AFL1501/101/1/2023

Tutorial Letter 101/1/2023

Language Through an African Lens

AFL1501

Semester 1

Department of African Languages

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, AFL1501-2023-S1/S2, as well as your group website.

Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, only available on myUnisa.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Getting started .............................................................................................................................. 3
1.2. What is a Signature Module? ........................................................................................................ 4
2 OVERVIEW OF AFL1501 ............................................................................................................. 5
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 5
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ........................................................................................... 5
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 6
4.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 6
4.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 6
5 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 6
5.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 6
5.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 6
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 7
5.4 Library services and resources ..................................................................................................... 7
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 8
6.1 First-Year Experience Programme.................................................................................................. 8
7. STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 9
8 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE ............................................................................................................ 9
8.1 What does it mean to study fully online? ....................................................................................... 9
9. ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 9
9.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 9
9.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 10
9.3 Assessment due dates ................................................................................................................ 10
9.4 Submission of assessments ........................................................................................................ 10
9.5 The assessments ........................................................................................................................ 11
9.6 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 11
9.7 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 12
10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ........................................................................................................ 12
10.1 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................... 12
10.2 Cheating ..................................................................................................................................... 12
11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES .................................................................................. 12
12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 12
13. SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 13
14. IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 13
15. ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 14
ANNEXURE: GLOSSARY OF TERM .................................................................................................... 14

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 AFL1501/101/1/2023

1 INTRODUCTION

Dear Student
Welcome to AFL1501: Language through an African lens.

In this module, we look at the study of the usage of language and the way one reflects who one
is when one uses language with reference to African languages.
This is a fully online module, hence there are no prescribed textbooks or separate readings
for this module. You need to use myUnisa to study and complete the learning activities for this
module. You also need to visit the websites on myUnisa for AFL1501 frequently, read your
myLife emails every day. Within myUnisa you will find two sites for AFL1501 (the main site and
the group site). The first site that you will see after registration is your Main Site (AFL1501-23-
S1/S2), this is where your lecturer Dr Nene will be posting regular announcements to you. The
second site that you see after being linked is your Group Site (AFL1501-23-S1/S2-310T)
whereby 310 or any number before the letter T, represents your group number, e.g. -310T. It is
imperative that you read all communication from your Group Site and the Main Site.

Remember your Group Site is your ‘classroom’ where you will find all the content for this
module, including your personal Teaching Assistant (TA). Your TA is the first line of
communication and assistance for this module. All communication about this module, the
content and administration of the group site should be directed to your TA not Dr Nene. Should
you not receive clarity from your TA, remember, your TA must be given 48 hours to respond to
your query. Only after not receiving help from your TA after 48 hours, then you may contact Dr
Nene’s office.

1.1 Getting started

Due to the nature of this module, you can read about the module and find your study material
online. Go to the website here: https://my.unisa.ac.za and login using your student number and
password. You will see AFL1501-23-S1/S2 as well as your group site, e.g., AFL1501-23-S1/S2-
10T (10T is the number of your group site) when you are grouped, you will see your group site
by clicking myModules 2023.

Don't know where to start? Follow these instructions, start by going to your group site.

1. Go to the Units, found in the “left-hand navigation blocks.” Start at the beginning and
complete the learning experiences in the "Module Overview - Getting started" section, Unit
0. You will be required to complete the Icebreakers and Quiz; this will help you familarise
yourself with the learning platform.
2. These learning experiences are to give you practice using myUnisa and practice studying
online. We call these "Ice breakers” because they do not count for any marks in the
course. Note that each Ice breaker is done in a different answering tool, i.e., Discussions,
Blogs and Quiz for you to familiarize yourself on how to use these tools

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3. Note that you have to complete each unit and ensure that you finalize the unit before
moving to the next Unit, this include the ice breakers.

As students register for the module, you will be put into groups with a Teaching Assistant for
each group. Each Teaching Assistant is responsible for several (4) groups (50) students per
group). These group sites will contain all the study material you need. In each unit you will find
your study guide and your assessments. You are required to complete the activities in your
Units, as some of the activities form part of your Final Portfolio, you will discover which activities
are required once you begin the Final Portfolio as they will form part of the portfolio.
Each assessment will only open a few days before the assessment start date. Please consult
the Assessment Plan to ascertain the assessment start date.

