The nature and extent of mother tongue interference by Sepedi on the effectiveness of learning English among Information Technology foundation students at Tshwane University of Technology

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the mother tongue interference by Sepedi and the impact of errors on the effectiveness of English learning among Information Technology (IT) foundation students at Tshwane University of Technology. To tackle problems with learning English, curriculum innovators need to develop English language intervention courses that are relevant for addressing the shortfalls in the of learning English among IT foundation students. In this study, l examine the errors relating to the students’ English language skills. The autobiographical essays that students were asked to write were used to investigate first language interference on second language and the errors that are transferred from the first language to the second language. Foundation students of Information Technology were chosen for this purpose because they are in an extended programme and do not qualify to be admitted to first year of study. Qualitative research methodologies were used in this study. Accordingly, Students were used as the data collection population to reveal the extent of Sepedi interference and error transfer in English language learning. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and content analysis methods. The study addresses the central research question: “How do mother tongue interference and language errors influence the effectiveness with which English is learnt by IT foundation students at TUT?” The study will make recommendations for the improvement of English language teaching and will provide a learning model that can be used in the future to improve the English Language skills of Information Technology students.