Abstract:
Currently a need exists for an Afrikaans screening tool to timeously identify learners with insufficient pre-literacy skills and especially phonological awareness skills. The purpose of this study was achieved by developing an Afrikaans version of the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening- Kindergarten (PALS-K) (Invernizzi, Meier, Swank&Juel, 1998) through translating the existing screening tool and adapting the instrument linguistically and culturally. Grade R and Grade 1 teachers were approached to administer the preliminary translated instrument (Siftingstoets vir Fonologiese Bewustheid en Geletterdheid) (SFBG) on learners (n=28). Following the execution of this task the teachers had to evaluate the suitability of the translated instrument by completing a purpose developed questionnaire. Each separate division was evaluated by integrating the results of the questionnaire with the captured responses of the learners. The results indicated that the SFBG is an appropriate translation of the PALS-K (Invernizzi et al., 1998). Adaption or replacement of certain individual test items was suggested. Finally it is concluded that the current study may be viewed as the underpinnings for the development of an Afrikaans pre-literacy protocol with the emphasis on phonological awareness.
