A Zulu Second Language Classroom Course Book
Sanibona 4 is a Zulu second language classroom course which follows Sanibona III, Sanibona II and Sanibona I. Sanibona 4 is aimed mainly at learners in grade 11 and 12 pupils although learners who have studied isiZulu in primary school may be able to use part of it in grade 10.
Overview
Sanibona 4 guides the learner through the more advanced structures that one needs in order to comprehend written texts from newspapers and magazines. Learners are introduced to traditional Zulu folktales and ways of incorporating these into oral work are suggested. Readings are designed to provide vocabulary for both written and oral creative work on topics of interest to the high school learner.
Topics include sport, sporting figures, outings to as dam, a description of an 18th birthday party, the Dusi Canoe Marathon, The July Handicap, future plans, descriptions of floods, activities at the beach front, a disastrous holiday, a trip by plane and descriptions of one's friends.
Sanibona 4 extends the learner’s vocabulary extensively and enables him/her to describe his/her daily life and to read articles which appear in daily newspapers. Extensive use of pictures and the use of humour aim to make language learning enjoyable.
The Author
Beverley Muller is a graduate of the University of KwaZulu Natal (BA. Hon, M.A, B. Soc Science, U.E.D) and the University of Paul Valery in Montpellier, France (Diploma in the teaching of French as a foreign language). She has taught languages in KwaZulu Natal schools and lectured in Zulu full time at the University of KwaZulu Natal (Durban). She is the co-author of the Sanibona, Khuluma and Ninjani Zulu courses.
The Editor
Sihawukele Ngubane (B.A Hons. University of Zululand, M.A, PHD. University of KwaZulu Natal) is a lecturer at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban Campus, in the department of Zulu Language and Literature. He is the co-author of Khuluma Ninjani Zulu courses. He translated the Constitution of South Africa into Zulu.
Illustrators
Gill Andrew is a graduate of the fine arts department of the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. She works a freelance Illustrator in Durban for The Original Art Company
Muzi Zondi, who illustrated Sanibona 1 and Sanibona 2, has done the illustrations on pages 134 and 135.
Luke Muller, who studied art at Glenwood High school, illustrated ‘Mega Bash’ on page 145.
Sanibona 4 is styled primarily for high-school learners studying IsiZulu as their first additional language. As an after-school learner I nevertheless found it extremely helpful for self-study support.
You will require at least some prior study to get going, but this guide takes you through the complexities of the Zulu language in a systematic manner. Much of the material is build around short to medium-length passages to test your comprehension. A generous layout and some amusing illustrations help to make reading easy and generally light-hearted. Each passage is followed by some questions and then some aspect of grammar or sentence construction.
You will eventually cover every aspect of the Zulu language, other than the oral examination, to pass at grade 12 level. There are more than enough examples followed by questions to test yourself. Live tuition is always be an added bonus, of course. There is enough variety in the choice of topics to ensure that reading never becomes tedious. The different grammatical topics tend to become hidden among the different stories, however, which makes revision a little difficult. The best way of navigating is to link the grammar to the associated story!
Hans Nachenius (Retired engineer - Cape Town)