Note, no physical material will be sent to you, everything you require is on the myModules site
in your Group Site. This includes your assessments, assessment due dates and assessment
plan.

Note that a written assessment it is not literally ‘written’ as no hard copy assignments are
allowed to be submitted.

The messaging chat tool within myModules is a very useful it allows direct messaging between
users within the myUNISA site provided a user is registered and enrolled onto the site. It is
located at the top right-hand corner of the toolbar. When sending a message to your TA, please
always include your full name, student number, and group number.

1.2 What is a Signature Module?

One of the advantages of the Signature modules is that they are designed so that you work in
groups (please note that working in groups does not mean submitting the same assignment,
that is plagiarism). For many Unisa modules, we know that there are large numbers of students
who enrol. Sometimes it feels like you can get lost in the crowd of students. However, here
interaction is built into the structure of the module.

For the Signature modules, we have divided all the students into groups of approximately 50
students each with a Teaching Assistant to facilitate the group. This means that the Teaching
Assistant will guide you through the module, give assistance with your assessments and
assessment activities and mark your formal Assessments.

We wish you every success with your studies!

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2 OVERVIEW OF AFL1501
2.1 Purpose

Students who successfully complete this module will be able to demonstrate linguistic and
cultural diversity awareness and sensitivity to enhance their interpersonal relationships in day-
to-day situations. In addition, successful students will be able to interact across cultures in a
respectful way while appreciating their own linguistic and cultural background in relation to the
languages and cultures of others.

The module is delivered via myUnisa, the Internet, peer group interaction, and community
engagement in some of the activities. Lecturers and Teaching Assistants can also interact with
students on myUnisa – Chat Tool and via email. All your email correspondence must be via
your myLife email address.

2.2 Outcomes

For this module, you will have to master several outcomes:

For this module, there are four outcomes that we hope you will be able to accomplish by the
end of the course:

• Specific outcome 1: Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity of linguistic and cultural

diversity to enhance personal relations in day-to-day situations.
• Specific outcome 2: Demonstrate respect for diversity within a multi-cultural society
as expressed through language.
• Specific outcome 3: Interact across cultures in a respectful way.
• Specific outcome 4: Appreciate your own cultural background in relation to the
cultures of others within a multi-cultural society.

3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION

Unisa has implemented a transformation charter, in terms of which the university has placed curriculum
transformation high on the teaching and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes student-
centred scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of
teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. All of these will be
phased in at both programme and module levels, and as a result of this you will notice a marked change
in the teaching and learning strategy implemented by Unisa, together with the way in which the content
is conceptualised in your modules. We encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at
Unisa in a responsive way within the framework of transformation

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4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS
4.1 Lecturer(s)

The primary lecturer for this module is Dr. J. O. Nene

Department: Department of African Languages
Telephone:
E-mail: nenejo@unisa.ac.za

Remember to always mention your student number, semester as well as the number of
your group site, e.g., 10T when you communicate with your Module Coordinator.

4.2 Department

When contacting us via a phone call, keep in mind that lecturers frequently must attend
meetings, conferences, discussion classes, etcetera. They may therefore not always be in their
offices.
E-mail is the most effective way to contact us. However, we will not respond to any outside
email addresses (e.g., @gmail, yahoo or work email), thus make sure to use your myLife email.
Please make sure you address your email to the correct person and remember that you can
also contact us via myUnisa Chat Tool.
When contacting us, do not include enquiries that are directed at different departments (e.g.,
Finances, Student administration and Registration) in the letter, as you will not be assisted. You
need to contact the correct department directly.

4.3 University

Contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.

Please include your student number in all correspondence

5 RESOURCES
5.1 Prescribed book(s)

There are no prescribed book(s) for this module.

5.2 Recommended book(s)

There are no recommended book(s) for this module.

