By Solethu Madzwila
On the 27th of March 2025, Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 celebrated the International Day of Multilingualism with an engaging and insightful event held at Eden Grove Blue Theatre at 18h00.
The evening began with vibrant energy, as Thandolwethu May and Kamvelihle Buwa took on the roles of MCs. Zikho Dana, an nGAP lecturer in the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 in the Humanities Extended Studies Unit (ESU), officially welcomed everyone present and opened with a captivating speech, stating:
“This day marks a time when multilingualism should no longer be seen as a problem. It has often been associated with a lack of resources, as people argue for the centralisation of language. But we must begin to view multilingualism as an opportunity for meaningful and epistemic diversity in all centres of our lives.”
Following this powerful message, Kamvelihle introduced Sisonke Mawonga, the manager for the RU Language Development Project, who oversees the implementation of multilingualism within the institution. Sisonke, who is also a lecturer in the Commerce ESU at the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网), provided the background of the Multilingualism Project and its purpose. Speaking on behalf of the Rhodes University Language Committee and the Division for Equity and Institutional Culture, she explained that this initiative was a response to the hegemony of monolingualism in South African Higher Education. This Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) -funded and supported project is meant to implement the National Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions. The DHET recognises the project’s role in enriching learning by encouraging students to engage with content in multiple languages. The goal, Mawonga explained, is to enhance participation and understanding during lectures and tutorials, among other key responsibilities, an approach already being implemented.
After this context was set, Dr Sandile Phakathi, a Senior Lecturer in the Economics Department at RU, was warmly welcomed as the keynote speaker of the evening. Kamvelihle introduced her as the co-founder of the Multilingual Pedagogic Practices Initiative in the Commerce Faculty. A well-known figure in academic space, Dr Phakathi is also a recipient of the Commerce Faculty’s Emerging Researcher Award and has been acknowledged for her transformative contributions to student success.
Phakathi’s keynote address was both reflective and practical. She detailed how multilingual teaching methods are applied in the Economics Department and offered a live demonstration with two of her students, showing how different languages are actively used in class to facilitate learning. One of her most powerful comments was:
“To me, teaching is personal. I don’t want students to come here and be disadvantaged because language is a barrier rather than a bridge for them to attain more in their academics.”
She acknowledged the support of the Multilingual Pedagogic Practices Initiative, came from the Dean of Commerce, the School of Languages and Literatures, and the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 Extended Studies Unit.
Thandolwethu May introduced a panel of student respondents: Robert Solani, an LLB student; Liseko Mawonga, an honours student in African Languages and Anthropology; and Luvo Manqabashana, an MA candidate in African Languages, who shared their experiences navigating academic spaces as advocates for multilingualism while using their languages in their academic journeys. They emphasised the importance of using students who are fluent in different languages as resources to help the project grow.
The event ended on a light and engaging note, with students allowed to ask questions and reflect on the evening’s discussions while presenting their perspectives and barriers to using their languages in their learning.