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The two learners won the College of Human Sciences branded drums during musical theatre show
Even His Excellency Mr Ismaeel Al Ali,
the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates joined Unisa in celebration of the joy of languages. With him is Mr Freddy Pangabean, Head of Information, Social and Cultural Affairs in the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and Dr Zawada, Acting Director of the School of Arts, Education, Languages and Communication
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The joy of languages and culture at Unisa was the focus of attention when the Language Festival took place on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 October 2008. Presented by the College of Human Sciences, the 2008 festival was a successful event. The Unisa Little Theatre was packed with an appreciative audience who were treated to a fully interactive musical theatre show designed to celebrate language and culture, provoke curiosity and inspire students to study languages through Unisa. Among the languages celebrated were Afrikaans, Ancient Greek and Latin, Arabic, English, German, Hebrew, Judaica and Biblical Archaeology, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Italian, Linguistics, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Sesotho, Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, SiSwati, Spanish, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
In her welcoming speech, Dr Zawada, Acting Director of the School of Arts, Education, Languages and Communication, congratulated Unisa for having a proud history of providing tuition and research in languages. Dr Zawada spoke passionately about the need to appreciate all languages. She also shared her concern that, in South Africa, English has seen an unprecedented growth whereas all indigenous and smaller languages are suffering a decline in use, even by their own speakers, as well as a decline in funding.
Among the guests were the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, His Eminence Mr Ismaeel Al Ali, a number of representatives from the Pan South African Language Board, the Assistant Principal, Prof. Dawid van Wyk and a number of Chairs of Department from Unisa, including Dr Thabazi Ntshinga, Chair of the Department of African Languages, Dr Marissa Keuris, Chair of Afrikaans and Theory of Literature, Dr Martinne de Marre, Chair of Classics and World Languages, Dr Zodwa Motsa, Chair of the Department of English Studies and Dr Muff Anderson from the office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor. At the end of the show, members of the diplomatic corps, guests and Unisa management and staff were afforded an opportunity to network while enjoying the Marimba Band playing in the background.
More than 250 high-school learners and teachers from various schools around Pretoria and Johannesburg were bussed to Unisa over the two days of the festival, and were excited to be exposed to the exciting world of languages and culture in a new and vibrant approach.
High School learners, having fun during the Language Festival |
Marimba band entertaining the audience during the networking lunch which was done shortly after the show |
 Guests enjoying a fully interactive musical theatre show | |
