive sampling to participate in either semi-structured individual interviews or a focus group. Additional data was gathered from various documents from the two schools. Analysis of the data demonstrated that online communication created several barriers while teaching. In addition, learners' poor work ethic had a ripple effect, and work provided online had to be retaught once learners returned to school. Although teaching AFAL online is not necessarily the recommended approach, there are certain advantages to incorporating online platforms in a classroom setting. Despite various challenges, teachers continued to provide learners with work while trying to make an abnormal situation as normal as possible.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ideas

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

IDEAS Journal is published twice a year in the months of June and December (P-ISSN 2338-4778 and E-ISSN 2548-4192); it presents articles on English language teaching and learning, linguistics, and literature. The contents include analyses, studies and application of theories, research report, ...