LETTER OF RESEARCH STUDENT WHO OBSERVED LESSONS ON THE VAAL HEARINGS

PO Box 862
Kelvin
2054
15-09-2007


Mr. Abdullah Sujee
Vice Principal
Roshnee Islamic School
Roshnee


Dear Mr. Sujee

I am writing to thank you for providing me with the opportunity to observe your English lessons for a period of four weeks. It was a fascinating and inspiring experience to see the innovative way in which you incorporated technology to enhance your lessons.

With particular reference to the novel, “Cry the Beloved Country” that was studied, the application of technology i.e. the use of the Internet, multimedia and audiovisual equipment enabled the students to have a richer, more integrated experience and helped to inject life and “colour” to quote one student, into the lessons. Consequently, students’ learning was not merely restricted to reading and analysis of the text but was multifaceted as they were able to view scenes from the film, produce power point presentations etc. They were therefore gaining skills that are not only applicable to the English classroom but would be an asset to them in the future. The culmination of this term’s lessons into a blog on the ‘Vaal Hearings’ which include students’ interviews among other things, demonstrate that you have taken the study of the novel and the themes surrounding it to a higher level.

From an academic perspective, this type of approach to language teaching fits neatly into current theory on multimodality and multiliteracy. The work you are therefore doing with students can only be described as “cutting-edge”.

I would like to wish you continued success with your work and thank you again for this enriching experience.

Yours truly,
Jeanette La Fleur
MA Student
Applied English Language Studies
University of the Witwatersrand