Former radio man is now a Sepedi teacher in the city

POLOKWANE – Former head of Jacaranda RMFM, Dewald Hattingh, now helps people to learn a new language, Sepedi.

Dewald resigned from his post at the popular radio station after he received a job offer that did not realise in the end.

“I am not a person that can sit at home and do nothing. That is why I started to teach Sepedi,” he told Review.

According to Dewald, teaching Sepedi is something positive that he can do to stay busy and to help people.

“I grew up speaking Sepedi and it was one of my subjects at university. There is a huge need in Polokwane for these types of classes. People want to learn to speak an African language,” he said.

“I was surprised at the incredible response I received after I placed a small advertisement in a newspaper. Many people contacted me and wanted to learn to speak Sepedi. The majority of these are business owners, but I also teach other people. My classes consist of young and old people.”

Dewald explained that he wanted to enhance goodwill between the residents of the city.

“When you understand a language, you also get a better understanding of the culture behind that language and that breaks down barriers between people. “When people speak the same language, they can avoid many misunderstandings,” he said.

He was adamant that Sepedi should be taught in schools from gr. R level onward.

He said he offered four classes two days per week at a local church where he had all the equipment he needed to teach Sepedi effectively.

Next year, he plans to start new beginner classes, while he continues with this year’s more advanced classes.

“To learn a new language does not mean that you have to learn phrases like a parrot.

“Once you have a good grip on the grammatical basis and vocabulary of the language, you can start to form sentences,” he explained.

This was why he kept his classes small, to give his students enough time and attention to practise what they learned.

Dewald said he was also compiling textbooks for Sepedi learners and that it would take him around seven months to complete this project.

“I want to compile textbooks for learners right up to gr. 12 level,” he said.