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5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

The library has compiled numerous library guides:

E-reserves can be downloaded from the library catalogue. More information is available at:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request

5.4 Library services and resources

The Unisa library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance
• For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (e.g. the services offered by personal librarians and
the request a literature search service offered by the information search librarians), go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-support
• For library training for undergraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Training

The library has created numerous library guides, available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:
• Request and find library material/download recommended material:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• Frequently asked questions about the library: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
• A–Z of library databases: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php

Important contact information:

• Ask a librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Technical problems encountered in accessing library online services: Lib-
help@unisa.ac.za
• General library-related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
• Queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za
• Social media channels: Facebook: UnisaLibrary and Twitter: @UnisaLibrary

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6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through
Unisa.
If you need assistance with regard to the myModules system, you are welcome to use the
following contact details:
• Toll-free landline: 0800 00 1870 (Select option 07 for myModules)
• E-mail: mymodules22@unisa.ac.za or myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za
You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to
access module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessment
and how to participate in forum activities via the following link: https://dtls-
qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130

Registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices
and updates are sent exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours
for your account to be activated after you have claimed it. Please do this immediately after
registering at Unisa, by following this link: myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za

Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official
correspondence with the university and will remain the official primary e-mail address on
record at Unisa. You remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.

6.1 First-Year Experience Programme

Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful. This is also true in
the case of students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and e-
learning institution, and it is very different from face-to-face/contact institutions. It is a mega university,
and all our programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully online learning. It is for this
reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students additional/extended support to help them
seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning journey with little difficulty and few barriers. We
therefore offer a specialised student support programme to students enrolling at Unisa for the first time –
this is Unisa’s First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme, designed to provide you with prompt and helpful
information about services that the institution offers and how you can access information. The following
FYE services are currently offered:
• FYE website: All the guides and resources you need in order to navigate through your
first year at Unisa can be accessed using the following link: www.unisa.ac.za/FYE
• FYE e-mails: You will receive regular e-mails to help you stay focused and motivated.
• FYE broadcasts: You will receive e-mails with links to broadcasts on various topics
related to your first-year studies (e.g. videos on how to submit assessments online).
• FYE mailbox: For assistance with queries related to your first year of study, send an e-
mail to fye@unisa.ac.za .

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7. STUDY PLAN

Students often register for more modules/papers than they can handle, given their current life
circumstances. You can estimate the demands of the course and the time you have available by
completing the following timesheet

Student Timesheet:
This timesheet will guide you to estimate the amount of time you spend on regular work and
life activities in a week so that you can calculate the number of hours you will have for your
studies. This module will require you to spend at least 120 hours of study.
Try to be accurate when calculating and remember to set a realistic hours/time.

Hours already committed each week before studies:

Sleep (e.g., seven hours a night= 49) ___________
Meals ___________
Personal Hygiene ___________
Work ___________
Household ___________
Employment ___________
Travelling ____________
Errands ____________
Socialising ____________
Total Committed ______________

Hours available for study: 168 - total committed = _______

Keep up the number of hours required a week. One of the greatest dangers in an Open
Distance Institution is that a crisis such as a sudden illness can throw you off track. This will
result in your studies falling behind and you dropping out.

8 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE

8.1 What does it mean to study fully online?

9. ASSESSMENT
9.1 Assessment criteria

You will be evaluated on a continuous basis as elaborated below.

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9.2 Assessment plan

• To complete this module, you will be required to submit 6 assessments.

• All information about when and where to submit your assessments will be made available
to you via the myModules site for your module.
• Due dates for assessments, as well as the actual assessments are available on the
myModules site under each Unit.
• To gain admission to the examination, you will be required to submit majority of your
assessment/s.
• Remember that this is a continuous assessment module, each assessment count toward
your final mark.
• The Final Portfolio will count 40% towards the final module mark.

9.3 Assessment due dates

• There are no assessment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assessment due dates will be made available to you on the myUnisa landing page for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.
• Please start working on your assessments as soon as you register for the module.
• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates for
the submission of the assessments.
• Do not wait until late to do your work.

9.4 Submission of assessments

• Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving

towards becoming an online institution. You will therefore see that all your study material,
assessments and engagements with your lecturer and fellow students will take place
online. We use myUnisa as our virtual campus.
• The myUnisa virtual campus will offer students access to the myModules site, where
learning material will be available online and where assessments should be completed.
This is an online system that is used to administer, document, and deliver educational
material to students and support engagement between academics and students.
• The myUnisa platform can be accessed via https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the
myModules 2023 button to access the online sites for the modules that you are registered
for.
• The university undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to
ensure that you obtain the greatest benefit from the use of the myModules learning
management system. Please access the announcements on your myModules site
regularly, as this is where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with
you.

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• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will
see a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below or to the left of the welcome
message you will see the assessment shells for the assessments that you need to
complete. Some assessments may be multiple choice, others written assessments, some
forum discussions, and so on. All assessments must be completed on the assessment
shells available on the respective module platforms.
• To complete a quiz assessment, please log on to the module site where you need to
complete the assessment. Click on the relevant assessment shell (Assessment 1,
Assessment 2, etc.). There will be a date on which the assessment will open for you.
When the assessment is open, access the quiz online and complete it within the time
available to you. Quiz assessment questions are not included in this tutorial letter (Tutorial
Letter 101) and are only made available online. You must therefore access the quiz online
and complete it online where the quiz has been created.
• It is not advisable at this point to use a cell phone to complete the quiz. Please use a
desktop computer, tablet or laptop when completing the quiz. Students who use a cell
phone find it difficult to navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and
often struggle to navigate between questions and successfully complete the quizzes. In
addition, cell phones are more vulnerable to dropped internet connections than other
devices. If at all possible, please do not use a cell phone for this assessment type.
• For written assessments, please note the due date by which the assessment must be
submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell on
myModules. You will then be able to upload your written assessment on the myModules
site of the modules that you are registered for. Before you finalise the upload, double
check that you have selected the correct file for upload. Remember, no marks can be
allocated for incorrectly submitted assessments.

9.5 The assessments

As indicated in section 9.2, you need to complete six assessments for this module. Details on
the assessments….
As indicated previously, there are no assignments included in this tutorial letter.
Assignments and due dates will be made available to you on myModules for this module. We
envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.
For this module, there will be activities that you will be required to do at the beginning of the
semester. Those activities will be required in one or more of the assessments, and marks will be
allocated based on students completing them on time. Should you not complete those activities,
you will lose a certain percentage of marks on the assessment that requires you to utilize your
activities (e.g., blog activities) in certain assessments.

9.6 Other assessment methods

Please check on your main site.

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9.7 The examination

Your portfolio and all your formal assessments forms part of your examination. Thus, missing
your assessments will affect your overall exam results. Please read the continuous assessment
policy to have a better understanding of this module.

10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

10.1 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:
• Copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.

10.2 Cheating

Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying the work of another
student during an assessment, or allowing another student to copy your work.
• Using social media (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
• Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files, this forms part of examination guidelines
• Buying completed answers from so-called “tutors” or internet sites (contract
cheating).
For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning students with disabilities. If you are a
student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact Dr JO Nene at the beginning of the semester to discuss
the assistance that you need.

12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question:
• When will my books and study material arrive?
• Answer:

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• There is no hard copy of the study material for this course. Everything you need is
on the AFL 1501 myUnisa site. Please look in your Group Site (the Group ending
with a “T”), and read through the “Lessons” tab.
• Question:
• Where can I find the assessment breakdowns/instructions?
• Answer:
• All the assessment instructions can be found in each UNITS tab, on the left-hand
side of your screen. Please read carefully through the Units, as it contains all the
course information.
• Question:
• Where can I find the due dates for assessments?
• Answer:
• You can locate the due dates on the MyUnisa overview page, on the calendar.
• Question:
• Will I receive feedback on my assessments?
• Answer:
• For Discussion assignments:
• Once your TA has notified you that the assessment marks have been released, you
can view the feedback on your assignment via the Grade tab.
• For written assessments:
• Once your TA has notified you that the assessment marks have been released, you
can download a copy of your marked assessment from your results page (via the
assignment tab on MyUnisa). Comments will be written directly on your written
assessment.
• Question:
• How do I get in contact with my TA/lecturer?
• Answer:
• Use the Chat Tool in the top right-hand corner of your myUnisa screen.
• Dr Nene is the course coordinator of this module, before sending him an email, try to
contact your TA first and if you are not helped then you will contact Dr Nene. Should your
query or concern not be solved, please contact the COD of the DAL (Prof Madonsela).
Please do not contact the Dean or Director without following these procedures.

13. SOURCES CONSULTED

Please check on myUnisa

14. IN CLOSING

Please remember that this module is unique and requires you to read your myLife emails every
day. Failure to do so may result in you losing marks due to not responding to your email on
time.

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Do not hesitate to contact your TA if you are experiencing problems with the content of this
tutorial letter or any aspect of the module.

We wish you a fascinating and satisfying journey through the learning material and trust that
you will complete the module successfully.
Enjoy the journey!
Dr J O Nene

15. ADDENDUM

ANNEXURE: GLOSSARY OF TERM

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